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Show LXXX BUREAU OF AMERICAN ETHNOLOGY truth discovered breeds more research, so the child becomes the parent that new children may be bom; and when these generations have multiplied until they become a host, the multitude of scientific motives extant in the world constitute a power over society ever more and more efficacious in the regeneration of mankind. Heretofore we have sought a motive for drama in religion; now we must seek it in the desire to truthfully express life- the life of man in society. The promoter of drama, as entrepreneur or undertaker of dramatic enterprise, may have a motive of gain. The artist may have a motive of ambition, but it is soon found that these motives may be gratified to the highest degree only by a most deft expression of the truth; so the motive for evolution is now the desire to express the truth in the action which is designed to represent a trait of character, and the artist, be he dramatic writer or actor, strives to express the emotions of the scene in the most vivid and truthful manner. Columbus discovered America that Jefferson might portray Rip Van Winkle. He who hath ears to hear, then let him hear And sage become that he may come a seer. When the chains which hold drama to religion are dirempt and they can go forth to lead a free life, both start on new careers. Drama becomes histrionic art indeed, and the stage becomes the mirror in which are reflected the causes and consequences of the deeds of life. Religion soars on wings of aspiration into the empyrean of hope- hope for a purer and better life which bears fruit in purer and better conduct. The germ of dramatic art is the dance, which in its first stage is religion. Of course religion must be distinguished from theology. Theology is a system of opinions, while religion is a system of worship. Religious motives become the seed of graphic motives and also the seed of musical motives. We see that both musical art and graphic art are founded on religion. We shall proceed to show that the other esthetic arts are based on religion. The intellectual and emotional elements of drama are pretty evenly balanced in the last histrionic stage; but if we consider |