John Tenniel's look at Aesop - Keeping the Public in Public Domain

Today's story is not unknown, although many stories I will be sharing are unusual discoveries.  I recently heard it mentioned on the t.v. show, The Good Wife.  The judge had to make a decision on an election ruling and referred to it.  Similarly that storyteller, Abraham Lincoln, must have known it.  I've heard the quote given as "You can please some of the people some of the time, all of the people some of the time, some of the people all of the time, but you can never please all of the people all of the time."  More frequently the word "fool" is used than "please", but either would certainly fit a politician.

So you may know today's story, but thought you'd enjoy the view of it by John Tenniel.  The book doesn't name the anthologer of Aesop's Fables, nor does it give a publication date by Grosset and Dunlap, but Sir John Tenniel died in 1914 and is best known for his illustration of the Alice in Wonderland stories.

Enjoy!

May this story please you and come back next for a Russian version of the spooky Irish tale, Mary Culhane and the Dead Man.

This is part of a series of bi-weekly posting of stories under the category, "Keeping the Public in Public Domain."  The idea behind Public Domain was to preserve our cultural heritage after the authors and their immediate heirs were compensated.  I feel strongly current copyright law delays this intent on works of the 20th century.  I hope you enjoy discovering new stories. 

Currently I'm involved in projects taking me out of my usual work of sharing stories with an audience.  My own library of folklore includes so many books within the Public Domain I decided to share stories from them.  This fall I expect to return to my normal monthly posting of a research project here.  Depending on response, I will decide at that time if "Keeping the Public in Public Domain" should continue along with my monthly postings.