452 Wisconsin Academy of Sciences, Arts, and Letters . 
view. The usages of speech, however, indicate that, whatever 
he the actual mental process, it is conceived hy the language¬ 
using mind as first, the posing of two alternatives, and second, 
a siding with one of them. Doubtless, however, the neglected 
alternative does not disappear beyond recall. Should its pres¬ 
ence become! more welcome, it can reappear. It may be de¬ 
scribed as standing just across the threshold of consciousness, 
waiting its opportunity to reenter. This opportunity seems to 
me to come. Of two occupants of my mental field, I was im¬ 
pelled at first to hold to the one and despise the other. In the 
instant of my disappointment comes a strong revulsion. For a 
moment I feel the reactionary impulse not only to despise the 
one, but also to hold to the other. It is nothing new in the 
history of inclinations, if that other, taking advantage of 
my momentary pique, possess me quite completely—for a mo¬ 
ment. If now it be at just this moment, that I shape my 
thought for the interrogative act, it will be the at the outset 
less attractive of my two alternatives, that will be offered to my 
hearer. 
These explanations I wish to be understood to put forward as 
mere suggestions, more in the hope that they may lead some 
other person to the proper explanation, than in any faith that 
they themselves are adequate. I believe that all the noted in¬ 
fluences are operative; but frankly, I distrust their sufficiency. 
Fortunately they do not seem to be needed in the solution of 
other interrogative difficulties. 
ITS PECULIARITIES. 
Among these, which might include the interchange of truth 
and untruth, just described, I note in the first place that it 
Fails to distinguish belief-or-disbelief as meum or tuum. 
By this title I mean to indicate that belief-or-disbelief is 
virtually dissociated from a particular believer—you or me. 
To recapitulate, I am blocked in the effort to form a judgment;— 
a judgment which, if completed on lines begun, would be my 
belief in the truth (or the untruth) of a particular thought. In 
my embarrassment, I wish you to exhibit, the element which 
would correspond in your mind to the void in my own, sup¬ 
posing you to build with my blocks, plus one which I do not 
