This, which applies directly to the collector at first hand, has also its application for the student who would profit by the materials when collected. He should approach popular songs and traditions from some other stand-point than that of mere criticism; and divesting himself of preconcerted ideas, he should try to live the life and think the thoughts of people whose only literature is that which they carry in their heads, and in whom Imagination takes the place of acquired knowledge. I. Research into popular traditions has now reached a stage at which the English Folk-Lore Society have found it desirable to attempt a classification of its different branches, and in future, students will perhaps devote their labours to one or another of these branches rather than to the subject as a whole. Certain of the sections thus mapped out have plainly more special attractions for a particular class of workers: beliefs and superstitions chiefly concern those who study comparative mythology; customs are of peculiar importance to the sociologist, and so on. But tales and songs, while offering points of interest to scientific specialists, appeal also to a much wider class, namely, to all who care at all for literature. For the Folk-tale is the father of all fiction, and the Folk-song is the mother of all poetry. Mankind may be divided into the half which listens and the half which reads. For the first category in its former completeness, we must go now to the East; in Europe only the poor, and of them a rapidly decreasing proportion, have the memory to recite, the patience to hear, the faith to receive. It was not always or primarily an affair of classes: down even to a comparatively late day, the pure story-teller was a popular member of society in provincial France and Italy, and perhaps society was as well employed in listening to wonder-tales as it is at present. But there is no going back. The epitaph for the old order of things was written by the great philosopher who threw the last shovel of earth on its grave: O l'heureux temps que celui de ces fables Des bons demons, des esprits familiers, Des farfadets, aux mortels secourables! On ecoutait tous ces faits admirables Dans son chateau, pres d'un large foyer: Le pere et l'oncle, et la mere et la fille, Et les voisins, et toute la famille, Ouvraient l'oreille a Monsieur l'aumonier, Qui leur fesait des contes de sorcier. On a banni les demons et les fees; Sous la raison les graces etouffees, Livrent nous c[oe]urs a l'insipidite; Le raisonner tristement s'accredite; On court, helas! apres la verite, Ah! croyez-moi, l'erreur a son merite.[1]