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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。
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 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 inclusive in appreciation； we long； greatly；
to know the experience of others。 This yearning
is probably one of the good but misconceived
appetites so injudiciously fed by the gossip of
the daily press。 There is a hope； in the reader；
of getting for the moment into the lives of people
who move in wholly different sets of circumstances。
But the relation of dry facts in newspapers；
however tinged with journalistic colour；
helps very little to enter such other life。 The
entrance has to be by the door of the imagination；
and the journalist is rarely able to open it
for us。 But there is a genius who can open it。
The author who can write fiction of the right
sort can do it； his is the gift of seeing inner
realities； and of showing them to those who
cannot see them for themselves。 Sharing the
imaginative vision of the story…writer； we can
truly follow out many other roads of life than
our own。 The girl on a lone country farm is
made to understand how a girl in a city sweating…
den feels and lives； the London exquisite realises
the life of a Californian ranchman； royalty and
tenement dwellers become acquainted； through
the power of the imagination working on
experience shown in the light of a human basis
common to both。 Fiction supplies an element
of culture；that of the sympathies； which is
invaluable。 And the beginnings of this culture；
this widening and clearing of the avenues of
human sympathy； are especially easily made
with children in the nature story。
When you begin； 〃There was once a little
furry rabbit；〃＇1＇ the child's curiosity is awakened
by the very fact that the rabbit is not a child；
but something of a different species altogether。
〃Now for something new and adventuresome；〃
says his expectation； 〃we are starting off into a
foreign world。〃 He listens wide…eyed； while
you say； 〃and he lived in a warm； cosy nest；
down under the long grass with his mother〃
how delightful； to live in a place like that； so
different from little boys' homes！〃his name
was Raggylug； and his mother's name was Molly
Cottontail。 And every morning； when Molly
Cottontail went out to get their food； she said
to Raggylug； ‘Now； Raggylug； remember you
are only a baby rabbit； and don't move from the
nest。 No matter what you hear； no matter what
you see； don't you move！'〃all this is different
still； yet it is familiar； too； it appears that rabbits
are rather like folks。 So the tale proceeds； and
the little furry rabbit passes through experiences
strange to little boys； yet very like little boys'
adventures in some respects； he is frightened
by a snake； comforted by his mammy； and taken
to a new house； under the long grass a long way
off。 These are all situations to which the child
has a key。 There is just enough of strangeness
to entice； just enough of the familiar to relieve
any strain。 When the child has lived through
the day's happenings with Raggylug； the latter
has begun to seem veritably a little brother of
the grass to him。 And because he has entered
imaginatively into the feelings and fate of a
creature different from himself； he has taken his
first step out into the wide world of the lives of
others。
＇1＇ See Raggylug。
It may be a recognition of this factor and
its value which has led so many writers of
nature stories into the error of over…humanising
their four…footed or feathered heroes and
heroines。 The exaggeration is unnecessary； for
there is enough community of lot suggested in
the sternest scientific record to constitute a
natural bas