davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-08-31
III

Psychology being an exact science, its
true practitioners do not attempt to achieve
results by the use of such crude and i'm
perfect instruments as the human eye, no:
do they accept conclusions based upon one
individuals opinions or upon the evidence
presented by single experiment. 1t is
much more spectacular to form ones jude
ments of people, their character and abb
tiles by the use of the familiar offhan1
method, and it is exceeding difficult to
convince most people that the qualities
which make a person an agreeable one to
have around in the Office or the factory
have no necessary bearing upon that ind
viduaPs ability to perform his allotted
tasks. Because we are all so completely
under the influence of external impress
sions we hesitate to believe that any sys-
TEN Of tests, whether called psychology
cal" or by any other name, can be of ma
terial aid in the classification and assert
ment of the human species, especially
when the results of such tests do not agree
with the conclusions we have already al
rived at through intuition or some other
equally magic process. Even so competent
an observer of life as Samuel G. Blythe
in his latest essay into fiction puts into
the mouth of one of his characters Ian
guage that ridicules the psychological tests
used in the United States Army during
the late war for the classification of Off
GERS and enlisted men. These tests, the
general nature of which is familiar to
every one who wore the khaki and to most
magazine and newspaper readers, were
psychological tests in the true scientific
sense, devised and administered by trained
psychologists. These scientists would be
the last TO claim final and complete 100
per cent accuracy for the results OBJ
tanned; they had 100000 subjects to
work on, and the natural percentage of er
ror might easily result in the displacement
of as many as 100000 of these. But the
fact remains that this method of deter
mining the relative abilities of officers and
of enlisted men proved itself so much
speedier and more accurate In the light Of
experience than any other method of clas
sifcation that had ever been tried that the
General Staff of the army has establishe |
a permanent psychological branch and has
directed that every officer and man be re-
examined by properly devised psychology
ical tests at frequent intervals so long as
he remains in the service.
That, after all, is the true test of any
method does it work better than tn.
method which it has superseded Ard
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-08-31
| i.

From finding water with the divining
rod to reading the mind by some other
sort of magic, what we want is to be mys
titled. And there are always plenty of
pseudo scientists, modern magicians, ready
to mystify us-for a price, as Mr.. Kip
ling reminds us in The Witch Of En-Dor.
The current fashion in magic is to cal,
ones self Psychologist and to claim
the power to read, if not the mind, at
least the character and qualities of IL
dividuals by the observation Of their
external and visible persons. Phrenology
is no longer practised by up to date wiz
ards; palmistry has been tossed into tie
discard. Psychology" is the thing. No
superstition is more firmly rooted in the
human mind than the belief that we all
carry the infallible indices of our innel
most souls craven upon our countenances
for those who can to read as they meet US.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-08-31
"The Unknown Quantity"

4 LII men attracted by beautiful
L l. widows of whom they really know
naught should be induced to read The
Unknown Quantity, by Edgar o. Aehor1
and Edward n. Teall. The hero Of this
narrative, Chester Clarke, is a Boston
lawyer with a conscience, or lawyer with
a Boston conscience, and the heroine is
also the villainessl There is the unhap-
piest ending possible except, perhaps, in
the sense of an escape. The lovely but
skittish Mrs. Willoughby did not, after
all, entrap Chester Clarke, though he
willingly put himself in the snare and la
helpless before the fowler.
The story will likely have real inter
est for all men who have suffered severely
from feminine design or thoughtlessness,
and as the number of these is as the sands
of the sea it should sell successfully.
Others will not like it.
Considered effectively The Uncommon
Quantity has defects which ought to be
pointed out to the authors if either or
both contemplate a new story TIE title
does not indicate sufficiently the nature
of the story; it would have been better,
even, to have called it Let Be the
Woman The publisher tells little toe
much in the descriptive outline on the
jacket. The book is awfully thin, N that
there are really only two important ehat,-
acters-neither sympathetic" for TIE
reader. The talk is frequently self-eon-
scious and stilted and instead of dramatic
complications we have.only a steady down
grade movement, the only suspense being
that OF waiting for the hero to wake up
to his own blindness. The authors ex-
hibit too much skill-except in dialogue
to be expended on such doubtful material
as makes the stuff of their story.
THE UNKNOWN QUANTITY. BY EDGAR
o. ACHoRN and EDWARD N. TEALL. Bos-
ton: Marshall Jones Company.
4 .LFRED A. KNOPF says that Helen
L 4 Keller insists that everything writ
ten by George Jean Nathan shall be read
to her at once. Sitting on the veranda
at Forest Hills, Miss Keller finds in
Nathan's stuff, such as is contained in his
new book, Comedians An, the perfect anti
dote tn her sllrroundinps
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-08-31

