The professional storyteller has played a large part in the successful establishment of storytelling,and is destined to play a still larger part in the future development of the work in playgrounds and other institutions,by raising the standards of the playground library,or settlement worker,who is expected to tell stories.This she will do not by elaborating methods and artifices to be imitated,but by frank criticism of native ability,by inspiring courses in story literature,and by proper training of the much neglected speaking voice.
The sooner we cease to believe that "anybody can tell a story"the better for storytelling in every institution undertaking it.
A candidate for a given position may be required to have storytelling ability,but no assistant should be required to tell stories as a part of her duties unless she can interest a group of children who have voluntarily come to listen to her stories.
Repeating simplified versions of stories is not storytelling.
Exercises in memorizing may be as helpful to the storyteller as the practice of scales to the piano player,but neither is to be regarded as a source of pleasure to the listener.Listening as one of a group is a valuable experience in the training of an assistant who is telling stories in the playground,the library,or the settlement.Herein lies the advantage of a visiting storyteller who does not take the place of the playground or library assistant,but who enlivens the program for the children and makes it possible for the regular assistant to listen occasionally and to profit by the experience.(The professional listener is delightfully characterized in "Miss Muffet's Christmas Party,"by Dr.Samuel McChord Crothers.)
