194 BULLETIN OP THE UNIVERSITY OP WISCONSIN. 



important, though, that the relaxing exercises should not de- 

 mand just as great concentration of attention as the study ; the 

 purpose in relaxing, which was argued in the preceding chapter, 

 is to relieve the will, to set it free, when it will return with re- 

 newed vigor to mental tasks. 



The sequence of studies in the day's work is an important sub- 

 ject for the student. The principle governing this matter is de- 

 pendent upon the neurological fact already discussed, that dif- 

 ferent regions of the brain have charge of characteristic mental 

 activities. When then the mathematical center has been exer- 

 cised for a reasonable period, economy would suggest that this 

 be relieved while other areas be employed. To follow one 

 mathematical study by another is not the part of wisdom unless 

 the first has used but a fraction of the available energy. If it 

 were possible it would be advisable to keep the attention con- 

 centrated upon a subject, as mathematics or literature, until the 

 energy which can be utilized in that direction is largely spent; 

 then turn to another study of a different character. This is not 

 so important for the mature as for the immature brain-worker ; 

 a Senior should be able to disregard the law of sequence in stud- 

 ies with greater impunity than a Freshman. He can draw more 

 largely upon all his resources for special purposes ; he can sum- 

 mon most of his strength, totalize it, as it were, on occasion. 

 But yet even with the upper classman prudence would advise ar- 

 ranging the day's program so that studies employing different 

 mental activities should relieve one another. This is especially 

 important in relation to the mental and motor branches. If a 

 student has to prepare three subjects during the day, two of 

 which require much writing and the third none at all, it would 

 doubtless be best for him to put the non-writing subject between 

 the others, so that the cerebral motor regions employed in writ- 

 ing may perform the required tasks without exhaustion. 



A student does not have entire option respecting the hours 

 of the day which can be spent in study, but yet the matter is 

 under his own control in some measure. A few of our students 

 have contracted the habit of visiting in the forenoon and study- 