when it comes to measuring the human
mind, or rather that complex of brain and
nervous system for which we have no ex-
act word, but which constitutes the field
within which the psychologist works, it is
conceded by every one who has had per-
sond contact and practical experience
with the psychological method that it is
the only way in which even a fair ap-
proach to accuracy can be assured This
does not mean that it is possible to es-
tabish standard or a set of standards by
which every human being can be measured
in all the possible dimensions Of that
multi-dimensioned thing which we term
the human mind. You cannot do that any
more than you can measure an automobile
with a two foot rule. You can determine
the length of its wheel base and few other
of its grosser dimensions with the simplest
of devices, but if you really want to know
all about an automobile you must prov de
yourself with an infinite variety of gauges,
micromsters, calipers and other instru-
ments of precision, with thermometers for
testing the strength of each material par
with chemical apparatus for analysis of
the composition of its different metallic
components and with galvanometers and
other electrical measuring instruments for
testing its ignition system. One does not
do all of this in buying an automobile, but
he insists, if he be an intelligent person,
upon subjecting the machine to as mary
different tests as will enable him to de-
termine whether it may reasonably be ex-
pected to give the particular service for
which he requires a car. And there is no
single standard of measurement that car
by any means give him that information.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-08-31
w

The psychological method of measuring
the human mind is based upon the Same
principle. AS first preliminary there
must be decision as to what particular
service the mind under consideration is to
be measured for. In the case of an army
officer it was fairly easy to define tie
duties which he must be qualified to per-
form. The next step is to determine just
what qualities of mind and nervous make
up fit man best to perform these duties.
In the case of the army officer, again,
these included such things as general in
telIigence, ability to understand instantly
and execute quickly complicated COM
mands, alertness, concentration, ability to
form correct judgments in emergencies
and initiative, or the power of acting upon
his self-formed judgments. Given such
list of required qualities, the psycholo-
gist's next task is to prepare tests that
will determine whether a candidate or
each individual in a group of candidates
possesses them, and approximately of
what degree. This is not easy. 1t in
wolves expert knowledge of the reactions
of the human mind to various stimuli, and
in addition the collection OF rqaantity Of
precise facts as to the response to pro
posed tests by men already successful IN
similar service. The resulting tests may
not outwardly bear any resemblance to the
things the individual under examination is
expected to do if he passes them. To the
rule of thumb "expert" in judging char
acter at a glance they offer a target for
the sort of ridicule that is always ex-
cited in the ignorant when confronted
with something outside of their personal
experience But when such tests are IT,
telligently applied, if they have been con-
structed on a scientific basis, they work.
They furnish, within their respective
scopes, the precise information that can
not be obtained in any other fashion.
1t is as absurd to expect to measure
mans whole mind with single test As
it is to try to measure whole automobile
with a two foot rule. Just as the prin-
eipal question one may wish to have an
swered about an automobile Is whether
its wheel base is over or under 120 inches,
so the principal question in the case of
an individual may merely be whether he
is over or under the average of his group
in some one special form of ability. In
the former case a two foot rule would
answer; ten foot rule would do the trick
even more quickly and accurately, though
it would give only rough information as
to how many inches above or below the
standard the car might be in length and
none whatever about the composition of
the bearing metals or the number of teeth
in the differential gear. In the latter case
the practical psychologist does not waste
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-08-31

THE UNKNOWN QUANTITY. BY EDGAR
o. AcHoRN and EDWARD N. TEALL. BOs-
ton: Marshall Jones Company.
The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1919-01-25
WORKERS
ARE MEETING TODAY
Attitude of Lawrence Operatives
Toward 48-Hour Week Will be De
termined at Gathering.

LAW NRENCE. Mass, Jan. 20 Agent
William l.. Barrill of the Lawrence Duck
Co., employing about 800 hands am
nounced today that the mill would shut
down Feb. 3 if the employees insisted
pressing heir demand for 4S-honr week
Operatives representing all the mills
in the city were to meet later today on
the common to determine what course
would be pursued. John Il. Menzie presi-
dent of the central labor union. had an
nounced that he would oppose strike
at this time while other leaders favored
such action
Thomas AIacMahon vice president of
the United Textile Workers of America.
in Il statement issued before the meeting
said u find that the bosses III Law
renee have injected tho wage question
into the controversy with n view to de-
stroving the morale of the workers. The
position Of the international Union is for
a 4S-hour week with no wage question
entering into it in any manner or shape.
The workers in every part of the coun-
try are unanimous for an S-hour day and
have eliminated the question of wages
entirely At no time have they men
toned the word strike. Our workers
have simply been requested to walk out
on Feb 3 when previous arrangements
have not been made to place the 4S-hour
week in operation We believe abso-
lutelv in the observance of law and order.
1t will simply be fair and square fight
to finish.
The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1919-01-25
TO SEE HAVOC
WROUGHT BY WAR
President Will Visit Rheims
and Surrounding Towns
Ef IE
Tomorrow
VIEW OF PREPARATION
ALREADY SETTLED
But Frenchmen Are Interested in Effect
Scenes Will Have on Distinguished
visitor-Enthusiastic Reception at
Opera Last Night

