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far from the Form in which they are needed。
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HOW TO TELL STORIES TO CHILDREN AND SOME STORIES TO TELL
INTRODUCTION
Not long ago； I chanced to open a magazine at a story of Italian life
which dealt with a curious popular custom。 It told of the love of the people
for the performances of a strangely clad； periodically appearing old man
who was a professional story…teller。 This old man repeated whole cycles of
myth and serials of popular history； holding his audience…chamber in
whatever corner of the open court or square he happened upon； and always
surrounded by an eager crowd of listeners。 So great was the respect in
which the story…teller was held； that any interruption was likely to be
resented with violence。
As I read of the absorbed silence and the changing expressions of the
crowd about the old man； I was suddenly reminded of a company of
people I had recently seen。 They were gathered in one of the parlours of a
women's college； and their serious young faces had； habitually； none of the
childlike responsiveness of the Italian populace； they were suggestive；
rather； of a daily experience which precluded over…much surprise or
curiosity about anything。
In the midst of the group stood a frail…looking woman with bright eyes。
She was telling a story； a children's story； about a good and a bad little
mouse。
She had been asked to do that thing； for a purpose； and she did it；
therefore。 But it was easy to see from the expressions of the listeners how
trivial a thing it seemed to them。
That was at first。 But presently the room grew quieter； and yet quieter。
The faces relaxed into amused smiles； sobered in unconscious sympathy；
finally broke in ripples of mirth。 The story…teller had come to her own。
The memory of the college girls listening to the mouse…story brought
other memories with it。 Many a swift composite view of faces passed
before my mental vision； faces with the child's look on them； yet not the
faces of children。 And of the occasions to which the faces belonged； those
were most vivid which were earliest in my experience。 For it was those
early experiences which first made me realise the modern possibilities of
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HOW TO TELL STORIES TO CHILDREN AND SOME STORIES TO TELL
the old； old art of telling stories。
It had become a part of my work； some years ago； to give English
lectures on German literature。 Many of the members of my class were
unable to read in the original the works with which I dealt； and as these
were modern works； it was rarely possible to obtain translations。
For this reason； I gradually formed the habit of telling the story of the
drama or novel in question before passing to a detailed consideration of it。
I enjoyed this part of the lesson exceedingly； but it was some time before I
realised how much the larger part of the lesson it had become to the class。
They usedand they were mature womento wait for the story as if it
were a sugarplum and they； children； and to grieve openly if it were
omitted。 Substitution of reading from a translation was greeted with
precisely the same abatement of eagerness that a child shows when he has
asked you to tell a story； and you offer； instead； to 〃read one from the
pretty book。〃 And so general and constant were the tokens of enjoyment
that there could ultimately be no doubt of the power which the mere story…
telling exerted。
The attitude of the grown…up listeners did but illustrate the general
difference between the effect of telling a story and of reading one。
Everyone who knows children well has felt the difference。 With few
exceptions； children listen twice as eagerly to a story told as to one read；
and even a 〃recitation〃 or a so…called 〃reading〃 has not the charm for them
that the person wields who can 〃tell a story。〃 And there are sound reasons
for their preference。
The great difference； including lesser ones； between telling and
reading is that the teller is free； the reader is bound。 The book in hand； or
the wording of it in mind； binds the reader。 The story…teller is bound by
nothing； he stands or sits； free to watch his audience； free to follow or lead
every changing mood； free to use body； eyes； voice； as aids in expression。
Even his mind is unbound； because he lets the story come in the words of
the moment； being so full of what he has to say。 For this reason； a story
told is more spontaneous than one read； however well read。 And；
consequently； the connection with the audience is closer； more electric；
than is possible when the book or its wording intervenes。
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HOW TO TELL STORIES TO CHILDREN AND SOME STORIES TO TELL
Beyond this advantage； is the added charm of the personal element in
story…telling。 When you make a story your own and tell it； the listener gets
the story； PLUS YOUR APPRECIATION OF IT。 It comes to him filtered
through your own enjoyment。 That is what makes the funny story thrice
funnier on the lips of a jolly raconteur than in the pages of a memoir。 It is
the filter of personality。 Everybody has something of the curiosity of the
primitive man concerning his neighbour； what another has in his own
person felt and done has an especial hold on each one of us。 The most
cultured of audiences will listen to the personal reminiscences of an
explorer with a different tingle of interest from that which it feels for a
scientific lecture on the results of the exploration。 The longing for the
personal in experience is a very human longing。 And this instinct or
longing is especially strong in children。 It finds expression in their delight
in tales of what father or mother did when they were little； of what
happened to grandmother when she went on a journey； and so on； but it
also extends to stories which are not in themselves personal： which take
their personal savour merely from the fact that they flow from the lips in
spontaneous； homely phrases； with an appreciative gusto whic