CHAPTER X. 



MENTAL APTITUDES. 



Let us assume a son who is strong, healthy, active, and of 

 rather more than average mental ability, and let us trace his life 

 history. As he approaches twenty years of age he observes, in a 

 number of points, his superiority over his associates, and because 

 he can see and appreciate that which is his own better than he 

 can that which is peculiar to some other person, he often imagines 

 superiority when none actually exists. Because of his youth and 

 his comparative inexperience, he fails to realize the relatively vast 

 store of knowledge hidden in the brain of some unobtrusive but 

 hiuch older man. Because of his health, strength and activity, he 

 delights in physical exercise, keeps track of the ball games, and 

 knows all about the prize-fighters whether he knows who is Presi- 

 dent of the United States or not. As a consequence, our young 

 man, from twenty to twenty-five, is very much a bundle of con- 

 ceit and aggressiveness. 



CHANGE IN CHARACTER DUE TO CHANGE IN AGE. 



As he approaches thirty he attends the theater and concerts 

 oftener, and begins to take more interest in literature, art, music, 

 poetry, and those things which appeal to the sentiments and sense 

 of the beautiful. As the second stage advances, the stage of con- 

 ceit and aggressiveness gradually wears away until, at the age of 

 thirty-five, the objectionable features of it have practically disap- 

 peared. At this age he dresses well, cares much for appearances, 

 and is the embodiment of artistic taste. 



164 



