1086 PROCEEDINGS OF SECTION J. 
There is, perhaps, one other set of facts akin to the subject 
that should be recognised before the field itself is entered. 
The concentration of mind which induces the hypnotic state is 
sometimes taken for true Attention. That such an estimate is an 
error becomes at once apparent when the difference of result is 
noted. In this experience the object contemplated becomes less— 
not greater or richer—in relatedness. The mind does not grow into 
knowledge ; it becomes reduced to unconsciousness. The continued 
perception is of a bare act only, not of an activity. 
No more conspicuous example of failure in what is most essential 
to Attention could be found than this seemingly perfect mental 
concentration. 
There will be no need to look further into border regions of the 
subject. Additional instances of its occurrence in extraordinary 
conditions may be found outside the limit of each division ; but 
the continent itself has now to be explored. 
The beginning of true Attention is to be found in a stage of 
mental life that lies below self-consciousness. The prolonged 
gaze of an infant at any bright object, the interest displayed 
by a young child in the very movement of Nature around, 
indicate the rising up of intelligence to the comprehension of the 
visible world. 
The value of these acts of perception, other than the purity 
and beauty which belong inseparably to young life of a noble 
order, is merely prophetic. The gain they bring of knowledge, 
which is itself the entering in of the world of reality, so soon is 
lost like a bud in the blossom ; but they do indicate in a very 
striking fashion the nature and the history of Attention. 
The sustained activity of Mind is caused at first by the attrac- 
tion of Nature. The world which to vision is all of light, appeals 
primarily by its brightest objects. Im a new country one 
invariably lifts up his eyes to the hills; then a continuance of 
changes like the rhythmic rising and falling of music, wins and 
holds the mind, until gradually it is found the relations of fact 
have become established as thought. 
This first stage of Attention is not confined however to the 
time of infancy; neither is its perception limited to natural 
objects. All learning that is said to be by intuition, or that 
comes from the observation of example, is also of this order, 
though it be continued far on into life. There are those who 
pick up some knowledge of Art, Business, Science, as a little 
child learns colour. 
Such perception by special inherited faculty, won and held by 
the attraction of the object, is called often “ the insight of genius.” 
Or it is said to be, in more extraordinary cases, as of the caleu- 
lating boy, Inandi, the exercise of a mysterious gift. 
