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better himself； but must remain from father to son； and father to son again；
a stupid； pitiful； ridiculous ape； while men can go on civilising themselves；
and growing richer and more comfortable； wiser and happier； year by
yearhow that comes to pass； I say； is to me a wonder and a prodigy and a
miracle； stranger than all the most fantastic marvels you ever read in fairy
tales。
You may find the flint weapons which these old savages used buried in
many a gravel…pit up and down France and the south of England； but you
will find none here； for the gravel here was made （I am told） at the
beginning of the ice…time； before the north of England sunk into the sea；
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and therefore long； long before men came into this land。 But most of
their remains are found in caves which water has eaten out of the
limestone rocks； like that famous cave of Kent's Hole at Torquay。 In it；
and in many another cave； lie the bones of animals which the savages ate；
and cracked to get the marrow out of them； mixed up with their flint…
weapons and bone harpoons； and sometimes with burnt ashes and with
round stones； used perhaps to heat water； as savages do now； all baked
together into a hard paste or breccia by the lime。 These are in the water；
and are often covered with a floor of stalagmite which has dripped from
the roof above and hardened into stone。 Of these caves and their
beautiful wonders I must tell you another day。 We must keep now to our
fairy tale。 But in these caves； no doubt； the savages lived； for not only
have weapons been found in them； but actually drawings scratched （I
suppose with flint） on bone or mammoth ivorydrawings of elk； and bull；
and horse； and ibexand one； which was found in France； of the great
mammoth himself； the woolly elephant； with a mane on his shoulders like
a lion's mane。 So you see that one of the earliest fancies of this strange
creature； called man； was to draw； as you and your schoolfellows love to
draw； and copy what you see； you know not why。 Remember that。 You
like to draw； but why you like it neither you nor any man can tell。 It is
one of the mysteries of human nature； and that poor savage clothed in
skins； dirty it may be； and more ignorant than you （happily） can conceive；
when he sat scratching on ivory in the cave the figures of the animals he
hunted； was proving thereby that he had the same wonderful and
mysterious human nature as youthat he was the kinsman of every painter
and sculptor who ever felt it a delight and duty to copy the beautiful works
of God。
Sometimes； again； especially in Denmark； these savages have left
behind upon the shore mounds of dirt； which are called there 〃kjokken…
moddings〃〃kitchen…middens〃 as they would say in Scotland； 〃kitchen…
dirtheaps〃 as we should say here down South and a very good name for
them that is； for they are made up of the shells of oysters； cockles； mussels；
and periwinkles； and other shore…shells besides； on which those poor
creatures fed； and mingled with them are broken bones of beasts； and
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fishes； and birds； and flint knives； and axes； and sling stones； and here and
there hearths； on which they have cooked their meals in some rough way。
And that is nearly all we know about them； but this we know from the size
of certain of the shells； and from other reasons which you would not
understand； that these mounds were made an enormous time ago； when the
water of the Baltic Sea was far more salt than it is now。
But what has all this to do with my fairy tale？ This：…
Suppose that these people； after all； had been fairies？
I am in earnest。 Of course； I do not mean that these folk could make
themselves invisible； or that they had any supernatural powersany more；
at least； than you and I haveor that they were anything but savages； but
this I do think； that out of old stories of these savages grew up the stories
of fairies； elves； and trolls； and scratlings； and cluricaunes； and ogres； of
which you have read so many。
When stronger and bolder people； like the Irish； and the Highlanders
of Scotland； and the Gauls of France； came northward with their bronze
and iron weapons； and still more； when our own forefathers； the Germans
and the Norsemen； came； these poor little savages with their flint arrows
and axes； were no match for them； and had to run away northward； or to
be all killed out； for people were fierce and cruel in those old times； and
looked on every one of a different race from themselves as a natural
enemy。 They had not learntalas！ too many have not learned it yetthat
all men are brothers for the sake of Jesus Christ our Lord。 So these poor
savages were driven out； till none were left； save the little Lapps up in the
north of Norway； where they live to this day。
But stories of them； and of how they dwelt in caves； and had strange
customs； and used poisoned weapons； and how the elf…bolts （as their flint
arrow…heads are still called） belonged to them； lingered on； and were told
round the fire on winter nights and added to； and played with half in fun；
till a hundred legends sprang up about them； which used once to be
believed by grown…up folk； but which now only amuse children。 And
because some of these savages were very short； as the Lapps and
Esquimaux are now； the story grew of their being so small that they could
make themselves invisible； and because others of them were （but probably
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only a few） very tall and terrible； the story grew that there were giants in
that old world； like that famous Gogmagog； whom Brutus and his Britons
met （so old fables tell）； when they landed first at Plymouth； and fought
him； and threw him over the cliff。 Ogres； tooof whom you read in fairy
talesI am afraid that there were such people once； even here in Europe；
strong and terrible savages； who ate human beings。