Flatlanders and Ridgerunners - (Regional) by James York Glimm (Paperback)

About the Book

Excerpt from Flatlanders and Ridgerunners: Out-Riddling the Judge Back in Prohibition my uncle made moonshine. His name was Moses Kenny and his whiskey--they called it "White Mule" was the best in the county. Well, the feds got after him and finally they arrested him. Took him to a federal judge down in Philadelphia. Now, the judge liked a good time and thought he'd have a little fun with this hick from the mountains. When Uncle came into court, he said, "are you the Moses who can make the sun dark?" Moses looked at him and said slowly, "Nope, your honor. But I am the Moses who can make the moon shine." The judge let him go.

Book Synopsis

Excerpt from Flatlanders and Ridgerunners: Out-Riddling the Judge Back in Prohibition my uncle made moonshine. His name was Moses Kenny and his whiskey--they called it "White Mule" was the best in the county. Well, the feds got after him and finally they arrested him. Took him to a federal judge down in Philadelphia. Now, the judge liked a good time and thought he'd have a little fun with this hick from the mountains. When Uncle came into court, he said, "are you the Moses who can make the sun dark?" Moses looked at him and said slowly, "Nope, your honor. But I am the Moses who can make the moon shine." The judge let him go.

From the Back Cover

Oral folklore provides important insights into Pennsylvania mountain culture because it opens a window for us on the inner personality of mountain people. Oral folklore is vital to people in this kind of culture: it entertains them, it informs them, and it serves them as a glue that keeps the society together. These tales are more than a defensive reaction to outside pressure; they are an attempt to maintain cultural balance within the community by taking something threatening and turning it into something harmless and silly.

About the Author

James York Glimm was a folklorist on the English faculty at Mansfield State College.