MENTAL CHARACTERS IN MAN 171 



character. But further evidence is required for 

 clear conclusions regarding the inheritance of musical 

 and artistic ability. 



Miss Stanton (1922) has made records of the 

 musical capacities in various American families con- 

 taining one or more distinguished musicians. The 

 measures of musical capacity used were (i) sense of 

 pitch, (2) sense of intensity, (3) sense of time, (4) tonal 

 memory. These are believed from extensive experi- 

 mentation to be basic qualities in connection with 

 musical ability, being little affected by practice, age, 

 musical training, sex, or general intelligence. Dis- 

 crimination tests were made on the basis of phono- 

 graphic records and standard laboratory apparatus, 

 531 individuals being classed as poor, average, 

 superior, etc., on the basis of each test. As regards 

 inheritance, the results are not extensive enough to 

 warrant any very definite statement of laws. It is 

 nevertheless suggested that the data indicate the 

 dominance and segregation of superior capacity from 

 average and poor capacities. It is concluded that 

 " the inheritance of musical capacities seems, indeed, 

 to follow Mendelian principles, but the method of 

 inheritance is so complex that it is impossible now to 

 state how many factors may be present." It is 

 doubtful if such a result has much value, beyond the 

 recognition of the fact that degrees of musical capacity 

 are probably inherited. 



Pearson treats handwriting as a mental charac- 

 teristic. There is no doubt that it is an extraordinary 

 index of human character,* and can be used for an 

 intimate analysis of the character by one who is 

 expert in the comparison and analysis of different 

 types of cheirograph3^ There is nothing mystical 

 in this relationship. The handwriting is an ex- 



* This statement has often been disputed, but from personal 

 experience I am convinced that it is a fact. See also p. 172. 



