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reference to the Cinderella story。 Sometimes it is an allusion which has its
strength in long association of certain qualities with certain characters in
fairydomlike the slyness of Brother Fox； and the cruelty of Brother Wolf。
Sometimes the association of ideas lies below the surface； drawing from
the hidden wells of poetic illusion which are sunk in childhood。 The man
or woman whose infancy was nourished exclusively on tales adapted from
science…made… easy； or from biographies of good men and great； must
remain blind to these beauties of literature。 He may look up the allusion；
or identify the reference； but when that is done he is but richer by a fact or
two； there is no remembered thrill in it for him； no savour in his memory；
no suggestion to his imagination； and these are precisely the things which
really count。 Leaving out the fairy element is a loss to literary culture
much as would be the omission of the Bible or of Shakespeare。 Just as all
adult literature is permeated by the influence of these； familiar in youth； so
in less degree is it transfused with the subtle reminiscences of childhood's
commerce with the wonder world。
To turn now from the inner to the outer aspects of the old…time tale is
to meet another cause of its value to children。 This is the value of its style。
Simplicity； directness； and virility characterise the classic fairy tales and
the most memorable relics of folklore。 And these are three of the very
qualities which are most seriously lacking in much of the new writing for
children； and which are always necessary elements in the culture of taste。
Fairy stories are not all well told； but the best fairy stories are supremely
well told。 And most folk…tales have a movement； a sweep； and an
unaffectedness which make them splendid foundations for taste in style。
For this； and for poetic presentation of truths in easily assimilated form；
and because it gives joyous stimulus to the imagination； and is necessary
to full appreciation of adult literature； we may freely use the wonder tale。
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HOW TO TELL STORIES TO CHILDREN AND SOME STORIES TO TELL
Closely related to； sometimes identical with； the fairy tale is the old；
old source of children's love and laughter；
THE NONSENSE TALE
Under this head I wish to include all the merely funny tales of
childhood； embracing the cumulative stories like that of the old woman
and the pig which would not go over the stile。 They all have a specific use
and benefit； and are worth the repetition children demand for them。 Their
value lies； of course； in the tonic and relaxing properties of humour。
Nowhere is that property more welcome or needed than in the schoolroom。
It does us all good to laugh； if there is no sneer nor smirch in the laugh；
fun sets the blood flowing more freely in the veins； and loosens the
strained cords of feeling and thought； the delicious shock of surprise at
every 〃funny spot〃 is a kind of electric treatment for the nerves。 But it
especially does us good to laugh when we are children。 Every little body is
released from the conscious control school imposes on it； and huddles into
restful comfort or responds gaily to the joke。
More than this； humour teaches children； as it does their grown…up
brethren； some of the facts and proportions of life。 What keener teacher is
there than the kindly satire？ What more penetrating and suggestive than
the humour of exaggerated statement of familiar tendency？ Is there one of
us who has not laughed himself out of some absurd complexity of over…
anxiety with a sudden recollection of 〃clever Alice〃 and her fate？ In our
household clever Alice is an old habituee； and her timely arrival has saved
many a situation which was twining itself about more 〃ifs〃 than it could
comfortably support。 The wisdom which lies behind true humour is found
in the nonsense tale of infancy as truly as in mature humour； but in its own
kind and degree。 〃Just for fun〃 is the first reason for the humorous story；
the wisdom in the fun is the second。
And now we come to
THE NATURE STORY
No other type of fiction is more familiar to the teacher； and probably
no other kind is the source of so much uncertainty of feeling。 The nature
story is much used； as I have noticed above； to illustrate or to teach the
habits of animals and the laws of plant…growth； to stimulate scientific
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HOW TO TELL STORIES TO CHILDREN AND SOME STORIES TO TELL
interest as well as to increase culture in scientific fact。 This is an entirely
legitimate object。 In view of its present preponderance； it is certainly a pity；
however； that so few stories are available； the accuracy of which； from this
point of view； can be vouched for。 The carefully prepared book of to…day is
refuted and scoffed at to…morrow。 The teacher who wishes to use story…
telling chiefly as an element in nature study must at least limit herself to a
small amount of absolutely unquestioned material； or else subject every
new story to the judgment of an authority in the line dealt with。 This is not
easy for the teacher at a distance from the great libraries； and for those
who have access to well…equipped libraries it is a matter of time and
thought。
It does not so greatly trouble the teacher who uses the nature story as a
story； rather than as a test…book； for she will not be so keenly attracted
toward the books prepared with a didactic purpose。 She will find a good
gift for the child in nature stories which ARE stories； over and above any
stimulus to his curiosity about fact。 That good gift is a certain possession
of all good fiction。
One of the best things good fiction does for any of us is to broaden our
comprehension of other lots than our own。 The average man or woman has
little opportunity actually to live more than one kind of life。 The chances
of birth； occupation； family ties； determine for most of us a line of
experience not very inclusive and but little varied； and this is a natural
barrier to our complete understanding of others； whose life…line is set at a
different angle。 It is not possible wholly to sympathise with emotions
engendered by experience which one has never had。 Yet we all long to be
broad in sympathy and i