44 KANSAS CITY REVIEW OF SCIENCE, 
The number of persons in each rooo, of the various intermediate heights, is 
given in the following table :* 
EGON | Ons o2 620 Gn") (O51 7200 sora aos 
N I I Py 20m Aung Goi uae 134 157 
| 
COO I ee || S| 72 | 
TAO 2 te Soni 57/4 20) ln 5 2 
The numbers here are the same as we should get in the various chances in 
drawing 30 balls from an urn, containing an equal number of white and black. 
The curve (See Fig, 4) representing the above observations, is the same as 
that which might be made by a marksman in shooting at a mark. If we were to 
determine the heights of all the men in a nation for each year of life, we should 
get a very interesting series of curves. ‘Take all male children of one year of 
age; they differ comparatively little in height, or in mental power. They all 
approximate closely to the average. If we were to calculate the divergence from 
the average for 1000 cases, we should get a curve resembling the curve of an ac- 
curate marksman. It would be deep and narrow. Examining children of 
greater ages, say 10 years, we should find that they have begun to diverge from 
each other. Circumstances have arrested the development of some, and have 
caused others to surpass the average. In 1000 cases we shall therefore have a 
less number of persons of average dimensions. 
The curve for this case would be like that formed by a poor marksman, the 
curve becoming more and more shallow, as we come to higher ages. 
If we could grade the various members of society according to their opinions 
upon any subject which agitates the whole of society, we should find some such 
distribution as the one just examined. We should find two extreme parties, (cor- 
responding to the dwarfs and giants of the previous case) comparatively few in 
numbers, but active, resolute, aggressive. Between, we have the great mass of 
respectable society, interested in other things, and giving little real thought to the 
matter; anxious to hold proper views, and therefore holding average views as the 
safest ; pulled upon by the opposing workers, and yielding slowly to the resultant 
force, and thus, by reason of its immense mass, securing comparative stability and 
order against the rough jostlings of the more active, but less ponderous extremes. 
According to the investigations of Horstman, Hinrichs and others, the 
velocity of chemical reactions in time, is represented by this law. It has been 
proved theoretically in some cases, and experiment has confirmed the conclusion. 
If we throw small fragments of zinc into sulphuric acid, we get an evolution 
of hydrogen gas. At first the velocity of evolution is very small; it increases, 
however, and finally reaches a maximum. ‘Thereafter the velocity diminishes 
*Quetelet—Anthopoimetrie, p. 252. 
