now leavening the whole society; but it is still from the halls that the artisan to-day gets all his knowledge, meagre as it is, and to the same source may be traced his familiarity with the notable events and heroes in the history of his country. In its educating influence, then, the story-teller’s profession is an important one, and though it must be owned that few of his tales are edifying, his confrères in the front rank of their profession deserve better of their countrymen than has hitherto been their lot. A just combination of amusement and instruction needs so much tact and judgment that few story-tellers care to attempt it: and most of them prefer dropping into a broad and often senseless farce to making a dry sermon of their tales, which would have the effect of emptying the hall in an instant; but taken even at their own valuation, story-tellers are among the most influential of the multitude who live to please.
A STORY-TELLER SNUFFING THE CANDLES.
Popular as are the story-tellers’ halls, they are of comparatively recent origin; but the art appears to have been appreciated from the oldest times. Emperor Toba, for instance, who reigned in the earlier half of the twelfth century, used, we are told, to order his courtiers to tell stories by turns while his physician burnt pinches of moxa on his back; but history does not record whether His Majesty actually forgot his pain in the interest of their narratives. This story-telling in rotation was popular and has in one form at least survived to the present day. In a
