Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 7, 1896.djvu/455

Rh edition. As the work went on, the editor was enabled to add corrections and fresh variants. Thus I was fortunate enough to be able to rectify the topography of Jamie Telfer from notes on a first edition of the Border Minstrelsy at Branxholme Park; for Sir Walter, oddly enough, had gone wrong, deceived by the distribution of the same place-names on Ettrick and Teviot. I think, too, that I nearly, or quite, converted Mr. Child from the Kirkpatrick Sharpe heresy about the late date (1719) of The Queen's Marie. His mind was uncommonly open to facts and argument. In the same way amateurs of ballads everywhere found him a courteous and prompt correspondent. His new edition transcended the old, for his knowledge at least of European ballads and Märchen, for comparative purposes, was vastly extended. Perhaps he had still a good deal to learn about the popular tales and poems of the uncivilised races, which are often valuable for purposes of comparison. There was no other defect in his equipment, except that he might have been better seen in Scottish history. The mystery of "The Maid of Norway," and the strange affair of "The False Maid," are unnoticed in Mr. Child's preface to Sir Patrick Spens. Other examples might be given.

It is understood that Mr. Child had finished his edition before his regretted death; but it does not appear that he had completed an Essay on Popular Ballads in general, their origin and diffusion, a topic full of difficult problems. In England the questions of this branch of folklore have been much neglected; with Mr. Child's completed work before him some scholar should attempt to do what is necessary. Probably Mr. Child may at least have left notes indicating his general conclusions, and one of his pupils may be able to finish his work. It is, indeed, a magnum opus, and one of the chief glories of American scholarship, though produced under great difficulties, caused by the distance from European libraries, and the daily task-work of a teacher. English balladists will of course be anxious to assist, in any way within their power, the labours of the American editor, who may complete "the unfinished window in Aladdin's tower."

A. Lang.