Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review. Volume 9, 1898.djvu/377

Rh rather in the breach than the observance. So far as the state to which the book has been reduced in the process has permitted us to examine the collection, it seems to be useful, and the traditions collected from the people commend themselves as genuine. But it is time that German collectors adopted the modern practice of noting the name, age, residence, occupation, and other particulars concerning the teller necessary for enabling the student to judge of the provenience and value of every tradition recorded. In such cases as that of Gezelin, stated to be mündlich from Schlebusch, in the valley of the Dhün, this course would be particularly useful. It is a curious saga, accounting for the building of the aisles of the church. It is not traditional in form; and it is stated to have been poetisch arbeitet by Montanus. The question thus inevitably arises whether, and to what extent, the tradition has been affected by literary influencesü; and it certainly cannot be solved without full information as to the collector's immediate authority.

Some useful notes, and a bibliographical list of authorities used as sources and referred to for analogues, are appended. There are also five plates of scenes of the tales, some of them from photographs.

To interest people at large in folklore is a worthy object, and for that object this pamphlet appears to be written. It devotes a paragraph or so to each of the most familiar terms of our study: fetichism, rain-making, sympathetic magic, substitution, sacrifice, scapegoat, and so forth. For each a classical example is found if possible. The pamphlet can hardly be of use to the serious student, as it gives no references and brings forward nothing new. It is, in fact, a mere sketch. The one thing worthy of note is that Mr. Kroll actually gives credit to English scholars as pioneers and experts in the study of savage races.