Page:The Folk-Lore Journal Volume 4 1886.djvu/209

Rh is a discourse as to the manner in which the Society should set about this study.

In all scientific research observation of the facts from which the deductions are to be made of course comes first, but this observation must be critical. It is of no sort of use to observe everything indiscriminately, for this leads to confusion. Only the facts of Folk-lore—in other words, the matters that fall within the definition of the term—are wanted; hence the primary importance of defining what Folk-lore is. If I may be permitted to do so I would here point out a danger to enthusiasts, for I presume we are all enthusiastic. It consists in overdoing the self-appointed task. The subject is so wide, the facts to be observed so many and so ubiquitous, and the interest, when once roused, rapidly becomes so keen, that we are all apt to observe too much. Too much soon includes rubbish, and then down comes our friend the critic. I say "friend" advisedly, howsoever too candid he may appear to be at the time with his cold advice to examine and go carefully. Dr. Westcott used to be fond of explaining to the boys at Harrow how it was that a modern savant, unlike his ancient prototype, could not learn all the sciences, by drawing a series of circles, one inside the other, representing respectively the various stages of knowledge attained by man during his progress on earth. A bright intellect could easily grasp, he used to say, all the knowledge that was contained in the small inner circle; a sound one could manage the next; an exceptional mind could master the third; but the fourth was beyond the power of man; and as for the large outer circle, including all modern science, one intelligence could attain to only a small portion of it. This was with reference to science generally; but without exaggeration one may say that so greatly has scientific knowledge increased of late that what is true of Science as a whole is also true of any particular branch of it. A man is indeed oftener right than wrong in confining his efforts to the elucidation of a portion only of a scientific subject. Another danger is in being disheartened at the rigid requirements of Science. Says a humble votary of Folk-lore: "It is of no use my doing anything; these scientific gentlemen want so much; and how am I to know whether my observations when made are of any use?" To such a question the