In "Jack the Giant Killer," the gifts given to Jack are found in Tartar,
Hindoo, Scandinavian, and German legends.

Now let us note briefly the origin of "Red Riding Hood" and "The
Sleeping Beauty in the Wood." All the other fairy stories that we know
of are to be found in other countries, and springing originally from
Asia, where they were made ages and ages ago.

The Wolf in the story of "Red Riding Hood" has been likened to the days
of our own "Bluff King Hal," owing to the latter's suppression of the
monasteries, and Red Riding Hood herself, whom the Wolf subsequently
eats, with her hood and habit, was supposed to be typical of the
monastic orders.

The Hindoo's version of the "Red Riding Hood" story is a pretty and
fanciful one. Their idea was that there was always a great Dragon
endeavouring to devour Indra, the Sun god, and to prevent the Sun from
shining upon the earth, Indra ultimately overcomes the Dragon. Red
Riding Hood, with her warm habit, is supposed to be the setting sun
casting its red and glittering rays as it sinks to rest. The old
Grandmother is Mother Earth; and the Wolf, the Dragon; and when all is
dark and still, the Wolf swallows the Grandmother, namely, the Earth;
and afterwards, as Night has fallen, the Evening Sun. The Huntsman
denotes the Morning Sun, and he chases away all the dark clouds gathered
during the night, and by doing so kills the Wolf; recovers the old
Grandmother Earth, and brings to life again, Little Red Riding Hood.
Another version (observes Mr. T. Bunce) is that the Wolf is the dark,
and dreary winter, that kills the Earth with frost, but when spring
comes again it brings the Earth and the Sun back to life.

In "The Sleeping Beauty in the Wood," the maiden has been likened to the
Morning dawn, and the young Prince, who awakens her, with a kiss, to the
Sun.

"Ali Baba and the Forty Thieves," in concluding this chapter, I may say,
with "The Fair One with Golden Locks," forms to the superstitious the
only two unlucky Pantomime subjects.

"Sindbad, the Sailor," taken from the "Arabian Nights," has its origin
in Persian and Arabian tales.

Of all our Pantomime subjects, "Robinson Crusoe," seems to be the only
one we can properly lay claim to as being "of our own make," so to
speak, and written by Daniel De Foe, and, in the main, from the
imagination. De Foe, it has been stated, derived his idea for this
story from the adventures of one, Alexander Selkirk, a Scotchman, w