The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-11-26

A year ago an educational person,
of Chicago, If the Journal is not mis-
taken. figured in the papers as the origin
ator Of an apparatus for estimating by
scientific measurement the thinking capac-
ity of a child. When the youngster thought
hard the machine registered a long mark,
and when his mind whisked from one
thing to another or his thoughts were In
tumble there was a confusion of lines. The
preponderance of one class of marks over
the other was supposed to indicate the gen.
eral character of the mental faculties and
after the measurement was taken the teach
er was thought to be in position to know
how best to instruct the child-as If she had
not known perfectly well before whether
or slow. The adoption of this apparatus
into the public school system has not yet
been reported, though there is no telling
what may happen; but this has not prevent
ed other powerful minds from investiga-
ton along similar lines.
This time it Is not the thoughts but the
emotions that have formed the subject Of
inquiry. and the gentleman engaged in this
interesting research is a college professor,
formerly of Indiana. He has been studying
the question OF love, and whether he has
got at his conclusions by a measuring ma
chine that registers heart beats as the other
indicated brain waves, or whether he has
depended on observation and experience Is
not given out, but In some way he has
gained SUFFICIENT data to convince him that,
as the press report delicately, but some
what ungramatically puts 1t. neither sex
is safe from cupid's darts after 1t has
reached the age Of three years." He has,
IL is further said, Investigated SEQ cases,
and his figures 60 to prove that the matur-
ity of woman's heart Is reached at twen-
ty-two and a mans at twenty-four years.
Now. IL his information comes through the
register of a scientific machine 1t is not
for the Journal to deny its correctness; but
IL it is the outcome of personal observa-
ton doubt must be expressed as to the
accuracy of his conclusions. Everybody
who has given any attention to the phe-
nomena of the tender emotions knows. of
course. that at twenty-five and twenty
four. respectively. the young woman and
young man in love present what. in the rude
| language of the street. may be called a
warm propositions; but has the former In
diana professor never studied such phenom-
| ena when exhibited by persons of more
mature years, say OF thirty. forty, fifty
sixty. even seventy? Did he put those
noble old Romans. Senators Depew, Plat
and Stewart under his microscope. and then
dare to say that love is at its zenith al
twenty-four? Did he ever note the trans
formation OF the hitherto staid. elderly mar
into gay and sprightly young beau wher
| he engaged in a campaign of conquest; die
he ever observe his hopeless misery II the
courtship came to naught. or his irrepress
ible freshness IL all ended well? No TWEEN
| ty-four-year-old ever took disappointment,
or success in love so violently as worthless
of twice or three times his age. AS for the
sentiment that burns In the breast of the
| maid OF twenty-five. what woman of forty
four or sixty-four but will assure her thai
What she feels is sort Of milk-and-watel