The Arkansaw traveler. (Little Rock, Ark.) 1882-1???, 1889-05-18

reseafCnes nOlu may DC cited the CONVICTION OF
an eminent physicist Professor Mach, that the
next great movement In the progress of science
must come from the union of psychological points
of view with physical methods and results A
mere mention of the many Investigations that owe
their origin to the work of Fechner and the FORM
ulation of his psychophysic law must suffice to
indicate the great activity in this field, and to
justify the title of experimental psychology.
Moreover, the measurements of the time taken up
by various psychic processes, the experimental
study of memory, of attention, of the association
OF ideas of the bilatera functions, Of rhythm and
the tme-sense, of space and time perceptions, and
so on, have led to the development of q mass OF
ingenious apparatus, and have made the psyche
logical laboratory an indispensable requisite for
its satisfactory instruction. Morbid psychology
is a rubric OF paramount Importance TO the full
and clear comprehension of the phenomena of
mind. The genesis of illusions and Authorizations
the perversion of the natural channels of the
emotions the dsintegration of the elements of
personality, the dissolution of the logical powers
all these problems transform the apparently wild
and chaotic picture of the mad house into a sad
but interesting record of the process of character
and of mind building. This interest Is heightened
by remembering that here lies the key to the
understanding of the psychic epidemcs that in the
past have upset the nationality of mankind, and
transformed the incoherent babbling OF some
demented soul into the mysterious utterances of a
revealed spirit. 1t is furthermore heightened by
the notice that the phenomena conveniently grouped
will attract. Hypnotism, after an adventurous
and uncertain existence in the hands of charatans
has been admitted into science; and although the
literature of the topic at least in France ncreas
ing out of all proportion TO our insight into the
nature of the phenomena, yet enough has been
established to recognize in this semi-morbd con-
dition the key to the solution of many otherwise
barely accessible problems. With regard to those
borderland phenomena "telepathy," "clairvoy-
anoe, and the ke-they illustrate the subteness of
the process by which false systems gain success and
demonstrate the ACCESSIBILITY of having men who
can speak on such topics with the authority OF
trained experts What its votaries have deservedly
dignifed into the science of "anthropological
psychology" offers most attractive field for
research. The customs and thong habits of primi-
tive peoples not only record the first stages in the
progress that leads to culture, but prevent the
formulation of notions that seem true enough
when tested by our own civilization, but reveal
the provinciality of their origin when applied TO
more rudimentary conditions of life. II we con-
clude this survey with the mention of the psycho-
ogy of the developing child, gimpsing as it does,
in the budding capabilities of the infant, the
microcosm OF the race and an epitome of the
struggle for civilization ii is not because the lines
of research have been exhausted, but that, with
the scope the science thus outlined what remains
to be done will probably be suggested by what has
been said The psychology of the infant is not the
only point at which psychology and education
touch; but everywhere education must refer to
psychology, of which, in the highest sense, 1t is
only the practical application. The new movement
does not attempt to usurp the place held by other
studies, except as it is all advance upon them it
does not pose the only department of philosophic
learning. It's professors have fortunately been
men of liberal sympathies, and deeply imbued with
the historical sense. They do not claim to have
created science entirely new, unique, and
undreamt of, but appreciate their development
from the past Their aim is to retain for the study
of mental science that high place which has always
been accorded it, by making 1t progressive and
abreast of modern learning.-Joseph Jastrotc, an
Science.
Helmholtz in discovering the wonderful fact
that every tone is in appearance unit but in reality
very composite thing, has given the possibility
of further research upon hitherto neglected fields
and has presented to the student and to him, who
his In ha Of