TYLOR EDWARD BURNETT: (1832-1917) English anthropologist. An interesting A.L.S., Edward B. ...

TYLOR EDWARD BURNETT: (1832-1917) English anthropologist. An interesting A.L.S., Edward B. Tylor, four pages (the last bearing a few lines of cross-writing), 8vo, Cannes, 8 ^th November 1861, to Miss. Lloyd. Tylor states that he fears his answer to his correspondent’s question will come too late, as he had been waiting for a book which only arrived the day before, continuing ‘That Cinderella has a classical i.e. a Latin or Greek origin I do not at all believe. It is one of the best known and most widely spread tales of Northern Europe, and is found in all the German & Scandinavian languages, and is probably older than Rome or Greece either. There appears to be a classical legend which has probably the same origin, that of Rhodope, whose slipper was carried off by an eagle and dropped into the lap of Psammeticus, King of Egypt, who had the owner hunted for that he might marry her. If you look out Rhodope in the Classical Dictionary you will most likely find a full account’, and further providing Lloyd with social news of Cannes and mutual acquaintances, ‘…..the Miss Clarkes are here enjoying cool weather after being broiled like mutton chops at Lucca in the summer…..Lord Brougham and Prince Leopold are coming in a few days. I saw poor little Mr. Richardson a day or two ago. His finances and his religion have both undergone a crisis since the spring, the result being that he has sent away a disagreeable boy he had, who is understood to have eaten twenty pounds worth of sponge cakes and other delights at the confectioners on his account, and secondly he has gone over to the Greek Church…..We have left the frogs in England, where they have a beautiful glass house built some years ago for another family. Instead, we have a parrot, quite young & untrained when I bought him, and who has only mastered “who are you” as yet, and is saying it now with screams interspersed’. A letter of charming content. VG