Letter to the Review Editor

Abstract

Stase Paluskas McPherron in her review ofLithuanian Folk Tales (JAF,LXXII [1959], 263-264) made several erroneous statements. First, the name of my acquaintance who published several Lithuanian tales in Southern Folklore Quarterly is Joseph Russell Reaver and not Weaver as the reviewer wants to correct me. Secondly, the book The Evening Song compiled and translated by V. F. Beliajus, contains merely thirteen traditional, i. e., folkloristic items, while the rest, including the very first item in the book, are indiv idual creations by Vincas Kr6ev and other authors. is about time for folklore students to make the distinction between pure folklore traditions and literary stories of all kinds. Thirdly, items quoted by Archer Taylor in his article Tarbaby Once More (1944) are merely abstracts or better to say the end episodes of five Lithuanian tales which I supplied to the author in English translation and for which I received proper acknowledgment in the article. Those items are interesting to folklorists but not to the general reader. The same is true ofA Lithuanian Formula Tale, published by Archer Taylor in JAF, 1946, p. 194, where he states: It was sent to me several years ago by Professor Balys as an example of an unreported variety of cumulative story. Finally, the book compiled by S. Zobarskas was intended for the general reader. The selection was entirely made by the compiler. I received galley proofs and changes were no longer possible. My notes were added with the idea that somebody might use the book for research, because it is really the first book of Lithuanian folktales in English. Second enlarged edition (240 pages) already appeared in 1959. J. BALYS Washington, D. C.