Crass stupidities shall not be played upon the reader . . . by either the author or the people in the tale.

     The personages of a tale shall confine themselves to possibilities and let miracles alone; or, if they venture a miracle, the author must so plausibly set it forth as to make it look possible and reasonable.

     The author shall make the reader feel a deep interest in the personages of his tale and in their fate.

MARK TWAIN