Page:Folk-lore - A Quarterly Review Volumes 32 and 33.djvu/71

Rh but in England, where the state contributes little or nothing to such scientific objects, it would be put in the forefront of the prospectus.

Meanwhile the first two numbers of the Archive of the Ethnography and Folklore of Catalonia: Studies and Materials (Arxiu d' Etnografía i Folklore de Catalunya: Estudis i Materials) have been published, comprising the programme of the organization, the report of the initial meetings and of lectures and addresses delivered, and some useful bibliographical information on the articles and works published in recent years on the subject, many of which are little known to British readers, and would (I speak from experience) repay looking into. A lecture, given at length, by Prof. Carreras i Artau on Joaquim Costa, a Spanish jurist, who directed attention to folk-custom as a source of law, is well worth reading. In addition there are several questionaries on different branches of folklore which are well conceived; and associates contemplating work are carefully warned that the most rigorous scrupulousness in details is required, but that they need not obtain categorical answers to the questions, and on the contrary that they should obtain information on any other point which may arise, though not explicitly figuring in the questionary. Hitherto the folk-songs (many of which are given with the music) seem to have attracted most attention among collectors.

It will perhaps repel some British students to find that the volumes are chiefly in Catalan. But they will need little perseverance to find that Catalan will very easily yield to a small knowledge of Spanish and French, and a mine of folklore will be opened to them. The volumes are beautifully printed in good type on excellent paper and consequently pleasant to read. The members of the Folklore Society will heartily congratulate Prof. Carreras and his colleagues (among them many eminent men in various departments and well-known writers on folklore) on their auspicious beginning and wish them success in their enterprize.