Folklore as a Historical Science

Abstract

AS its title leads us to suppose, this interesting volume is a plea for the recognition of folklore as a historical science. Seeing that the barrier between history and folklore is still unbroken, in spite of the efforts of Miss Harrison, Dr. Frazer, and others, the author has resolved to destroy it once for all, and has endeavoured to convince us that historical fact is often the essence of tradition, and that we must look to folklore for most if not all our light on the early stages of the psychological, social, and political development of modern man. In support of his argument, and by way of illustration, he has drawn on his vast store of instances, and discussed legends attached to places and historical persons, folk-tales such as Catskin, Faithful John, c., which imply savage social conditions, and tribal laws and rules, rhythmical if not in verse, which have been handed down by word of mouth and preserved in historical times. Yet, in spite of the proofs at his command, he fears that the historians may refuse to admit the value of folklore as evidence, and believing that a change in their attitude must be preceded by a change in the attitude of the folklorists themselves, he urges on the latter a more rigid scrutiny of their data, and a. more judicious use of the comparative method, than has been customary hitherto. Not only must they ascertain the position of each item of. folklore in the culture area in which it is found, but must try to determine its correct relation to other items, in that area, taking heed to compare like quantities alone. Only thus can they hope to discover, the underlying facts, and to offer the historians materials they can use.

Folklore as a Historical Science.

By G. L. Gomme. Pp. xvi + 371. (London: Methuen and Co., n.d.) Price 7s. 6d. net.