Page:Journal of American Folklore vol. 12.djvu/588

 240 Journal of American Folk-Lore.

explanations regarding the vast mass of poetry traditionally current in Finland. Of Lonnrot's three collections, the Kalevala has found world- wide acceptance ; but this epic narrative was a reconstruction of Lonnrot himself, who cast into a continuous series disconnected lays. In some portions of the recast, however, the original episodes are closely followed. The other collections, Loitsurunoja, or magic songs, and Kanteletar, or lyric and ballad verse, are also considered.

In No. 6, Alfred Nutt examines " The Fairy Mythology of Shakespeare." The poet derived his ideas concerning fairy lore in part from the popular ideas of Englishmen in his own day, in part from earlier romantic litera- ture. Mr. Nutt considers these two modes of representation to have ori- ginally depended on the same source, namely, the peasant's belief in natural powers which he was in the habit of placating by traditional rites. The picture of a fairy realm reproducing the external aspect of a mediaeval court was borrowed from French fiction similar to that of Huon of Bordeaux; Mr. Nutt points out that to a certain degree Irish fairy mythology was similar. The superior part which fairy lore continued to play in English- literature as compared with continental is explained by the popularity of Arthurian romances in the island where Arthur was at home.

The foregoing remarks will be sufficient to show that in this series of little treatises we have a collection of papers which may be bound together, and which ought to be found in all well-appointed libraries, as a convenient introduction to a number of subjects respecting which correct information is not easily accessible.

Wyandot Folk-Lore. By William Elsey Connelley. Topeka, Kans. : Crane & Co. 1899. Pp. 116.

This treatise includes the matter already printed in the writer's contribu- tion to this Journal (vol. xii. 1899, pp. 1 16-125). Prefixed to myths and stories collected by Mr. Connelley are notes on the history, government, and religion of the tribe, including some mention of the gentes, marriage laws, and councils. At the present time, we are told, marriage restriction applies only to union of men and women of the same clan, and this is going out of use. The Wyandots are now farmers in Missouri near Seneca, maintaining schools for their children, and keeping their land in a good state of cultivation. Mr. Connelley announces a more extensive work to contain existing folk-lore, an account of the organization and government, and a full vocabulary of the language.

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