160 KANSAS CITY REVIEW OF SCIENCE. 
originally producing something, and this something is expressed in language from 
the securest date known to humanity. The mind is on the alert, inquisitive and 
determined, this active state securing many things entirely lost to the passive 
state. Not only does the mind fully realize the difficulties, individually knowing 
their exact character, but it is nerved to the effort which overcomes them. Ap- 
pearance are separated from realities, and reality-relations are sworn foes to a 
hazy, mental sky. Orders of dependence, fallacies of position and errors in ver- 
bal statement, are originally discovered by the faculties which are necessarily 
sharpened and made reliant by use. In this active, investigating state of mind, 
comparison goes on involuntarily, the judgment is exercised in a practical way 
that developes it, the discriminating faculty is engaged as it must work in future 
years, and when the investigation is completed, the thing known is thoroughly 
distinguishable from every other. While presenting this line of truth (of the last 
half page) I am certain that its full force will be appreciated only by those per- 
-sons who have, during some period of their lives, actively and persistently en- 
gaged in some experimental investigations, or made some conquests in natural 
history, which enables them to know that it is to have the soul tried in its search 
for truth. He who has never had these experiences—but which lie within the 
reach of every person—need not hope for the possession of an opinion upon any 
educational, scientific or philosophic subject deserving the respect of others. 
Another phase of mental action, to which Leibnitz first drew attention, is 
not a little important to the teacher. Those who observe their ewn mental proc- 
esses know that the mind frequently arrives at conclusions, and, among other 
things, determines duties, which challenge conscious effort. ‘‘Just wait a mo- 
ment, let me see,” is often followed by a total inability to fix upon anything def- 
inite for the purpose. After a time the desired date, the wanted name, or the 
quoted sentence, flashes into the mind unbidden and unforewarned. How of- 
ten we struggle to decide upon some course of action when the pros balance the 
cons, when the difficulties vie with the favoring circumstances, and all to no pur- 
pose. Now, throw away all care, turn the attention wholly to other subjects, 
and how frequently the dawn of morning brings the solution which we unhesi- 
tatingly adopt, although we are not conscious of having studied the matter at all. 
In his ‘‘ Psychological Inquiries,”’ Sir Benj. Brodie says: ‘‘ It has often happened 
to me to have been occupied by a particular subject of inquiry; to have accu- 
mulated a store of facts connected with it; but to have been able to proceed no 
further. Then, after an interval of time, without any addition to my stock of 
knowledge, I found the obscurity and confusion in which the subject was origin- 
ally enveloped, to have cleared away; the facts havé seemed all to settle them- 
selves in their right places, and their mutual relations to have become apparent, 
although I have not been sensible of having made any distinct effort for that 
purpose.” ‘There is no question but that much of our thinking is automatic, and 
it is but little less certain that no small amount is unconscious except as seen in 
results. It matters not whether ‘‘ unconscious thinking” or ‘‘ unconscious cere- 
