[1] A Finnish newspaper recently states that Mr. C. is now at work on an improved translation.
As this book is only intended for children, it would be out of place to discuss the age, etc., of the Kalevala. Only it would seem proper to state, that while the incantations and some other portions of the text are certainly very old, some of them no doubt dating from a period prior to the separation of the Finns and Hungarians, yet, as Professor Yrjö Koskinen remarks, "The Kalevala in its present state is without doubt the work of the _Karelian_ tribe of Finns, and probably dates from _after_ their arrival in Northern and North-Western Russia." This will of itself largely justify the making _Kalevala_ synonymous with the present _Finland_, _Pohjola_ with the present Lapland, Karjala with the present _Karjala_ (Anglice, _Karelia_) in South-Eastern Finland, etc. But even if this were not so, yet the advantage of such localisation in a book for children is of itself obvious.
As the land and people with which the stories are concerned is so unknown to English children, it has seemed best to have some sort of introduction and framework in which to present them, and therefore "Father Mikko" was chosen as the story-teller.
If this little volume may in any degree awake some interest in the Finnish people its author will be amply satisfied, and its end will have been attained.
THE WORLD'S CREATION AND THE BIRTH OF WAINAMOINEN 8
WAINAMOINEN'S EXPEDITION AND THE BIRTH OF THE KANTELE (HARP) 173
LOUHI STEALS THE SUN, THE MOON, AND FIRE 199
_Ahti_ (ach´-tee). Another name for Lemminkainen.
_Ainikki_ (aë´nik-kee). Sister of Lemminkainen.
_Annikki_ (an´-nik-kee). Sister of Ilmarinen.
_Hisi_ (hee´-see). Evil spirit; also called Lempo.
_Iku Turso_ (ee´-koo-tur´-so). A sea-monster.
_Ilmarinen_ (il´-ma-ree´-nen). The famous smith.
_Ilmatar_ (il´-ma-tar). A daughter of the ether, mother of Wainamoinen.
_Imatra_ (ee´-ma-tra). Celebrated waterfall on the river Wuoksi, near Viborg.
_Kalerwoinen_ (kal´-er-woi´-nen) (_or_ Kalervo). Father of Kullervo.
_Kalevala_ (ka´-lay-va´-la). The land of heroes. The home of the Finns. The name of the Finnish epic poem.
_Karjala_ (kar´-ya-la). The home of a Finnish tribe--a portion of Finland (called also _Karelen_ in Swedish).