Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 2 1884.djvu/351

 Rh science first into two departments, calling the one folk-thought and the other folk-practice, or, still better, folk-wont. Under the former head I reckon:—

1. Tales of all kinds, sagas (such as world- sagas, god-sagas, hero-sagas, elf-sagas, ghost-sagas, &c.), nursery-tales, drolls, cumulative-tales, and apologues.

2. Folk-songs, under their various heads.

3. Weather-lore.

4. Proverbs.

5. Local and personal saws, and prophecies.

6. Riddles.

The term folk-wit, suggested by Mr. Nutt to comprise the last three classes, is excellent.

7. Folk-speech. I think the inclusion of this study, as suggested by Mr. Nutt, may very well be defended, and at all events it would be wise to adopt it provisionally.

Under the head of Folk-wont I reckon:—

1. Worship, corresponding very nearly to the class of sagas in folk -thought, and including not only god-worship but luck-worship, and every practice the object of which is to propitiate the powers which are believed to influence man's fortunes or destiny.

2. Folk-law. Although the customs of savage and barbarous peoples do not generally come within the juridical definition of law, I prefer this term to that of Folk-wont, because the latter covers a larger ground, and will be more usefully as well as accurately employed to denote the whole range of folk-practice.

3. Folk-leechcraft, including so much of magic as is not included under the head of worship. Leechcraft is an established word, expressing exactly the thought, and is therefore better than leechdom.

4. Games, including dramatic representations, so far as they may not be found under any of the classes of folk-thought.

5. Folk-craft, including, in art and industry, the art and industry of warfare, hunting, and every other means by which uncivilized man supports himself.

Other classes will doubtless occur to students of folk-lore; but the above list, though imperfect, will afford sufficient indications of the lines of the scheme. As in the physical sciences, the different classes