CROSS-EDUCATION. 593 



key was removed to a distant room. Here there were three keys 

 of this kind, any one of which would register. One key each was 

 arranged for tapping with the big toes; the third key could bo 

 tapped by either right or left index finger. 



On the first day all four digits — right and left index fingers 

 and right and left large toes — were carefully tested in tapping as 

 rapidly as possible. Thereafter the right large toe was practiced 

 daily in tapping for several weeks, the other digits being left un- 

 practiced. At the end all four digits were again tested. Four 

 of the six persons experimented upon showed a gain for the right 

 large toe — that is, for the digit practiced; the other two showed 

 a slight loss, due unquestionably to " over-practice," or " over- 

 training." 



All of those who gained for the right large toe gained for the 

 other digits also. Their average gains were: Right foot, thirty- 

 three per cent; left foot, thirty-one per cent; right hand, twenty- 

 one per cent; left hand, thirty-one per cent. Even both of the 

 " over-trained " men gained for the left foot and one of them 

 gained for the left hand. Thus we have reached the third step — 

 the effects of practice are extended to various parts of the body. 



Beyond the third step the experimental investigations have not 

 yet advanced, but I believe that sooner or later we shall be able to 

 establish the fact that development of those forms of the. will in- 

 volved in simple muscular activities does also develop the more 

 complicated forms that express themselves in acts of a mental 

 nature. 



It has long been claimed that sports, games, and manual occu- 

 pations are among the best developers of character. Tootball de- 

 velops solidarity of feeling and action; running rapids or cross- 

 country hunting develop coolness in danger and promptness and 

 firmness of judgment; wood-turning requires boldness and fore- 

 sight; forge work requires regulation and reserve of power, and 

 so on. This is no place for an account of the psychology of sports 

 and occupations, but if the reader has ever tried any of these things 

 and failed he will easily recognize the lacking mental quality. 



Yet there has never been but one attempt, as far as I can learn, 

 to organize a system of manual occupations on the basis of this 

 principle. The success of the attempt furnishes, I believe, the still- 

 lacking laboratory proof of the principle itself. I refer to the 

 remarkable experiment of Mr. Z. R. Brockway, Superintendent of 

 the Elmira Reformatory. 



Most of the young felons sent to the Elmira Reformatory are 

 set to learning trades, by which they can support themselves on 

 leaving. Those, however, who are too stupid to even learn the sim- 



VOL. LVI. — 50 



