The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1899-09-17
scientific Thought

Editor OF The Times.
sir-We are almost constantly hear
ing now OF new things when are
not true and true things that are
not new Ii seems as II the Wloie
race OF Investigators and writers has
fallen into the view Of the gentleman
who declared that be could easily win
a niche I'm the temple OF literary fame but
for the fact that Shakespeare and those
other old fellows had already written
everything that was worth while The
tendency OF most of the so-called scien-
tffc thought to-day IS but 20 thresh over
the wheat Of other men, ana We are re
auenuy sensible OF no feeling but one or
anazement that the apostles Of the later
scientific cults should really dream that
they have. in any competent sort SAID
ANYTHING at all They start out with the
kind OF noise which should herald noih-
ing less than the discovery OF a new world
and 20 through with a total performance
which reminds the reader Of Dickens, Oh
the track record Of Mr. Pecksnins horse,
an animal that had all the knee action
Of doing sixteen miles an hour, put whose
real performance struck gloomy toreOod-
ing TO the souls Of those who knew MN
well. over in the East there Is cry OF
dignined beginning and degraded end.
an the name OF the Prophet, ngs" ana
were we not too good a friend OF Flaccus,
We should Incline 10 quote his story OF
tho time when the mountain labored and
the mouse was born.
A recent Chicago print gives MS con-
tribution 20 psychological principles made
all afresh by a gentleman who, as a pre-
paratory sedatiye 10 what he Is pleased
10 call his mind. took a morning walk IN
the woods. The psychologist broke some
WV and wished to recall its name. The
appearance Of the branch suggested laurel
so far so good Then came the recolec-
ton Of Matthew Maury's dying reference
10 the laurel, and then the psychologists
walked a hundred yards and thought OF
IVY" Bare as 1t Is, this is absolutely all.
There Is no hint of connection between
the resemblance TO laurel and the word
ivy, and the very gap In thought when
someone might have felt some interest 10
see filed up. IS left al last unbridged as
IL was al first. We have no word TO show
our keen appreciation OF psychology OF
this sort We must borrow from Kip.ins
American heiress who was spilled from
her rickshaW and exclaimed Ha-oW
phaltry" 1t will hardly be useful any
longer for Poe TO have given US the men
tai method of Auguste Dupin nor Tor
Doyle 10 make a further mention OF Sher-
lock Holmes. or course the most eager
gunner after folly would commonly not
llit vi ELlLt mat lllfH 90 INV a. Ntt' 80
biologist. But another psychologist, who
actually has a place 10 teach. writes, or the
sample OF wisdom given above that by
its means 1.-THE difficult psychological CUES.
ton Is rightly answered" II this IS a fair
sample OF our pre-. ent day psychology we
prefer Aristotle and Emmanuel Kant our
hearty CONGRATULATIONS on the fact that
they are dead.
our little daughter at the age Of one
made gallant effort 10 pronounce the
word "siX.' She called II silk by
means Of questions carefully based upon
this number and not too frequently re.
peated. she was enabled 10 ast0und her
friends with the qulckness and range and
accuracy OF her mathematics. Her mo. her
would PROFOUND problem Of much length
and intricacy and when the question was
ended with the regular formula "how
much would that be. daughter" the lit
tie one. with a charming assumption OF
sudden intuition would reply 'Oh! silk,
slfxtr ny n s m ans many difficult arith-
.netical questions We're rightly answered"
Archer savant this time like fomachlo.
"a German one" has been exploiting hi
discovery that q Blind man has I. co
facto. a keener sense Of hearing. There
are we understand. many otherwise ex-
cellent people who believe that God. In
some way, makes compensation Tor every
DISADVANTAGE under which we suffer.
These people 10 not think very clearly