The present collection is intended to exemplify the spirit of the
Czech race. It may perhaps be objected that folk-tale themes are part
of a common stock belonging to all European races, and even to many
primitive peoples: but though this is perfectly true, it is also no
less certain that the spirit of the nation manifests itself in the
manner of their telling. The selection has been made from all sorts
of folk tales, artistic and primitive alike; and yet two things are
common to all of them: the moral tendency and a sense of humour. By
this I do not mean morality in the vulgar sense of retribution for
evil, or of filial devotion, or the sentimental insistence upon
"every one living happily ever afterwards," and above all upon Jack
marrying his Molly. I mean that higher sort of morality which was the
mainspring of Protestantism. It is often supposed that Protestantism is
very unfavourable to the development and preservation of folk tales;
but those of Bohemia are certainly an exception to this rule. The
Czech nation was the first to adopt the Protestant faith, and even
to-day is still Protestant at heart, though the Habsburgs forced it
back into the Catholic fold.
The Czechs, then, have preserved their love for folk tales,
adapting them to the higher morality and to the national sentiment,
and discarding many of their supernatural features, or where the
supernatural was allowed to remain for a moment, reverting very soon to
the strict limits of probability. It is the very same method which, for
example, Mr. Wells employs in some of his novels. That the Slav nations
have a certain tendency to lay stress upon the ethical side in their
folk tales has already been pointed out by the Czech poet Erben, whose
tales have been translated into English in Wratislaw's Collection.
As for their humour, the Czechs have a natural tendency to satire. The
best works in Old Czech literature are satires, and in modern times
one of the most brilliant of Czech politicians, Karel Havlicek, was
also the greatest Czech satirist. This spirit may also be seen in
the present collection; but in every case the story-teller, instead
of assuming the attitude of the morality preacher or of indulging
in theatrical invective against the wickedness of the times, rests
content with a good-humoured gibe at the folly of the world, at the
frailty of his fellow-men, and, it may be, at his own.
These two traits are inherent in the nature of the Czech people;
and those who know their love of such tales and of the literature
which has grown out of them, can realize their search for a haven of
refuge from the cruel present and their fond dream-pictures of a land
where all was good, where at last everything was bound to end well,
where truth and justice at last had conquered. Alas! to the victims of
Habsburg rule and Austrian bayonets the bare possibility seemed utterly
excluded. And yet why should they not dream of such a land? Amo quia
absurdum! But at the very moment their humorous ego could not suppress
a sneer. Yes, even in that wonderland which their fancy painted are
foolish kings, ever prone to break their word: even there people are
bad and stupid! But our tale says that the bad were vanquished and
the foolish put to shame: let, then, the tale be told! And even as he
tells it, his heart nurses the inward hope that the foreign tyrants
who oppress him may one day be vanquished and annihilated.
That such were the wishes of the Czech people, the Great War has
shown. They have proved by their deeds their love of freedom; and
to-day Czechs are fighting bravely in every Allied army and in their
own national units formed in Russia. May their Austrian oppressors be
brought to the ground, and may Bohemia regain the freedom for which
she has longed for three centuries!