She might well be called the founder of a new school of literature. She turned away from the general tendency of the European literature of her day, a tendency to morbid realism, or dealing with the ugliest facts of life. Her method is to throw into obscurity human frailties and vices and turn the light on what is biggest and strongest in people. This idealistic tendency may be readily traced in the story of "The Silver Mine," which is given in this text. It was for _Optimism in Literature_ that Selma Lagerlof was given the n.o.bel prize.

The Silver Mine

276, 1. Gustav the Third. King of Sweden, 1771-1792.

277, 1. The army was so filled with traitors. The country of Sweden at this time was distracted by the intrigues of the rival political parties of Hom and Gyllenborg, known as "Caps" and "Hats."

290, 1. Given me a deep mark on my forehead. This refers to the Bible story of Cain's murder of his brother Abel. Genesis 4:3-15.

SUGGESTED READING LIST OF SHORT STORIES

Abbott, Eleanor Hallowell (Mrs. Coburn) _Sick-a-bed Lady._ t.i.tle Story and "The Happy Day"

Aldrich, Thomas Bailey _Marjorie Daw and Other People._ t.i.tle Story _Two Bites at a Cherry._ "Goliath"

Allen, James Lane _The Flute and the Violin._ t.i.tle Story

Andrews, Mary Raymond Shipman _The Perfect Tribute_ _Joy in the Morning_

Barrie, Sir James Matthew _Two of Them._ t.i.tle Story _A Window in Thrums_

Balzac, Honore _Chouans._ "A Pa.s.sion in a Desert"

Bunner, Henry Cuyler _Short Sixes._ t.i.tle Story and "Love Letters of Smith"

Butler, Ellis Parker _Pigs is Pigs._ t.i.tle Story

Cable, George _Old Creole Days_

Canfield, Dorothy (Mrs. Fisher) _Hillsboro People_ _The Real Motive_

Coppee, Francois _Tales by Coppee._ "The Subst.i.tute"

Cutting, Mary Stewart _Little Stories of Married Life_ _Little Stories of Courtship_

Davis, Richard Harding _The Man Who Could Not Lose._ "The Consul"

_Somewhere in France._ t.i.tle Story _Gallagher and Other Stories._ t.i.tle Story _Ranson's Folly._ "The Bar Sinister"

Deland, Margaret _Old Chester Tales_ _Dr. Lavendar's People_

Doyle, Sir Arthur Conan _Adventures of Sherlock Holmes_ _Adventures of Brigadier Gerard_

Ferber, Edna _Emma McChesney & Co._ _Cheerful by Request_

Freeman, Mary E. Wilkins _The Copy Cat_ _A New England Nun_ _The Wind in the Rose Bush_

Fox, John _Christmas Eve on Lonesome._ t.i.tle Story

Gale, Zona _Friendship Village_ _Friendship Village Love Stories_

Garland, Hamlin _Main Traveled Roads_ _Other Main Traveled Roads_

Hale, Edward Everett _The Man Without a Country_

Harris, Joel Chandler _Tales of the Home Folks in Peace and War_

Harte, Francis Bret _The Luck of Roaring Camp._ t.i.tle Story, "Tennessee's Partner," and "The Outcasts of Poker Flat"

Hawthorne, Nathaniel _Twice Told Tales._ "The Great Carbuncle" and "The Minister's Black Veil"

"Henry, O."

_The Four Million_ _The Voice of the City._ "The Memento" and "While the Auto Waits"

"Hope, Anthony"

_Dolly Dialogues_ _Comedies of Courtship_

Jewett, Sara Orne _Tales of New England_

Kelly, Myra _Little Citizens_ _Wards of Liberty._ "A Soul above b.u.t.tons"

_Little Aliens_ _New Faces_

Kipling, Rudyard _Life's Handicap._ "Betram and Bimi," "The Man Who Was," and "Without Benefit of Clergy"

_Second Jungle Book._ "Rikki-Tikki-Tavi"

_The Phantom Rickshaw._ "The Man Who Would Be King"

_The Day's Work._ "The Brushwood Boy" and "William the Conqueror"

Lagerlof, Selma _The Girl from the Marsh Croft_

Martin, Helen _The Betrothal of Elypholate._ t.i.tle Story

Maupa.s.sant, Guy de _The Odd Number._ "A Piece of String" and "The Necklace"

Mayo, Katherine _The Standard Bearers_ _Justice to All_

O'Brien, Edward J. (Editor) _Best Short Stories of 1917_ _Best Short Stories of 1918_

O'Brien, Fitz _The Diamond Lens._ t.i.tle Story, "What Was It? A Mystery," and "The Thing"

Page, Thomas Nelson _In Old Virginia_

Poe, Edgar Allan _Works._ "The Gold-Bug," "The Cask of Amontillado," "The Purloined Letter," and "The Pit and the Pendulum"

Rinehart, Mary Roberts _Bab, Sub-Deb_