CZECHOSLOVAK
FAIRY TALES
RETOLD BY
PARKER FILLMORE
WITH ILLUSTRATIONS AND DECORATIONS
BY
JAN MATULKA
NEW YORK
HARCOURT, BRACE AND COMPANY
COPYRIGHT, 1919, BY
PARKER FILLMORE
PRINTED IN THE U. S. A. BY
THE QUINN & BODEN COMPANY
RAHWAY, N. J.
Zloboha in Dobrunka’s Clothes
To
MISS MARJORIE RAHLSON
NOTE
This rendering of some of the old Czechoslovak talesis not offered as a literal translation or a scholarlytranslation. I have retold the stories in a way that Ihope will please American children. I have triedhard to keep the flavor of the originals but have takenthe liberty of a short cut here and an elaboration therewherever these have seemed to me to make the Englishversion clearer and more interesting.
I have gone to Czech, Slovakian, and Moraviansources. All these stories appear in many versionsin the different folklore collections made by such nativewriters as Erben, Nemcova, Dobsinsky, Rimavsky,Benes-Trebizsky, Kulda. They represent the folk-talein all stages of its development from the bald narrativeof The Bird with the Golden Gizzard which Kulda reportswith phonographic exactness, to Nemcova’s moreelaborate tale, Prince Bayaya, which is really a mosaicof two or three simpler stories. I have includedKatcha and the Devil for the sake of its keen humor,which is particularly Czech in character; The BetrothalGifts to show how a story common to other countriesis made most charmingly local by giving it a local[Pg viii]background; The Three Golden Hairs to contrast itwith a famous German variant which it seems to meis much inferior to the Slavic version; and several finestories of the prince gone off on adventures whichin common with the folk-tales of all Europe show astrong Oriental influence.
In the transliteration of proper names I have notfollowed consistently any one method, but for each individualname have made what seemed to be the bestselection from the various possible spellings. Untiltransliteration from the Slavic languages has becomestandardized this, I am sure, is permissible and evenadvisable.
In the preparation of this volume I have madeheavy draughts upon the scholarship and patience ofmy Czech friends, Mrs. Jan Matulka and Mr. VladimirJelinek. I beg them to accept my thanks. Iam also deeply grateful to Mr. A. B. Koukol, who didme the favor of reading the final sheets. Lastly I wishto express my appreciation of the Webster Branch ofthe New York Public Library, which has gatheredtogether what is probably the most complete collectionof Czechoslovak literature in America, and one particularlyrich in folklore and children’s books.
P. F.
Augu