values. It provides the nearest thing to a pure pleasure, to a
like, extent sublimating that sensuous element which gives
what we call the soul, as distinguished from the mind, its
richer content. Unfortunately, individuals and whole
peoples are somewhat unequally endowed in respect to
creative and even appreciative genius of the æsthetic order.
Yet education can do much to bring out in most of us a
power of nice perception though almost latent hitherto, or
narrowed and stifled by convention. My prescription would
be for those who would teach themselves to enjoy beauty
on a world-wide scale: Find a good ethnological museum,
and use Dr. Adam's text-book as your guide.

Now it is not for me to attempt here to examine, much
less to criticise, the contents of a work that, without wasting
a word, fulfils the twofold task of analysing principles and
describing results. Suffice it to say that so concrete a treat-
ment will appeal to everyone who likes facts; and some of
Dr. Adam's facts, notably those relating to various modern
representatives of the primitive, will have been previously
known to few. Speaking for myself, and being chiefly in-
terested in Social Anthropology, I have nothing but praise
for his insistence on the connection of fine art with the other
functions of the body politic. For instance, one can never
afford to ignore the religious or magico-religious significance
of much that, regarded apart from its context, might easily
be credited with a purely decorative purpose. Or, again, the
primitive artist merges with the artisan, so that he cannot
turn out a useful tool or weapon without introducing the
ornamental as a finishing touch. I might go on to note how
the psychological interest is maintained throughout. Thus
something, yet perhaps enough, is said about the obscure
but real relation between the artistic and the sexual im-
pulses. So, too, the rather dangerous analogy between the
savage and the child is handled with caution; nor is the
civilised artist forgotten whose only chance of reaching the
primitive is, in default of innocence, by way of repentance.
But what need to say more? The reader will find in this
handy volume a wealth of information, and what is even
more important, a wealth of suggestion. The fact that
genuine beauty is revealed to the simple-minded has wide
implications that are worth thinking out.

-8-