348 POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY 



tricts where beys acquire of necessity more of handicraftsmanship they 

 need manual training less. In cities it is essential. 



The boy of mental peculiarities will not settle down to efficient work 

 till he finds his own place, his level, range of action, and by his own 

 initiative. This discovery is always the outcome of a gradual evolu- 

 tion ; it should not be forced. From this secure position, once attained, 

 he can fare forth satisfactorily and finally achieve his adult sphere of 

 usefulness. That boy is fortunate who is content with his own province 

 when discovered and does not invade that of another. Many a boy fitted 

 to make an admirable and happy ranchman, soldier, sailor or farmer 

 becomes a misfit self-detesting clergyman, physician or lawyer. His 

 early advisers are generally to blame in compelling him to masquerade 

 as a scholar, who was formed to be an excellent capable every-day man. 

 Intelligence, capacity, is not to be measured by degrees so much as by 

 qualities, aptitudes, characteristics. A first-class foreman in a factory 

 may possess a far more symmetric intelligence, a clearer judgment, than 

 the lopsided genius who invented the objects which he manufactures. 



One of the surest criteria of capacity, at any level, is, according to 

 M. W. Barr, the grasp, the quality of the grip of the hand. The grasp 

 shows many things indicating the comprehensiveness of the mind. 

 Certain minds can readily learn by doing, yet they grope feebly in pure 

 intellectual effort. They reach an equally worthy goal if only they 

 know their limits, stop at their own station, go to their own home. 

 Over-stimulation in scholasticism is as hurtful as overtraining in track 

 athletics; the staleness may pass into permanent mental impairment. 



Shyness, inertia, resentment of interference, timidity, gloom, in- 

 dolence or stubbornness may indicate no essential defect, but may be 

 due to awkwardness, defective coordination. The cure is kindly en- 

 couragement, guidance in activities, development of unrecognized apti- 

 tudes, praise, wholesome incentives. Many have little tactile sense; 

 this should be encouraged in all ways; it may finally come in fair 

 measure and form the ground for conspicuous abilities by cooperation 

 of other faculties long overshadowed. Barr quotes Buffon ' how wonder- 

 fully the senses are alike at bottom, how they supplement each other ! ' 



The limit of receptivity is often reached early. It is then wise to 

 be content with careful training on a lower level in which excellent 

 capacities can be attained. One man can become a thoroughly good 

 soldier, to obey orders, to die at his post, to follow to the death, who 

 never can lead a company, much less plan a campaign or sail a ship. 

 The best captain is by no means necessarily a good oarsman or a gunner. 

 Always it is essential to achieve even qualified success to begin special 

 training as early as possible during the plastic stage. No good sailor 

 can be made from an old farmer or an old professor of mathematics. 



