The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1907-01-20

Among Boston women who have created
new fields of activity and have made in
lteresting careers along unique lines Miss
Sara Cone Bryant is especially notable.
Miss Bryant is known nearly all over this
country as the ehildrens entertainer She
is the best known exponent Of the art OF
storytelling, and has developed her
theories concerning this delightful art
along educational lines. until to-day she
/ Is the recognized authority on story-teIl-
/ ing. She enthralls audiences either Of
young folk or Of adults b. her charming
recitais OF well-wOrn tales OF of new and
fascinating ones culled from the literature
of various peoples. says the Chicago
Chronicle.
/ But she is not only a story-teller. She
has instructed hundreds Of teachers. edu-
Gators, mothers. and other interested folk
IN the art Of storytelling. She has new
and interesting ideas about the value OF
telling stories to children, and these she
has expOunded in most Of the larger
American cities.
Storytelling Neglected.
/ To one who has never given the subject
Of storytelling any especial attention this
mere settlement Of Miss Bryant's WORK
may seem quite undressing But if
such a one could hear from Miss Bryants
own lips FER ideas about storytelling the
keenest interest IN her work could not
fail to be aroused.
Storytelling as an art began long. long
I ago, when the world was young. before
man had progressed in civilization far
which to express his thoughts The ear
lest literature was the tales Of the prim-
( tive bards. People learned IN historical
lore now tell US that the wonderful
stories Of Homer are a collection Of tales
which may have been handed down by
word Of mouth from father 70 son
I through generations. The minstrel bards
Of old England who wandered from bar
onial castle to royal palace rehearsing
tales Of bravery. Of CfivalTy Of myth
OlOgy TO our rude fOrefathers were story
teilers pure and simple They were the
entertainers Of their tine and found right
royal welcome at the end Of each days
journey.
When printing had been discovered the
old-time art Of storytelling was neglect
[ ed. Nor has il been revived until within
a few years ago Miss Marie Shedlock,
Of London. England. who zones every
year 10 Boston 10 give her delightful chill
dTen's entertainments. has stood sponsor
for the revival Of storytelling in Eng
land Mrs Elizabeth Young Rutan and
Miss Sara Cone Bryant have fostered the
revival in the United States.
Fairy Stories Please.
Miss Bryant tells fairy stories, nonsense
tales. nature stories. and historical stories
She believes that each has its especial
educational value to a child. She was led
10 take up this line Of work through Il
natural sequence Of events Formerly Sha
gave lectures on German literature. Many
IF the members Of her class were unable
TO read in the original the works with
which she dealt, and as these were modern
works 1t was not always possible 20 obtain
TRANSACTIONS. For this reason. she says,
7 gradually formed the habit OF telling
the story of the drama or novel in qUes-
ton before passing 10 detailed consid-
Grafton of it. 7 enjoyed this part Of the
lesson exceedingly. but it was some time
before I realized how much the larger
part of the lesson it had become 10 the
class. They used-and they We're mature
women-to wait for the story as If il were
a sugar plum and they children and TO
grieve openly if it were omitted. So gen
craI and constant were the tokens of en-
joyInent that there could be ultimately no
doubt Of the power which the mere story
telling exerted.
The attitude Of the gTown-up listeners"
continued Miss Bryant did not illustrate
the general difference between the effect
of telling a story and Of reading one
Every one who knows children well has
felt the difference. With few exceptions
children listen twice as eagerly TO a story
told as TO one read and even a recitation
OF Il so-called reading has not the charm
for them that that person wields who can
tell story And there are sound rea-
sons for this preference.
Personal Element Needed.
ct Is very old, n very beautiful art
There was time when storytelling was
the chiefest Of the arts Of entertainment;
kings and warriors could ask for nothing
better; serfs and children were satisfied
with nothing less. IN all times there have
Ibeen occasional revivals OF this pastime.
and in no time has the art died out in the
simple human realms OF which mothers
are queens But perhaps never since the
really old days has storytelling so nearly
reached recognized level as a legitimate
and general art Of entertainment as now"