Page:The International Folk-Lore Congress of the World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago, July, 1893.djvu/19

Rh Belief; The Philosophy of Myth-Making; The Myth-Making Faculty; Native American Myths and their relative place in Folk-Lore; Myths of the Forces of Nature; Hero Myths; Animal Myths and Beast Epics; The Relation of Traditional Beliefs of our Negroes to African Native Myths; Traditional Beliefs and their Effect on Religious Ideas; Theories of Spirits; Metempsychosis in Folk-Lore.

Under the second head, the following and kindred subjects may be presented:

Definition of Oral or Traditional Literature; the Formation, Composition and Classification of Stories and Legends; Types of Stories; the Relation of Indian, Negro, Mexican and Other Native American Stories and Tales to European Stories; Dialects, Popular Slang and Argot, and their Effect on Language; Bibliography of Folk-Lore; Rhymed Literature; Relation of Imaginative Poetry to Folk-Song the Historical Value of Popular Songs; Their Influence on Patriotism; Improvisation; Labor Songs; Song as Applied to Ceremonies; the Influence of Instruments upon the Songs; Variants of Popular Songs; Folk Rhymes, Jingles, etc.; the Philosophy of Proverbial Literature.

In the third division will properly belong Customs, Rituals and Institutions. This is an important department of Folk-Lore, since in these customs and institutions are embodied popular beliefs. A few of the subjects to be considered under this head are these:

A History of Customs and Institutions; the Effect of Ritual upon Religion, and vice versa; Ceremonial Customs and their Meaning; The Effect of Particular Customs upon National Character; the Influence of Climate and Locality upon Customs; Juridical Customs and their Relation to Law; Civil Customs and their Effect on Popular Games and Pastimes; Superstitious Ceremonies in their Relation to Medicine and Hygiene; the Philosophy of a Belief in Sorcerers and Witches; Ceremonial Agents and their Influence; Indian Ceremonies; Voodoo Rites; Folk-Lore Survival in Modern Ceremonies; Survivals of Popular Beliefs in Games; Totemism, Castes, Clan Organization and Tribal Relations; Popular Notions as to the Status of Woman; Marriage Customs and their Influence upon Society; Ceremonies at Birth and at Death; Social Customs and their Effect upon Civilization: the Identity of Customs and Institutions in Different Lands.

The fourth division embraces all in the Graphic, Plastic and Industrial Arts, bearing upon the questions considered pertinent to Folk-Lore. The subjects to be considered in this division, illustrated by the material exhibits in Ethnography and Archaeology, are divided into four general classes: 1. Those which relate to ritual; a, Divinities; b, Cults; c. Fetiches and amulets; d, miscellaneous small objects. 3. Those relating to political or legal affairs; a, emblems of command; b, emblems of servitude; c, society emblems; d, emblems of peace or war; e, Juridic emblems. 3. Those relating to