ADMIXISTRATIVE REl'DRT I.XXVII 



The intellectual characteristics of works of graphic art are 

 more prouoiinccil than those of musical art, while the emo- 

 tional characteristics are less vividly expressed. A painting 

 may be excellent, though the theme may be trivial ; 1)ut a 

 great painting must have a great theme, and the picture nuist 

 be judged by its successful presentation of the theme. I can 

 not here stop to treat of the evolution of themes, but will 

 reserve the subject for a future occasion. Here I will be 

 content with the simple expi'ession nf the judgment tliat no 

 great and enduring work of art can be wrought which has 

 not also a great theme. 



We must not fail to give attention to a branch of graphic art 

 which has taken i-oot for itself and thus become independent. 

 I refer to the development of j)icture writings for the purpose 

 of comnmnicating the thoughts of men to other men. The 

 origin of alphabets in picture writing is now' an accepted con- 

 clusion of science. \Vheu graphic ai't was not under the 

 dominion of the religious m6tive, but was impelled bv utili- 

 tarian designs, it worked out a very different result, becoming 

 more and more conventional, while painting itself comes to be 

 more and more realistic. 



DRAMA 



Drama constitutes the third group of fine-art acti\'ities in 

 logical order. 



Dance — Again we have to seek for primal motives in reli- 

 gion. Already we have atfirmed that dancing is the primeval 

 activity of pleasure. It is the first activity which has jov for 

 its motive. The dance is deeply embedded in the constitution 

 of animal life. The various scientific works and essavs ou 

 play which have been produced in modern time clearly set 

 forth this doctrine, though some phases of it are yet in con- 

 troversy. 



That the dance is a religious activity is reveah^d b\- a study 

 of the lower races of mankind. Dance is a play ; not imita- 

 tive, but religious ))lay. Here tlie })lay motive and the reli- 

 gious moti^'e are differentiated, so that we can separate sport 

 from drama, ImU reliti'ion and drama are one in their triljal 



