A century of children's books

by Florence V. Barry

To this end it is forbidden to present even “very little Masters and Misses” with “idle nonsensical stories” and “silly unmeaning rhymes”.

It is little wonder that Wordsworth, remembering

“A race of real children; not too wise,

Too learned, or too good....”,

denounced moralist and pedagogue, and cried in vain for the old nursery tales:

“Oh! give us once again the wishing-cap

Of Fortunatus, and the invisible coat

Of Jack the Giant-killer, Robin Hood

And Sabra in the forest with St. George!”