Sketch of an Orgatilsrual Thcor/j of Consciousness 335 



of action so far as concerns tlic particular stimulus, sccnis 

 to me a phenomenon of very great imi)ortance since it de- 

 pends upon princij)les of organic beings, especially upon 

 principles of civilized nian's "being," which are well-nigh if 

 not entirely universal, I am sure. Undoubtedly the phenom- 

 enon is often much obscured through counteracting ele- 

 ments in the environment, especially in social customs, eco- 

 nomic conditions and general education among civilized men. 

 But in spite of all these, attentive observation will nearly 

 always be able to recognize it. Highly significant is it as 

 bearing on this particular aspect of the matter, that the 

 niches finally found by most of the persons were obviouslv 

 determined to some extent by long continued previous activi- 

 ties and unmistakable natural "gifts." 



Another noteworthy fact is the clear indication of not 

 mere acceptance, but positive satisfaction on the part of 

 most if not all the persons, once they are "settled" to their 

 "jobs," this satisfaction prevailing despite the strenuousness, 

 perplexity, and wear-and-tear entailed. During the first 

 weeks of America's plunge into the maelstrom the anxious 

 psychical casting about in our little group, as throughout 

 the whole land, presents to the anthropological biologist as 

 he looks back upon it a case of trial and error on a gigantic 

 scale, the scene being replete with jumbled elements of noble 

 zeal, splendid efficiency, mis-expenditure of strength and 

 funds, and ludicrous proposals. But out of this, as out of 

 this unprecedented instance of world-wide "struggle for ex- 

 istence," there is quite sure to come, indeed is coming, as one 

 of its first fruits, personalit/j more real and powerful and 

 fuller of grandeur than ever. 



While personalities come forth with special distinctness 

 of outline and forcefulness of ex])ression during occasional 

 events of vast import to the race like tiu' |)rcs(Mit war m 

 volving literally the whole civilized ])()rtion of the human 

 species, yet I would insist that the ditrerence Ix^tween the 



