The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-12-05
c,al complexities. announcements and

earily Of an Introductory character.
But 1t In depressing after all to read
deliberately set forth such common
places as "Men and women will be
alike by virtue Of common heredity
Just 80 far as they are not diReren-
tiated by natural function. while men
will resemble other men by virtue Of
functional community despite diver
gent ancestry" In short. men and
women are alike In humanity and DIFF
fercnt in seX; while men and men.
though Of the same sex. may and do
have different human traits. h Is
Individually true. but 1t is not cx-
citing.
In the chapter on THE Sensibilities'
we hear that the relations of pain and
pleasure are fundamental. They in
dictate that the psychic life of each
OF us Is expressed by the sum Of his
senSibilitics. by the aggregate of the
reactions that confer pleasure or pain.
by the system Of vltalized responsive
ness through which adjustment Is
sought and found. That to curtatl the
range OF sensibilities IL to restrict and
to impair psychic vitality. Whether
"a valued quality lies In the sense it.
. self or what We build on II Is impor-
tant only in that II emphasizes that
a given development Of sensibility
In not conferred without enor
by the mere presence OF the sense
that conditions IL. Many who have
eyes to zee (surely IL might be stated.
most who have eyes to see.) are IN
! mum to the aesthetics OF color n
! form. Likewise there are those whose
color sensibility is subnormal; who
perceive only coarser distinctions.
Education IL the means of promotion
from this stage to q higher stage OF
perception. This again In not q start
ling truth to most of us. kecnness
of perception Is the prerequisite of In
telligence. But sensibility spurrcd be-
yond it's energizing capacity results
in tho neurasthenic temperament. II
il more that a pleasantly that some
individuals are born tired. The en-
ergizing capacity may be 80 limited
that even ordinary strain will dis
qualify. Worry is more dis%integrating
than work.. Action and objective In
tcrests help such victims to bear life's
inevitable disappointments and diff
culties. Freud's theory of subcon-
scious activity and the healing power
of confession is set forth without COM
mentary and the relation Of paranoia
to genius Is mentioned.
Perhaps the nearest point to en-
phasis in the whole book. this book
which lever even vergos upon a
hercsy. Is the value placed Upon the
"poietic' type of mind, a type much
discouraged among us:
No society can exist upon ITS poic;.c
CLASSES; they form the leaven. not the
masr Next ana far more numerous are
the kine;.c type OF men, the bone and
sinew OF the nation. who keep things
going and skiIfully apply and extend and
adapt tho principles and inventions that
owe their ex!stence TO tho venturesomc
and imaginative thought OF some poie;ic
mind. Naturally these qualities are not
sharply divided but yariously blended. pos
sibly In no decided tones. in the compost.
! G apscities that direc: the efforts OF men
and shape the work OF the world. And
iastly there is the vast majority. the fair
average and the duller stretch below
them, In Nhose capacities the social and
economic vvsteir mus; be adjusted whose
routine nployments in simp pie tasks fee
and clo;he and house and serve the peo-
rltS - NJ NOIa4 III I.e supply OF tnsll
elaborate demands. They may he curtiy
dismissed by U,opian writer's: but they
constitute the comprehensive condition
under which human quality reaches ex-
pressIoR. Every practical outlook mus;
recognize the significant differences among
men, thar dulness takes the form OF an
un!nasinative forme! imitatlveness; thai
81 gives 20 the average a conventional se,
and q limited responsivcness. which would
B. la cha -sLA N.a,A AsAN 49,.
circumstances that the more and m,re
adequate retain and expand the s,erl.ns
qualities OF she masses. while also re5pun-
slve to the Inspiration and guidance OF
leadership, Yet the many ruH and set the
popuiar Standards; the natural con.cr-
rstism OF the majority reflects the impress
Of condition; theiv limited Imagination
,h.i- short range outlook. their feeb.er
powers Of discrimination. ;heir LESSEE
initiative and uncertain suggestibi,ity. a.
vel a. their sturdy. faithful capacities
AMI persistence form the psychological,
hasis tSon which communal achievement,
ms he buii'.
The progress Of manhind IL due to til.
single fact that no. all men are Of tho
'"pe of the average; Il is their difference,
from tn" average tina: form ,he cnle,
a,ss % humanity,
Society must find as well as breed
Its leaders, and II ii il to profit by It's
assets II must recognize greatness
and even lesser forms of ability. TIL.
most disastrous waste To any com.
nunity il the waste OF higher perceu.
tons and qualities. Wlen the uues.
ton does education pay is judged b,
crude earning power its discussion 4,
futile. To admit that a careful educa.
ton and a high culture units a mar
Tor business merely casts a lur!d ligh'
upon the character of business. II
tho end the author sums up In III,
words Of that most vital and illnmi
mating of psychologists. William
James. by saying:
Though IL is no snaI, thing to lnocuIa,
seventy millions Of people with new stand
ards, yet II there Is 20 be any relief Tim
viii have TO Ire 4ors. We must chang,
Ourselves from a race the. sdmlr4s icrl
and snap for their own slkes. and look
down upon !oo voices ana qu!e, ways a
opil. 20 ono thai, OF the contrary. ma
caIm for 'ts Idea. and for ;heir own SAX,
.ovcs hcrmonE dignity anc ease.
To the student who has never roa,
psychology this book may open pa,b
Of reflection, but for the psychologists
II merely restatcs rather heavily wha
the merest tyro knows.