WRITING WITH A MIRROR IS HARDER THAN IT LOOKS 
The boy examined is given a card with a pattern traced on it, and is asked to follow this pattern 
with his pencil, guiding himself solely by the reflection of the pattern in a mirror. A 
shield just above his hand prevents him from seeing the movements of his pencil, except 
by the aid of the mirror. 
Almost anyone finds this difficult at the first trial, but after 
half a dozen attempts the normal person can follow the diagram correctly, while the feeble- 
minded person is almost as much puzzled on the tenth trial as on the first. 
The test 
therefore aids in showing how much capacity a person has for learning, and how quickly 
the mind adjusts itself to a new problem, 
conviction; it will pay the community, 
therefore, to examine, segregate and 
properly treat prisoners before arraign- 
ing them, instead of waiting until they 
reach the court or penitentiary. The 
psychopathic laboratory is a huge sieve, 
its aim being the selective classification 
and disposition of the criminal popula- 
tion. It is not a sentimental under- 
taking—it is scientific, wise and 
humane.”’ 
The reader will probably agree with 
this verdict. Why, then, one naturally 
(Fig. 4.) 
asks, is the criminal offender not handled 
in this manner everywhere? 
Largely, it must be supposed, because 
of the Tack of public knowledge sufficient 
to educate public sentiment. Chicago 
has two psychopathic laboratories for 
juvenile offenders, and here and there 
sporadic work is being done; but New 
York is absolutely the only place in the 
United States where adult offenders 
are examined systematically in the light 
of their mentality and their family 
history before being brought to trial. 
261 
