FORBIDDEN FAIRIES.

Hokitika Guardian, 25 August 1923, Page 4

FORBIDDEN FAIRIES.

A MANNED STOHY

According to the cablegram* tile idles- I sian Government lias is-ued a ukase placing the tale of Cinderella upon the list of books that are proscribed from publication owing to their “counterrevolutionary tendencies.” It is said that a performance at Pctrograd of the drama of the lady with the tiny feet recently gave rise to so much invidious comparison between the state of affairs in,tv obtaining in Itussia and "the socalled 'good old days’ when the world was governed by Czars, Kings, and Prince Charmings'’ that the adventures of the great little heroine have been tabooed for the future throughout Ihe Russian Republic. This, which seems at lirst glance to he rather a subject I’m- humorous comment than to he taken seriously, is, when it is fairly considered, undoubtedly, a matter tor sad reflection. The Russian authorities who are responsible for such a master stroke of policy arc, to a certain extent, wi.-c in their generation; for. it it ho desired to eradicate an affection |or ally particular object I rotii the hearts of ally particular class or people, it i* certainly good policy to follow the old •lesttitieal plan el influencing that class through it- children. The kiln" ledge <>l the adults will die with them, it their children are kept in ignorance; Imt abut is instilled into the minds ~l the children remain' to sway the nation. K> that to attain their ends .Mes-t-Renin and Company would appear to have adopted the most effective means. Rut. 1,, deprive children of one "t t k>‘ principal joys of their innocence; t>> atruphv their faculty ol (alley: I" stamp out their hive of the romantic and the beautiful—that is it crime so

that 110 plot* cun be heard in its defence. IT. i!-' Wordsworth says, ‘ Heaven lies around us in our ittJ'jincy," it is surely largely because ol the virginal imagination of the inlsint, wlio dwells, like love,

Wlonjf fays and talismans And spirits, and dolLditedly l'<din\-f*

Divinities. lioinc himself divine. To roll ii rliilil of the sior.v of C iitil'-i----vlht tuny scorn a little I lii ti*r in it sell Imt it is rcttlly it orievous thine. I'm tin- ilclit'ltis ol Cinderella and her lairy |.in aiv :i mij'lity inlhieiu-e in the inmililitiii ol rhnraoler and in the best.o'»\ :iI of happiness. To the average chilil these stories of the olass slippot aml the tlyino horse ami the niastie carpet are not only true: they tile insiittei with it promise ami a joy thal p ive it pro-cut enl i aneeinenl ami a subseipteiil and permaiuoit bcnelil. Who i.- t here-- when ape hits hi'ollt'ht discr? tioo and tier eohiness ol disillusion -- who dues not feel the eoldeii reeolieetion of his childhood's tales and know that he has licen ihe holier for them down I he hibourine \ ears 'r It i- the eiddell "iit ol youth "to .-00 the world in a era in ol sand and a heaven in a wild 'hover:" it is his elorious privilatre lo elaim aerpiaiuiaueo with I’url;, and often to know that l.tueeii -Mah has lieef. with him. And to steal from youth one lot ol lilteoodlv heritage whieh "iremble- • n tTo■ iialf-divitic" is surely to add an eiehth to tin' list of deadly sins. Ii we att* to believe Ihe eeneral enuseii.sus ol t *:•-

] authorities, tin- 1 ;;■ II is peculiarly susceptible to tin impulses ol lion mid In I !•<• love ol !<l l k .'111(1 laic; lore a lad which adds In the ba.-encs-(l the crime which i lie Bolsheviks have n-I rail d. In a v<»h 1 11:.■ m (■- sy written hv M. Andec Clievrillnii and recently published that hiilliaiil adei:.i• iall declare' iliki “tin KnjJi'h arc the mo't niv-t ieal and visionary race save one - the lln-•■inns ; and he prnl dure.; st ivmr . videmv mv I lie lcm h in ! Ili' ( HllleMl ion. 11 lie iie lie|'.i. We, ■> I ! all neol'ie. -iienld la he able In an ! pre-int e ti.e iva im- o!' the In" with jv,ha h t!>» elnld.'en • If o -sin arc | threatened. Il is aliens! imp.) -il.li in j imai'iiic an Knelisli-sni-akine- home . which iiie tales of fairydom havt no. | hrGt'v,hi iny and I'lanioiir: an h.iielish child wlio is not upon the closes! terms nf ITicmkinp uilh (foldiloeks and I’ussi ii- limit s i> an anomaly 'n rare a' In he rla-se.hie a- a freak : iui-1. like all other freaks, i: i- a worthy nhjecl of mir j pily. 11 iln ti, i hi- h,. i lie ca e v .ill | ii-, tthai o.i 11 a depriva I inn 'iicli a.-, the I’tissiau (hiventineni seem' deteimined |in ell eei mean in l lie I! II" lam Tin- ! children ol that unhappy country have i had more liian their lull shale o' | wreleheilm ss, to lake away now what must have been so lone a source oi soIjiee scents In la- a paradoxical and all jiiet at l, even for a (!ov<>i nnu'iil whose in.-111111!' have always :ipisoart<l to ho founded on paradox and upheld by injustice. That (loverninenl has claimed hv puhiie nroelaination In have brmiehl, durian' ii s few short years oi power, the 1 i nh 1 ol hook' and education to Inriy million children formerly innoraot. II i-- a prer.t claim; and ii Mil ~iant iat<.d would p;o far in reeoiicile it' to many of it. proven emn illil ies. Hut if its latest action is to he followed on and the intindilei ion oi odtieiV iion i' to he read as a decree of banishment to tin' beautiful thinns of fairyland, the claim hoconiex wort liles.s ; fori its benefits are eatteelled out. I here is a. time in the life of man when the tales of i’errauli ami of the brothers 1 ffr)mlit are worth more than all the tomes oi all the schoolmen. And that time is childhood. N’nt to he ahle to reeoonisc this f.-n-t is one ol the prices | which the Bolshevik floveiunieilt has in pay, apparently, jor the ae(|ttisii ion ol j its \\oudci'itil eomnuiuism. To them the | appeal of Hubert Brownine miylit well lie made, were it lmt that upon heart' aide to conceive the prox rim inn of Cinderella no such appeal e.nthl possible lake effect :

Go, pr.u-tiso ii you Willi iiii'ii ami w.uncn : leave n child alone. I'm- Christ’s particular love’s -uko! •C imlerelln hnnisl.cd as a counterrevolutionary I Poor Cinderella I Ami alas, still poorer children!