Horace Walpole turns to the letters and argues that: Walpole's numerous letters are often used as a historical resource. In one, dating from 28 January 1754, he coined the word serendipity which he said was derived from a "silly fairy tale" he had read, "The Three Princes of Serendip". The oft-quoted epigram, "This world is a comedy to those that think, a tragedy to those that feel", is from a letter of Walpole's to Anne, Countess of Ossory, on 16 August 1776. The original, fuller version appeared in a letter to Sir Horace Mann on 31 December 1769: "I have often said,
The Princes and the Treasure gold, land, and makes them both princes. The story ends with the marriage of the two princes, who live happily ever after in their own castle. Miles came up with the idea for "The Princes and the Treasure" during a visit to the Magic Kingdom, where he watched adult performers singing and dancing together as prince and princess couples. This caused him to note the absence of same sex pairings in children's fairy tales and upon returning home, began developing the story and characters. While writing the story Miles chose not to have the characters of Gallant and Earnest kiss,