OF THE INTELLIGENCE OF YOUNG CHILDREN 55 



Justice. — A good definition contains the idea of law, that is 

 to say, of rule, of protection accorded to people and their in- 

 terests, or the idea of people being treated according to their 

 merits. Good answers : Justice is an act which consists in sen- 

 tencing persons zvho are guilty and in dismissing those who are 

 innocent. — It is a law which rules. — Justice is to punish the 

 zvicked even though they he rich. Incorrect responses: Justice 

 is that which judges. — Justice is a judgment. — It is ivhere people 

 are judged. — It is to cut the throat. — It is agents. 



Kindness. — A good definition should express the idea of 

 affection, of tenderness, or simple acts of kindness where no 

 inequality of condition exists between those who give and those 

 who receive. Good definitions: Kindness is to be polite to 

 others. — Kindness is to wait when a person cannot pay, and not 

 to beat other people. — It is to return good for evil. — Kindness 

 is to share with others. Incorrect responses : Kindness is to 

 be kind. — It is to do something good. — Kindness is to be very 

 tvell dressed. — It is to lift one's hat. — Kindness is diligence. — 

 Kindness is to be presumptuous. 



Two correct definitions are required. This test is some- 

 times difficult to interpret. At eight and nine years some 

 children give good definitions, but this is quite rare. At ten 

 years one-third succeed, at twelve years the majority. 



V. Derives the sense of a sentence the words of which 

 are mixed. — This test is suggested by the tests of Ebbinghaus 

 which require the subject to supply missing words in sen- 

 tences. We use the three following groups of words which 

 we present to the child, saying: "Put those words in their 

 proper order and find the sentence which they make." 



1 . For — an — the — at — hour — early — we — country 

 — started. 



2. To — asked — exercise — my — I — teacher — correct — my. 



3. A — defends — dog — good — his — master — bravely. 

 Solutions: (1) JVe started at an early hour for the coun- 



