The Trumpeter of Krakow (1929)

(If any of you noticed, I skipped the 1928 winner, Gay Neck, the Story of a Pigeon, due to its being checked out at the library by somebody else.  I never thought that I would have any competition on that one.  Not only is it checked out, but there is another patron who has a hold placed, so it may be several weeks before I get to comment on the pigeon book.)

A few weeks ago, one of my faithful followers asked which was the earliest Newbery book I remember reading as a child.  This is it.  I must have read this book in late elementary or maybe middle school.  When I saw it on the list I remembered liking it, but couldn't have told you any plot or character details.  I don't like it now as much as I think I liked it then.  Which isn't to say that I was not entertained. (One of my sisters-in-law recently decided to not reread books she had enjoyed as a child for just that reason, she wants to keep the high opinion of them that she formed on first reading.) 

The story centers on a family from the Ukraine (under Polish control at the time) who travel to Krakow after their estate has been ravished by treasure hunters.  The hunt continues in Krakow, while the family change their name and try to lay low and be as inconspicuous as possible.  They meet several very nice people in Krakow who help them find work and get acclimated.

The treasure hunters seek the Great Tarnov Crystal that the Charnetski family have been guarding for hundreds of years--father passing to son with an oath to protect the crystal or deliver it to the king, if their secret is ever discovered.  It is said to have magical properties, allowing those who gaze into its depths to see the future, gain hidden knowledge and access to mysteries.

One of the themes in the book is the making of oaths and how important it is to keep our word.  The Charnetski family had taken an oath to protect the crystal.  They kept that oath.  Andrew, the father, was willing to sacrifice his livelihood and his very life, to keep the crystal safe. 

Another oath kept was that of the trumpeter of Krakow.  This is actually a true part of the story.  You can read about the trumpeter and listen to his song at http://www.krakow-info.com/hejnal.htm .  The trumpeter took an oath to keep watch over the city and sound the heynal on the hour from each side of the tower of St. Mary's cathedral.  When Andrew and his son, Joseph, become sounders of the trump, they take that oath as well.

Another theme of the book is that of wisdom verses wealth.  A couple of the characters practice alchemy, the "science" of trying to turn baser metals into gold.  Of course, they do not succeed, but they have some good conversations on whether wealth will help them obtain what is really important to them.  In the course of trying their experiments, they end up destroying half of the city in fire.  We can draw some conclusions from that...

To sum up, I enjoyed rereading The Trumpeter of Krakow.  I think children would like it with the fighting, mystery, castles, spies, and just a touch of romance.  Adults would probably like it too.  I did not like it as well as I remembered, I think because the ending was too clean--all loose ends were tied up, but children probably need the sense of closure and to know that all is well in the world.

Kelly, Eric P. The Trumpeter of Krakow.  Macmillan Publishing Co., Inc, 1928.

Smoky the Cowhorse (1927)

Sometimes, you read a book that keeps you thinking.  You might not have thought much about it while reading it, but it keeps coming back.  I finished Smoky the Cowhorse several days ago.  Today I drove to Athens, TX, about 2 hours drive each way, and had time to listen to the radio.  I started out with news about Egypt and the great revolution which has recently unfolded.  I went on to sing-along to Bohemian Rhapsody and other fun songs.  And then I spotted some horses in a field.  Brown with white on their noses and legs.  And the first thing I thought of was Smoky.

Smoky the Cowhorse is written from the perspective of the horse, mostly, and partly from the man who loved and trained him, Clint.  A strong cowboy accent pervades the writing, which I found slightly annoying at first, but then it kind of grew on me.

Smoky, a wild mustang pony in Wyoming, was owned by the Rocking R ranch, although he did not know that.  His herd ranged the hills and plains, fattening up in spring and summer, foraging through snow and bizzards in winter, until he is spotted and kept to be broken for a cattle horse.  Clint did the breaking for the Rocking R.  When he saw Smoky, he knew he had found a horse worth keeping for life.  He loved him and taught him all he could as gently as he could, although Smoky resisted mightily.  But Smoky comes to love Clint as well.

Smoky and Clint gain a reputation for their devotion.  Smoky will not let another rider on him and had saved Clint's life more than once.  But, as in life, a little opposition keeps it interesting. 

A really bad dude rustled Smoky.  He did not just steal him, he broke him.  Clint "broke" him to the saddle and to work.  This man broke his spirit and trust.  He beat him cruelly and eventually, Smoky fought back.

I won't go into all the details, but after years of separation, Clint and Smoky reunite.

