My dear Hartland,
Though you are burdened with the duties of a profession faroutside of which lie those studies that have largely occupied myattention for many years past, yet your own able contributions tothe same, or cognate, subjects of investigation evince the truth ofthe seemingly paradoxical saying, that “the busiest man findsthe greatest amount of leisure.” And in dedicating thislittle book to you—would that it were more worthy!—as atoken of gratitude for the valuable help you have often rendered mein the course of my studies, I am glad of the opportunity itaffords me for placing on record (so to say) the fact that I enjoythe friendship of a man possessed of so many excellent qualities ofheart as well as of intellect.
The following collection of essays, or papers, is designed tosuit the tastes of a more numerous class of readers than were someof my former books, which are not likely to be of special interestto many besides students of comparative folk-lore—amongstwhom your own degree is high. The book, in fact, is intended mainlyfor those who are rather vaguely termed “generalreaders”; albeit I venture to think that even the folk-lorestudent may find in it somewhat to “make a note of,” asthe great Captain Cuttle was wont to say—in season and out ofseason.
Leaving the contents to speak for themselves, I shall only sayfarther that my object has been to bring together, in a handyvolume, a series of essays which might prove acceptable to manyreaders, whether of grave or lively temperament. What are called“instructive” books—meaning thereby“morally” instructive—are generally as dullreading as is proverbially a book containing nothing butjests—good, bad, and indifferent. We can’t (and weshouldn’t) be always in the “serious” mood, norcan we be for ever on the grin; and it seems to me that a mentaldietary, by turns, of what is wise and of what is witty should bemost wholesome. But, of the two, I confess I prefer to take theformer, even as one ought to take solid food, in great moderation;and, after all, it is surely better to laugh than to mope or weep,in spite of what has been said of “the loud laugh that speaksthe vacant mind.” Most of us, in this work-a-day world, findno small benefit from allowing our minds to lie fallow at certaintimes, as farmers do with their fields. In the following pages,however, I believe wisdom and wit, the didactic and the diverting,will be found in tolerably fair proportions.
But I had forgot—I am not writing a Preface, and this isalready too long for a Dedication; so believe me, with all goodwish