738 AMERICAN ANTHROPOLOGIST [n. S., I, 1S99
acting is added in the drama. Then terpsichorean religion is developed into sacrificial religion, for in barbarism the altar sym- bolism is further developed so that food and drink are sacrificed to the gods. In this stage the ghost deities are believed to enjoy for themselves not only the dancing but the feasting which is offered them.
All of the fine arts have their origin in religion, for in the wor- ship of ghost deities tribal men seek to propitiate them and win their favors. In this effort they exhaust all their ingenuity in the production of music, graphic, drama, romance, and poetry. Tribal music is thus the worship of the gods ; tribal graphic, in the same manner, is illustration to the gods ; tribal drama is gesture speech to the gods ; tribal romance is story about the gods, and tribal poetry is song of the gods ; finally, tribal religion is first dancing to the gods, to which is added the feasting of the gods, and at the close of this state of society religion is terpsichorean and sac- rificial in its essential characteristics. The practice of religion is no inconsiderable portion of tribal life, and it occupies a large share of tribal thought.
Here we must pause to emphasize the thought that religion has for its purpose the regulation of conduct in such manner as to secure, through the agency of the gods, superlative or perfect happiness. Thus is the conduct of men regulated by motives that although they are artificial they are yet profoundly po- tential, for the conduct which is thus instigated is held to be the wisest and best for mankind. It is the ethics of tribal men. Ethics is, therefore, a theory of superlative or perfect conduct. If we consider it as conduct, it is ethics ; if we consider it as reward, it is religion. Ethics and religion are identical, the one is the reciprocal of the other.
Through the stage of monarchy the king usurps the function of high priest. His courtiers flatter him as the vice-regent of deity, and he strives to be considered in this light. Often self- deceived by adulation he has a profound faith in the sacred
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