This book has caused me to look a little differently at how animals are used.  Clint took these wild animals of immense power and beauty and trained them.  He didn't make them tame, but made them useful.  The work they did was necessary for the running of the ranch and having hardy ponies was imperative.  But, it felt wrong to me, to take them out of the wild and the life they had known of freedom, rather than taking stock that was bred for usefulness. (I'm not sure if I'm making the difference I feel about this clear.) 

I'm looking at this story now in an allegorical sense.  If you look at Clint as the God figure, and at Smoky as us, people, it kind of makes sense.  Clint took Smoky and did not change his being, or sense of self or lessen his abilities.  Clint took Smoky and made him something more than he was before.  He took Smoky's natural abilities and taught him how to use those to greater purpose.  And he did this out of love.

God takes us, rebellious wild things, and does the same.  He doesn't want to change who we are, we are his children.  He does want us to be more than we think we can be.  And through his gentle training and coaxing, we can become great.  The Lord shows us what we can do and be with his power.  I recently read a quote that I really liked.  "We become what we want to be by consistently being what we want to become each day." (Richard G. Scott, "The Transforming Power of Faith and Character," Ensign, Nov. 2010,43.)

Smoky was a good read.  I don't know that kids these days would like it as much as I did.  It isn't fast- paced, and the subject matter is far removed from these modern days, but I liked the development in the relationship between Clint and Smoky.  I liked the pace and the flavor and learning about cowboys and life in the olden days.  I think if you could get a child into it, they would enjoy it as well.

James, Will.  Smoky the Cowhorse. Charles Scribner's Sons, 1926.

Shen of the Sea (1926)

Although entertaining, many of the stories in this collection do little to encourage industry or common sense, while at the same time rewarding the characters.  The first story, for instance, "Ah Mee's Invention," explains how printing came to be invented.  The main characters, a father, son, and uncle, through temper and intemperance accidentally invent printing and end up revered.  Another one, "As Hai Low Kept House," tells of how a man with no common sense whatsoever ends up, quite by accident, becoming king.  There are more examples, but I don't want to belabor the point.

Several stories showed great thinkers who got themselves and others out of a bind by using their heads.  The book's namesake story, "Shen of the Sea," is about King Chieh Chung and how he tricked the shen of the sea so that his city would not be flooded. ("Shen" means demon or demons, kind of like "sheep" is singular or plural.)  "Long he stroked his beard, pondering, grieving, praying." (p. 34)  We could benefit by being more like that--pondering and praying.

My favorite story was "Four Generals."  Prince Chang left home to see the kingdom, but was very inexperienced and so got into a few binds and was helped by a fiddler (Tang), a tailor (Wang), a shepherd (Mang), and an archer (Lang).  To each of them he promised a generalship when he became king, at which they each laughed, thinking Chang just a poor traveller.  The old king soon died, and Chang did indeed become king, and at the same time, enemy armies approached the city.  Chang sent for his new friends--Tang, Wang, Mang and Lang--and made them generals.

The first battle was won by General Wang, the tailor.  He had all of the tailors in the city make uniforms for the army, hundreds and thousands of uniforms.  The small army marched past the enemy in one uniform, quickly changed to another color of uniform and marched past again, and again, and again.  Each time in a new color of uniform.  The enemy, scared of such a huge army, retreated.

The General Tang won the second battle.  He played such a song on his violin that made all the enemy soldiers weep and long for home.  "Morning saw the hostile camp deserted.  Soldier after soldier had stolen away in the darkness, thinking only of home" (p.93-94) 

Then comes Mang.  General Mang outsmarted the enemy in the next encounter by running sheep through the their camp.  Tired and very hungry, the men chased after the sheep and while they were gone, Mang burned their empty camp.

General Lang, the last of the group to show his colors, asked the king to decree "that all cases at law be settled by a trial with bow and arrow." (p. 95)  He showed great wisdom in this, for all cases brought to court would be decided by target practice.  Hence, all those going to court practiced with the bow many hours to be sure they would win.  When the enemy came again, the kingdom had a large force of archers with which to defend the kingdom.  Enemy spies had seen the new army of archers and simply went home.  "Thus, without loss of a man, was the kingdom saved for Chang, by Wang, Tang, Mang, and Lang." (p. 97)

Shen of the Sea and Tales from Silver Lands were not my favorites.  I prefer books that have a narrative running throughout.  I'm sure that cultural differences also influence my opinion.  Both of these books contain good stories, but I found it difficult to put myself into the characters' positions.  And that is what really draws me into a book, being able to see myself in the people living in the story.

Chrisman, Arthur Bowie.  Shen of the Sea.  E.P. Dutton & Co., 1925.