MENTAL PREPARA TION. 1 8 1 



ious, strong, evenly-balanced nature. Some na- 

 tures are very slow to respond, and change with 

 difficulty; with such persons the training should 

 be long and thorough. Others are very respon- 

 ive and susceptible and readily take on new con- Susceptibility 

 ditions; such require less training to produce a 

 given effect. This difference is especially notice- 

 able during gestation. Some mothers are highly 

 susceptible to external impressions, while others 

 are almost insulated from the effects of environ- 

 ment. 



Genius is abnormal. Lombroso in his studies 

 of men of genius finds that they are nearly all Genius is 

 more or less unbalanced, neurotic, and given to ormal 

 extremes. Many of the world's greatest thinkers 

 have been subject to hallucinations, dementia, 

 monomania, megalomania, chorea, epilepsy or 

 other morbid conditions. 



Genius is hardly desirable. Generally speaking, 

 a well balanced mind is better than a single talent. 

 Special genius for a given pursuit great natural 

 talent for music, art, invention, oratory, etc. 

 is almost invariably accompanied by correspond- 

 ing weaknesses in other directions. It would 

 seem that all the mental power was being ex- 

 pressed through a few faculties, thereby greatly 

 augmenting them, but robbing the others. It is 

 not unlike the results produced by the horticul- 

 turist who trims his trees closely and knocks off 

 three-fourths of the blossoms in order that the 

 remaining fourth may produce exceptionally fine 

 fruit. He sacrifices quantity for quality. 



I am not an advocate of the law of genius, nor 

 do I advise parents to attempt to produce special 



