Old-Fashioned Fairy Tales — J.H. Ewing / Juliana Horatia Ewing

As the title of this story-book may possibly suggest that the tales are old fairy tales told afresh, it seems well to explain that this is not so. Except for the use of common "properties" of Fairy Drama, and a scrupulous endeavour to conform to tradition in local colour and detail, the stories are all new. They were written in conformity to certain theories respecting stories of this kind, with only two of which shall the kindly reader of prefaces be troubled. First, that there are ideas and types, occurring in the myths of all countries, which are common properties, to use which does not lay the teller of fairy tales open to the charge of plagiarism. Such as the idea of the weak outwitting the strong; the failure of man to choose wisely when he may have his wish; or the desire of sprites to exchange their careless and unfettered existence for the pains and penalties of humanity, if they may thereby share in the hopes of the human soul. Secondly, that in these household stories (the models for which were originally oral tradition) the thing most to be avoided is a discursive or descriptive style of writing. Brevity and epigram must ever be soul of their wit, and they should be written as tales that are told.