In the several lines of activity the later ad vances are well known through modern history; it is the earlier stages that are of special inter est to the anthropologist, and these are outlined in later paragraphs. The stages in each line overlap, and those in different lines do not exactly coincide, sometimes one and sometimes another leading; yet the general succession fairly represents the course of human development. Denoting each stage in each line by a single term expressing its salient character, the sequence is shown in the accompanying table: later advances have been more rapid than the earlier; and it is through the same principle that peoples and races are constantly and that primitive folk of snilicient vitality to maintain a strenuous existence are steadily rising to civilization and enlightenment.
Nor does the social advancement stand alone, for the chief stages of human development are de finable no less clearly in terms of other activities. In the field of arts the initial efforts are mimetic, the objects most frequently imitated naturally being those self-aetive things which easiest hold attention; later the mimicry grows into symbol ism stimulated and guided by current beliefs clustering about swift or strong self-motile crea tures; then follows conventionalism. in which
artistic concepts are largely controlled by ar bitrary devices; while the highest stage is that of idealization, culminating in the expression of concepts by devices so simplified as to convey the similitude of reality. Similarly primitive indus tries are imitative of the actions of creatures respected (Jr feared by reason of strength, swift ness, or cunning; later the industrial operations are largely guided by divination and custom; the (bird stage opens when the possession of conscious knowledge enables the worker to verify novel observations and seize chance opportuni ties; while the final stage is that of invention, in which experiences are combined as a basis for provision. In language the initial efforts direct or attract attention by means of vocal signals, and later these are multiplied by means of in flectional and other mutations tending to cluster about radicals; then follows the stage of ar bitrary conventions fixed by writing and print ing, which is succeeded by the interchange and purposive assimilation of linguistic elements naturally attending the increasing contacts and growing originality of later times. The domain