their desert, and exhibit simple folk passing through the most
dazzling rotations. If he be a novice, he is reduced to mere crude
invention--the result in both cases is quite beyond the true purpose
of Art. Art--when all is said and done--a suggestion, and it
refuses to be explained. Make it obvious, unfold it in detail, and
you reduce it to a dead letter."

Again, there is a sentence by Schopenhauer applied to novels which
would apply equally well to stories:

"Skill consists in setting the inner life in motion with the smallest
possible array of circumstances, for it is this inner life that
excites our interest."

In order to produce an encouraging and lasting effect by means of our
stories, we should be careful to introduce a certain number from
fiction where virtue is rewarded and vice punished, because to
appreciate the fact that "virtue is its own reward" it takes a
developed and philosophic mind, or a born saint, of whom there will
not, I think, be many among normal children: a comforting fact, on the
whole, as the normal teacher is apt to confuse them with prigs.

A grande dame visiting an elementary school listened to the telling of
an exciting story from fiction, and was impressed by the thrill of
delight which passed through the children. But when the story was
finished, she said: "But _oh!_ what a pity the story was not
taken from actual history!"

Now, not only was this comment quite beside the mark, but the lady in
question did not realize that pure fiction has one quality which