Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-03-27
EXACT MENTAL

which the psychologists call persevera-
tion. Persistence of color sensation.
according to this view, means persist
ence all through the nervous system,
or retardation of the disappearance of
any nervous eXcitaton. High persev-
eration is bad sign in some respects.
for it means difficulty of forming new
associations and therefore COM
paratively slower order of intelligence.
though it makes for stability Of char
acter. Says the author:
Il have drawn up a scale Of perse-
veration. and the kind of character
| likely to be associated with different
degrees of preservation, in the ordi-
| nary conditions of life.
AT the center of the scale we have
the average amount of preservation,
which is associated with the practical
| common sense of the average man.
when the preservation is below
| the average the speed with which
| ideas flow through the mind is quick
ened, and the readiness with which
| the mind receives external impressions
| is also increased.
THE first category below the aver
age, therefore, contains persons with
witty. brilliant, and suggestive minds.
| persons of great tact. presence of mind.
and daring; all of which imply quick
| response to external stimuli
ITO this class would belong the
majority of persons who are POPULAR
| ly considered to be geniuses. But il
| We adopt Carlyle's definition of gen
| JUS as AN infinite capacity for taking
pains. the genius would have to be
| looked for in the class having perez
veration one degree above the average
| THE category with preservation
/ one degree above the average contains
| persons who are fond of abstract
| thinking. and who follow a theme in
to all it's ramifications. They think
| slowly and learn slowly. The scope
| Of their consciousness is wide, but
| they are not quick of apprehension
| because they do not respond readily
| to outside stimuli.
I'VE may say. therefore, that the
| classes with preservation one de-
| gree below the average and with one
| degree above the average produce
| geniuses of different types, who, while
| they excel in one direction, have also
| certain defects associated with their
excellent qualities.
When we pass to the classes of
! persons with preservation two de-
| grees above or below the average, these
| defects are intensified, and serious de-
| terioration of mental character begins
to appear.
| 1.-THE category with preservation
| two degrees below the average con-
tains persons who can not keep their
| thoughts long on one theme; frivolous
! persons who are fond of superficial as
| sociations, such as punsters and Gym
| les; persons to whom all emotions are
| Of equal value and who are conse-
| quently of weak moral character; per-
sons who learn anything new very
| quickly but specifically.
| ION the other hand, the category
| with preservation two degrees above
| the average contains persons with
quite opposite defects. The long dur
alton of the secondary function inter-
| feres with the formation of wide as
| sociations, and renders the limited
| associations formed exceedingly stable
| and inaccessible to outside influences.
This corresponds to the person with
fixed deas."-Literary Digest.