210 TRANSACTIONS OF THE 
general statement, altogether without analysis or explana- 
tion, with reference to the acquisition of skill and the in- 
fluence of time periods upon that acquisition, “‘that we 
learn to skate in summer and swim in winter.” In other 
words, James had observed that the recess period following 
a practice period was of enormous value in building up a 
skill of execution in a practiced act. As already indicated 
James did not attempt to offer a satisfactory explanation 
of the phenomenon. The verification of James’ observation 
is so difficult to obtain that it has never been received very 
seriously. Some observers have contended that they have 
seen ample proof of this law and as a result have accepted 
it, but these observations had to meet the far more general 
law that we seem to forget a little of everything during 
the recess periods which follow the practice. The typist 
who returns from a vacation expects to practice con- 
siderably before he reaches the efficiency maintained be- 
fore the recess. In the face of such results, it was diffi- 
cult for many psychologists to believe there was any truth 
in James’ contention. Forgetting was held to be so well 
nigh universal that it would always seem to militate against, 
if not completely offset, any improvement which might 
take place across a recess interval. On the other hand we 
have had observations from such unscientific sources as 
golf players who observe that the first day of practice 
seems to net them nothing, but upon returning to the game 
after a recess of a few days they are surprised to find that 
the first stroke seems to be just the right one. Many of 
these observers have contended that the degree of skill se- 
cured over the recess intervals far exceeds any acquisition 
in later practice. Psychologists, however, have generally 
contended that these observations are simply the result of 
illusion and that if accurate measurement be taken we are 
sure to find that the golf player has lost much of his ef- 
ficiency over the recess interval. 
To make our story shorter the writer admits that he 
had become a firm believer in the doctrine of the recess 
interval as propounded by James long before he knew that 
James had ever advanced such a view. To demonstrate 
