STORIES FOR CHRISTMAS TIME
The following selected list of Christmas stories is given in the hope that it will prove of service to readers of The Story Hour. The list is suggested by Mr. Charles L. Spain, of Detroit, Mich.
The Discontented Pine Tree—Anderson.
The Fir Tree—Anderson.
The Little Match girl—Anderson.
The Golden Cobwebs, From “How to Tell Stories to Children”—Bryant.
Fulfilled: A Legend of Christmas Eve, From “How to Tell Stories to Children”—Bryant.
Story of Christmas, From “How to Tell Stories to Children”—Bryant.
Why Evergreen Trees Keep Their Leaves in Winter, From “How to Tell Stories to Children—Bryant.”
Yuletide Myth, From Old Norse Stories—Brodish.
Christmas Truants—Fanciful Tales. Stockton.
The Ruggles’ Christmas Dinner, From Brid’s Christmas Carol—R. D. Wiggin.
Legend of St. Christopher
A Christmas at Cafe Spaander. Scribners, Dec. 1902.
New subscribers who did not begin with the November number, but who desire the special information it contains regarding the new educational story-telling movement, including the Constitution of the National Story Tellers’ League, can obtain copies by sending 25 cents to the publisher.
HOW THIS MAGAZINE GOT ITS NAME
[EXPLANATION BY THE PUBLISHER]
About the time the November number of this magazine was on the press a letter was received from Houghton Mifflin Company saying that Miss Nora A. Smith had complained to them about the title of the forthcoming magazine, an advance notice of which had come to her attention. It appears that Miss Smith and her sister Mrs. Kate Douglas Wiggin, some years ago published, through the Houghton Mifflin Company, a book entitled “The Story Hour.” Miss Smith assumed that this magazine was named in honor of their book, and resented it. Lest others should think likewise to our discredit, it is fitting to explain that this magazine did not find its name from any book, print, writing, word or advice from anybody, but was entirely original with the publisher, who had never seen or heard of any book or other print bearing such title.
In the course of the preliminary correspondence regarding a proposed periodical, Mr. Wyche stated (last August) that among those interested in such a publication would be the playground workers, who would find it useful for their story hour, referring to the practice in some playgrounds of setting apart an hour each day for story-telling. It struck the publisher at once that The Story Hour would be just the title wanted, and he was delighted to have hit upon so excellent and appropriate a name. That he was not familiar with the book bearing the same title is not a reflection upon the book, which is undoubtedly quite excellent in every way, and is said to have enjoyed a wide circulation, but it is due to the fact that for several years he has not been in direct touch with educational interests, hence is not acquainted with current literature along such lines.
The publisher has no apology to offer for adopting so excellent a title, but does disavow any intention, inclination or necessity for “borrowing” for this or any other literary purpose. The Story Hour magazine is for the benefit of a worthy educational movement—for the good of children—and there is room for both it and the book of the same name to be a blessing to the rising generation. In doing good, time and priority are not factors, but the will and the deed.