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THE ATHENAEUM 41 whose canvasses remain so little desired or understood. He insists on doing only what pleases him and otten drifts far away from the requirements of our normal living, thus rendering his expressions not usable. The simplicity of Art should be no argument against its return. Often the greatest things are the simplest, and whether it be a con ception of a plot for an opera, a plan for a great building, a motive for a song, a story or poem, or a principle ohwhich to elaborate a law, they all have originated in a plain, uncomplicated, and convinc ingly dear idea.. This f orm of growth is a good one. It is conducive to development, and expresses a need well and practically met. If we follow T this form there can be no artificial Art. . Doubtless the great old Art workers would not reappear, but many new ones would arise and be a great part of our life as all Art must be. • The question arises: Is it possible for the conditions of our mod ern civilization to produce a work of Art? Let us examine conditions governing Art production in such places as yet produce Art work, for example the Pueblo towns in the Rio Grande Valley. They produce decorated jars and baskets, and are said to sing and dance lovely ritualistic ceremonies. In giving visible expression to their most serious emotions and convictions, they are conscious of nothing more than simple good living. Common experiences, confidences, and abilities lead them to accomplish more when they do together. They are indeed and truth all for one and one for all. This: is in many respects far different from our own lives. Where the Pueblo Indian lives a life concerned with things of the spirit—beauty, adventure, joy, confidence in his neighbor, and reverence for God—we live coldly and hurriedly, absorbed by our own individual ambitions, giving our attention to the direction of more efficient machinery, which indeed gives us a sense of power, but being concerned almost entirely with the material aspects of our lives, the spiritual power from which Art must derive its strength.. Let us not commit ourselves so deeply to the machinery we think neces sary for keeping abreast of life’s demands that the very happiness of life itself escapes us. Under such circumstances no Art of the people can be express ed. Individuals who can arrange their economic situations so as to be free to think and do the best that is in, them may, in a small measure, produce significant work; simple and poor hand builders may express themselves artistically to the best of their understand ing. But no Art deeply rooted in our lives can thus be developed. The Athenaeum wistfully looks forward to, and makes its ap peal in the interest of a time when we shall understand and de sire Art as a vital part of our lives. We believe it is not far distant, but not until we turn back from the forms to the essential, from the materials to the spirit; not until we have, by analyzing and apprais ing all our experiences, learned to know the real values of life. Suppose Nobody Cared! I Care! Do You!