Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1915-11-28

ieur The second passenger was an elderly
woman with sour, aggressive face and a man
ner that would have repealed any man with
sense OF humor
Inc elderly passenger soon made it apparent
mat she was to do the talking When she
mounted the seat humble of disa ppointmen,
and disgust went through the crowd to a man
But there was no escape. We stood heroically
under the lash OF that woman's tongue 40 long
as we could stand it. and then pointed SUCCESS
lions began TO interrupt the sneaker pronosine
tlat she let the angel at the wheel" saw
word or two TO the gentlemen. cheer Of nm.
pro'al tollowed the suggestion until finally the
woman was compelled TO step down and let the
slight pretty girl have her day in court
TO psychologist the immediate reaction of
mat mob 10 the pretty fresh face of feminine
youth was doubly interesting. The faces of the
IN tolerant disgust. She could not arouse an
emotion strong enough TO have been called an.
tagonism. The mental influence had been
negative. But with the first move of the
CHEEKY. piQuant face OF the girl the attitude NJ
the gutter crowd changed like magic
THOSE men who were leaning lazy against
lne vail OF the saloon nearby, Strengthened up
with interest and respect in every line of their
races y man rearranged his necktie One
DIG lrishman took off his hat and cautiously de.
posted ms chewing tobacco for future refer.
ence in the palm of his hand. We all, uncon.
sclously pressed close to the machine Tho
girls first unconscious appeal of youth and life
ana beauty was immediate in its effect There
on the street corner by the saloon in com.
monpiace street profound psychological law
was functoning with as certain and true H.
rection as though 1t had been dealing With the
minds OF kings and scholars
The girl had evidently been brought I'm IN
family OF boys, and she had a good wholesome
mind. She knew how to handle q lot of mon
instinctively That helped her TO get results
with her tongue But my immediate interest
as an experimental psychologist was the un
conscious response OF male suffrage 10 the
direct appeal Of youth and feminine charm.
say that it would have done the elder states
men of the suffrage movement n real good IN
have been there and analysed that simple In
cdent. In it they might have found some sup
gestlons on how to win the vote by following
the simple laws OF psychology
These venerable ladies might also with bene
fit take down their psychologists from their
book shelves and study the chapters on mob
psychology They will learn that mob.con
seriousness is always deeply stirred and swayed
by emotion. The suggestibility of a street mob
is scientific fact This suggestibilitv NAV be
the result Of visual infuence-the effect of nh
jecs which carry emotional reactions through
the eyes, or ii may result from any number of
approaches
Such a writer as Boris Sidis regards the nos
sibities of visual suggestion in q mob 70
amount to hypnotization. 1t extends at times
TO sense experiences which create collective
Illusions. lie Bon instances many examples
such as the figure Of st. George who appeared
on the walls Of Jerusalem to all the crusaders
In discussing this well.known psychological
right 1915, by Star Company cre,t p,t,.,. ,,