The evening times. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1895-1902, 1897-01-06
MEMORY TESTS iii SCHOOLS
Colored Pupils Made Higher Aver
ages Than the White.
Interesting Facts Submitted at the
AnthropologicaI Society Meeting.
Other Papers.

| The regular rmeetingofthe A AnthrCpolOgica
| Society was held lasteyening at the Cosmos
| Club.
4 review OF the anthrupological progress
during the past year was the subject of
| the evening, and its several phases were
treated in a most Instructive and enter.
| tanning way by the speakers in brief ten.
minute papers.
| Mr.. Thomas Wilson gave short talk con-
cerning the recent discoveries of stone
implements of various kinds, especially in
| Egypt. and other portions OF Africa, which,
the speaker Contended. is a refutation of
| the theory OF many archaeOlogists that
the people OF the stone age did not dwell in
Africa.
Prof. Otis Mason gave an exceedingly in.
| teresting description of that region of
country in South America known as the
MatO Crosse.
Mr.. George Stetson read q very learned
exposition OF the relation OF memory 70 the
intellect, concluding with description of
certain memory tests conducted by himself
in the Washington public schools, with a
view To determining the difference between
white and colored pupils in that respect.
Somewhat to the surprise of the audience,
Mr.. Stetson stated that the percentage Of
the colOred pupils memorizing the test
piece after two readings was very much
higher than tnat OF the whites. However,
lie thought this might be partially ac-
counted for by the fact that four verses OF
Eugene Fields were the memory texts;
the music of the lines doubtless appealing
more powerfully to the nature OF the bllck.
Prof. W. ]. NcGee followed with an en-
tertaintng talk on the domestic relations
between human beings and animals, which
he termed "zooculturc" He gave q short
narration OF trip to Mexico, during which
he had occasion to observe closely the pc
culiar fellowship existing between the in
habitants of various ancient towns and GER
tain fowls and beasts which are commonly
supposed to be entirely wild
Although Mr.. j. w Fewkes disclaimed
all knowledge that he had been selected
as speaker OF the evening, his address on
the various types OF Pueblo pottery was
probably the most interesting of all Ce-
ramic art, he said. has greatly degen-
Grated among the Pueblos of Mexico ana
Arizona, their work of the present day
being greatly inferior to that Of the ancient
pottery makers. lie did not, as some
ditA'dtOiBEtSAS hps idy GREAT SjIeSS ON tue
Importance Of the symbolism on the pot
terry as historical records OF the race, but
rather concluded that the great difference
in this respect was due to inferior methods
of producing the vases liz certain sections
He spoke Of the beautiful superstition OF
the ancient peoples that a human soul was
imprisoned in each vessel, death being
synbolized 10y placing in the grave pieces OF
the broken crOckery.
Dr. John Mccormick gave a short address
on the steps which had been taken during
the year for the better preservation OF
American folklore, more particularly that
of the Southern negro
Mr.. 2. II. Biodgett closed with a brief
review Of the development OF education
during the past year, in which he dwelt
particularly upon the increased tendency
toward manual training i'll all public insti
tutians. He also touched upon the question
OF the relation of religion to education,
saying that the topic was al present n more
burning one abroad than in America.
A scathing criticism OF certain text
books closed the address, which was cx-
tremely well received by the audience
At the next meeting OF the society the
officers for the present year will be
elected.