ON ASSIGNING MAKKS FOR BODILY EFFICIENCY. 473 



The intellectnal differences are usually small between the candidates 

 ■who are placed, according to the present literary examinations, near to 

 the dividing line between success and failure. But their physical differ- 

 ences are, as we have just seen, as great as among an equal number of 

 the other candidates taken at random. It seems then to be most reason- 

 able whenever two candidates are almost on a par intellectually, though 

 one is far superior physically, that the latter should be preferred. This 

 is practically all I propose. I advocate no more at present than the intro- 

 duction of new marks on a very moderate scale, sufficient to save from 

 failure a few very vigorous candidates for the Army, Navj', Indian Civil 

 Service, and certain other Government appointments in which high 

 bodily powers are of service. I would give the places to them that would 

 be occupied under the present system by men who are far their infei'iors 

 physically, and very little their superiors intellectually. I am sure that 

 every successful emploj-er of men would assign at least as much weight 

 as this to bodily efficiency, even among the highest class of those whom 

 he employs, and that Government appointments would be still better 

 adjudged than they now are if considerations of high bodily efficiency 

 were taken into some account. 



It is scarcely necessary to press my own views in detail as to the par- 

 ticular tests most easily available, several of whith I actually employ at 

 my own laboratory at South Kensington. They would include the well- 

 known measuies of strength, breathing capacity, agility or promptness, 

 keenness of eyesight, and of hearing. In a subsequent short paper I 

 propose briefly to discuss certain general principles that appear to me to 

 underlie the construction of consistent scales of marks. It is sufficient 

 now to say that I have not the least doubt as to the feasibility of con- 

 structing off-hand a valuable system of examination for immediate use, 

 though it would be open to great improvement through experience. I 

 would refer to the statement already quoted from the Report of the Civil 

 Service Commissioners, in which they themselves, being experts in the 

 general art of examination, also foresee no difficulty. The higher educa- 

 tion of the country is now so pervaded by the spirit of athleticism, that 

 it is not to be feared for a moment that any system of examination for 

 bodily efficiency would become pedantic or fanciful. Many of the 

 examiners in the present literary subjects are themselves past athletes. 

 If the principle of considering physical merit in competitive examinations 

 for Government appointments be once conceded, I am sure that we may 

 safely trust the authorities to frame appropriate tests and methods. 

 It is but reasonable to assume that they would proceed very cautiously at 

 first, and gradually extend the system to its legitimate limit, whatever 

 that may be, with increasing thoroughness. 



My motive for bringing this topic before the British Association is the 

 hope of obtaining a public recognition of its importance. Judging from 

 the results of numerous private inquiries, I entertain no doubt that if 

 the reasonableness and feasibility of the proposed reform were widely under- 

 stood, a loud demand would arise from many .sides, without arousing any 

 opposition worth regarding, for the introduction of so salutary a measure. 

 It would certainly be grateful to many parents who now lament the ex- 

 clusively bookish character of the examinations, and are wont to protest 

 against a system that gives no better chance to their own vigorous chil- 

 dren of entering professions where bodily vigour is of high importance, 

 than if they had been physically orx\j jiist not uvfit to receive an appoint- 

 ment. 



