Newspaper career
Skinner was born in Victor, New York. His career in literature and journalism included editorship of the '' Brooklyn Eagle''. His study of the paper’s famedWritings
Skinner published collections of myths, legends and folklore found inside the United States and across the world. Skinner hoped that America’s progress would transform the nation’s few legends into few but great ones – “as time goes on the figures seen against the morning twilight of our history will rise to more commanding stature.” Charles M. Skinner, ''Myths and Legends of Our Own Land,'' preface (https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/6615, accessed 12/02/06) He hoped to combine folklore conventions with New England transcendentalism to keep alive traditions endangered by the industrial age. Skinner’s writings were wide-ranging. He was a playwright, authoring ''Villon, the Vagabond''. Skinner’s other interests included the seasons, especially as they changed inside of industrializing cities. In order to improve the urban environment, he authored a guide to gardening and urban beautification. He also commented on turn-of-the-century America’s turbulent economy in ''Workers and the Trusts'' and ''American Communes''. His other contributions to American literature included works of natural history such as ''With Feet to the Earth'' and ''Do-Nothing Days''.Endnotes
Bibliography
*John Bealle, “Another Look at Charles M. Skinner,” Western Folklore 53 (1994): 99-123. *Charles M. Skinner, ''Myths And Legends of Our Own Land'' (Philadelphia: J.B. Lippincott Company, 1896). *Charles M. Skinner, ''Nature in a City Yard'' (New York: The Century, 1897). *Charles M. Skinner, ''With Feet to the Earth'' (Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott Company, 1898). *Charles M. Skinner, ''Do-Nothing Days'' (Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott Company, 1898). *Charles M. Skinner, ''Myths and Legends Beyond Our Borders'' (Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott Company, 1899). *Charles M. Skinner, ''Myths and Legends of Our New Possessions and Protectorates'' (Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott Company, 1899). *Charles M. Skinner, ''Flowers in the Pave'' ic(Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott Company, 1900). *Charles Skinner, ''Workers and the Trusts: Labor Conditions in the Great Manufacturing Centers of the United States'' (Brooklyn: Brooklyn Daily Eagle, 1900). *Charles Skinner, ''American Communes: Practical Socialism in the United States'' (Brooklyn: Brooklyn Daily Eagle, 1901). *Charles M. Skinner, ''Little Gardens: How to Beautify City Yards and Small Country Spaces'' (New York: D. Appleton, 1904). *Charles M. Skinner, ''Myths and Legends of Flowers, Trees, Fruits and Plants'' (Philadelphia: J. B. Lippincott Company, 1911).External links
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