Tales out of school

In Short

This book is an eclectic anthology of short pieces written to educate and entertain young readers of the late nineteenth century. It spans a vast array of topics, from the habits of tigers and Arctic foxes to the mechanics of the moon’s phases and the mysteries of coral. By pairing dry natural history with playful, invented legends, the writing encourages a sense of wonder about the natural world. Its enduring charm lies in its gentle, conversational tone, which transforms encyclopedic information into a series of engaging, bite-sized explorations of the world.

The Story

The collection unfolds as a series of disparate journeys. We begin with Colonel Myles, a hunter who travels to Africa to target "beasts that ought to be killed," ultimately securing a tiger skin after a dramatic smoke-out of a mountain lair. From the high-stakes hunting of the tropics, we transition to the life of Iturim, an Antis Indian in Peru, whose story highlights the precariousness of fortune. We follow the intrepid Gutefundus on his seafaring expeditions, where he encounters a sea serpent—defeating it by force-feeding it water barrels—and hunts for mythical "Bird Trees" in the Orkney Islands that supposedly produce ducks as fruit.

The narrative shifts frequently between the real and the surreal. Tom Reynolds and Moriyama explore the busy, foreign streets of Yedo (Tokyo), where they observe juggling boys and unconventional blacksmithing, contrasting their own orderly provisions with the local customs. We then enter the realm of legend: a magician aids a young girl named Sybil in her quest to save her brother, Maghar, from an enemy army, while a separate tale reveals how the Norse god Odin secured the ingredients of poetry and eloquence from the blood of the wise Kvasir.

The scope widens to encompass the natural world's extremes. We read of the ostrich, the condor, and the peculiar anatomy of the matamata turtle. A scientific detour tracks the historical confusion surrounding coral—long mistaken for a plant until a French physician identified the tiny animals responsible for its formation. The narrative captures the "three men" who attempt a voyage to the moon, only to plummet back to Earth and narrowly miss a U.S. steamship in the Pacific.

In the Arctic, we follow a boy named Polargno and his companions as they trap an elusive fox, an experience framed by the author as a testament to the resilience of the Inuit people. Finally, we reach the whimsical tale of the "Jolly Cabordmen." Their young hero, Adar Ip, saves his nation from an invading army by labeling graves in a way that suggests a terrifying, non-existent plague. The soldiers, terrified of the "unhealthy" land, flee in a panic. The book closes on this note of ingenious, bloodless victory, suggesting that cleverness and local pride are the ultimate defenses against the world's larger, more aggressive forces.

How It Unfolds

The hunter’s resolve Colonel Myles, tired of shooting buffalo on the American prairies, seeks a more noble challenge in Africa. He and his companions use fire to flush a tiger from a cave, securing the skin as a trophy of their successful, if intense, expedition.

The fortunes of travel We encounter the life of Iturim, whose success in trading birds and apes leads him to build a house in the forest. His story illustrates the constant shift between prosperity and misfortune common to the Antis people.

The battle of wits Gutefundus faces a sea serpent with barrels of water, while later, the trickster Adar Ip saves the Cabordmen through a clever ruse. These tales emphasize that victory often belongs to those who observe their surroundings most keenly.

The observer’s eye Detailed descriptions of the Victoria Regia water lily and the habits of the matamata turtle bring the reader into the world of natural history. These passages strip away the mystery of the natural world, replacing it with the beauty of observable facts.

The celestial and the small The book concludes by reconciling the vastness of the moon’s phases with the local, daily life of the Arctic. It reminds the reader that understanding the universe is as much about looking at the sky as it is about valuing the lives of the people who inhabit the earth.

The People

Colonel Myles is the archetypal hunter who justifies his sport through a self-imposed code of ethics, desiring to kill only animals that are harmful or useful. His transformation is minimal, as he remains a man of action and rifle-fire. Iturim represents the industrious, self-sufficient life of the Antis; his narrative arc serves as a cautionary reminder that even a carefully furnished home is subject to the "flea-leap" of fate. Gutefundus is the embodiment of fearless exploration, a man who views the world as a series of problems to be solved with barrels, spears, and curiosity. He represents the relentless, if sometimes misguided, Victorian spirit of discovery. Finally, Adar Ip stands apart as the clever strategist. Unlike the Colonel, he relies on his wits rather than weapons, showing that the smallest person in the community can protect his people through simple, imaginative action.

In Its Own Voice

"If the buffaloes did any harm while alive or could be put to any use when dead it was all very well to shoot them."

This captures the specific, slightly detached ethical logic of Colonel Myles regarding his hunting.

"The Antis Indians live in the mountainous districts of Peru. They have a proverb: 'From happiness to misfortune is only a flea-leap.'"

This bit of local wisdom serves as a framing device for the life of Iturim.

"The gnomes could not make up their minds to do this, and they moved out of the cave into another part of the same mountain, and left the lizard in possession of their old home."

This moment shows the whimsical, detached way the author depicts mythical creatures dealing with the intrusion of human scientific discovery.

What It's Really About

At its core, this book is an argument for observation. The author suggests that the world is a giant classroom, where the difference between a "traveler’s story" and a scientific truth lies in the willingness to look closely. Whether examining the flowers of a coral reef or the social structure of the Inuit, the book emphasizes that true understanding requires overcoming one’s own prejudices. It questions the nature of "civilization" by contrasting the technology of the West with the resourcefulness of indigenous peoples. Ultimately, it asks the reader to cultivate a "jolly" curiosity—a sense of wonder that remains active, regardless of whether one is looking at the moon or a beetle.

Why Read It Today

Readers who enjoy the slow, deliberate pace of Victorian miscellanies will find much to admire here. It feels like a long, quiet afternoon in a personal library, where one can jump from the mechanics of an eclipse to the habits of a forest bird without any pressure to reach a grand conclusion. The warmth of the author’s voice is the book's greatest strength; he speaks to the reader as a fellow traveler, never condescending, even when his period-specific language feels dated.

Modern readers should be prepared for the colonial attitudes of the era, particularly in the descriptions of "natives" and "savages," which reflect the prejudices of the late 1800s. These sections are challenging, but they provide a clear window into the worldview of the time. The book does not attempt to be a cohesive narrative, which might frustrate those seeking a single, driving plot. However, for those who value the act of learning for its own sake—and who want to experience the specific, curious, and often whimsical flavor of 19th-century intellectual play—this collection offers a charming, educational, and genuinely thoughtful experience that stays with the reader long after the final page.