IN FOLK-THOUGHT (THE CHILD IN PRIMITIVE CULTURE) BY ALEXANDER FRANCIS CHAMBERLAIN LECTURER ON ANTHROPOLOGY IN CLARK UNIVERSITY, WORCESTER, MASS.; SOMETIME FELLOW IN THE ANTHROPOLOGICAL SOCIETY OF WASHINGTON, OF THE AMERI- CAN FOLK-LORE SOCIETY, OF THE CANADIAN INSTITUTE, OF THE AMERICAN ACADEMY OF POLITICAL AND SOCIAL SCIENCE, ETC. ΤΟ HIS FATHER AND HIS MOTHER THEIR SON Bedicates this Book "Vom Vater hab' ich die Statur, PREFATORY NOTE. THE present volume is an elaboration and amplification of lectures on "The Child in Folk-Thought," delivered by the writer at the summer school held at Clark University in 1894. In connection with the interesting topic of "Child-Study" which now engages so much the attention of teachers and parents, an attempt is here made to indicate some of the chief child-activities among primitive peoples and to point out in some respects their survivals in the social institutions and culture-movements of to-day. The point of view to be kept in mind is the child. and what he has done, or is said to have done, in all ages and among all races of men. For all statements and citations references are given, and the writer has made every effort to place himself in the position of those whose opinion he records, — receiving and reporting without distortion or alteration. He begs to return to his colleagues in the University, especially to its distinguished president, the genius of the movement for "Child-Study" in America, and to the members of the summer school of 1894, whose kind appreciation of his efforts has mainly led to the publication of this work, his sincerest gratitude for the sympathy and encouragement which they have so often exhibited and expressed with regard to the present and allied subjects of study and investigation in the field of Anthropology, pedagogical and psychological. CLARK UNIVERSITY, WORCESTER, Mass., April, 1895. A. F. CHAMBERLAIN. |