These three characters were able to find answers to questions or misteries they were not in search of. Thanks to their natural sagacity they would solve unexpected dilemmas. This unique ability must have impresed so deeply an anonymous witness that he decided to save it for history in the anonymous story entitled The Three Princes of Serendip . Many many people read this book for many many years. But when Mr. Horace Walpole read it in the 18th century something changed.
Letters are a very valuable source of historical information.
Not history of wars or empires, spies or conspirations, but word history. In that letter Horace Walpole wrote about his recent creation, about the word serendipity and its expressive richness. . . . The legend says he discovered it while taking a bath. Archymedes must have realized that his body was gradually weighing less as he was getting into the bath, while spilling the same volume of water. The case of he jumping frog's leg.