PARIS, Jan. President Wilson
will have his first view of the havoc
wrought in northern France by the Ger
mans on Sunday. He will 90 to Rheims
from whence he will tour the surrounding
districts in an army motor car. Later he
expects to make another visit TO the
battle area, probably the region of Yer
dun
Although the President was strongly
urged by French authorities to visit the
devastated districts as one of the first
events of his visit, he has not considered
that he mas had the time until now. His
views on the question of rcparation by
Germany have been fairly well defined
by those about him, but what effect IL
any his visit to the ruined region will
have ON his opinion in that regard is the
subject of lively discussion among
Frenchmcn..
President Wilson went to the opera
last night to see performance OF Castor
and Polilix. Ii was the first time he had
attended regular performance since he
left Washington six weeks ago. lie was
given great ovation a. he entered the
theatre. The Star Spanglcd Banner and
the Alafseillaise were sung by the audi
enee. Between the acts tie President and
Mrs. Wilson went behind the scenes and
shook hands with the principals of the
east and with members of the chorus.
The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1919-01-25
ALLIED FORCES IN
RUSSIA Retreat
Official Telegram Tells of
Retirement of Units
Near Archangel
AMERICAN LOSSES
TEN MEN KILLED
In Addition to II Wounded and II
Missing-Gen. March Points Out
tor is in Hand of British Commander.

WASHINGTON, Jan 25.-Retlre-
mcnt of the allied forces holding ad-
vance positions in the Arehangel sector
before attacks by superior forces of
Bolsheviki is reported in an official
despatch dated Jan. %, the substance
of which was made public today by
Gen. March.
The towns attac ked by the enemy
lay generally about 100 miles from
Archangel. Gen. March said the inter
allied commander there had adequate
troops 10 reinforce the advance element
and to handle the situation The mes
sage reported the American losses in
one OF the actions as 10 enlisted men
killed, Il wounded and II missing.
A later despatch said subsequent at
tacks were repulsed when delivered on
the positions taken up by the Ameri-
can forces. Gen. March pointed out
that the whole military situation at
Archangel was under the control of the
interallied high command in France.
He intimated that should reinforce
ments be deemed necessary any action
to supply them would have to come
from the high command and after rec
concentrations from the British com
manderin-ch of the forces in Siberia
The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1919-01-25
Explains British Plan at
Open Session of Peace
Congress Today.
GUARDIANSHIP FOR
SMALLER NATIONS
Generally Believed That British and
American Ideas Contemplate Exten-
sion of International Assistance to
Lesser Countries.

PARIS, Jan. 25.-Thc second open
session Of the peace conference was
held today and brought into The open
the primary object of its labor, the ere
alton of league Of nations
David Lloyd George, the British
premier, was expected to discuss the
British plan for a league of nations,
thereby fulfilling predictions that Prcsi-
dent Wilson would leave to one of the
European statesmen the opening of the
subject Withholding the exposition of
his own views for the future.
The general outlines of the British
plan are taken in American quarters to
be in eOnsonaRcc with the generally
crystalizing idea here that the league
probably would be projected as a sort
of a guardianship for smaller nations
extending international assistance for
the development and preservation of
economic and financial as well as mill
itary sovereignty.
The main feature of the league pro-
vided for in the plan win be the cstah-
lishment of machinery for handling in
tcrnational disputes. This viii be based
on an agreement among the members of
the league not to interfere with the ter
ritorial integrity of states, or to permit
others to interfere with them
The rendering of aid and guidance TO
new and uudcvelopcd states to maintain
freedom Of transit and Just commercial
relations between the members Of the
league are some of the principal aims
to be supervised by the league. A com
mittcc 10 rule on the question of trade
in ammunition and arms, and before
which would also come mp for study in
tcrnutional problems relating TO eco
nomics and sanitation, will be appoint
cd. 4 like central body for handling
international labor questions is proyid
ed for in the plan
IN this connection, it is held that al
international bodies now existing anC
any which may be created must b,
brought together in some central place
which will be the capital Of the league
rnd work in close cooperation with th'
league, if the effort to promote interna
tional cooperation is to be successful
The British plan provides for a genera
The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1919-01-25
HINSDALE. N. H.
WAS PRISONER IN GERMANY.
DR.. Beland Relates Thrilling Expert
ences to Full House.

\ very interesting lecture was given
I'M the town hall Thursday evening, Jan.
p. when DIR. Henri S. Beland practie-
ing physicisn nj this town 25 years ago,
related his thrilling experiences as cap
tive ih German prison three years in
Berlin.
Every minute of his two and one-half
hours OF talk was full of interest for
everyone in the audience. The hall yeas
packed to its utmost. crowds from the
nearby towns. including Brattleboro,
4 Chesterfield, Winchester and Ashuelot,
attending.
DIR. Belahd started his lecture by de-
scribing his trip to Europe and after be.
ing there some time, was suddenly sur
prised one day when German officer
came TO the doctor's apartments and IN.
quifed If he was an acting physician there,
and II he was rendering his service. Dr.
Beland said Yes" and the officer said.
Come with me- and one thing followed
another until the doctor was gradually
made n prisoner.
A hotel, one of his first prisons" as be
called it, was very interesting to him as
his wife could be with him! They stayed
there two weeks and the doctor was in.
formed by certain officers that he had
been assigned to a German prison In
Berlin. Being somewhat surprised. but
Knowing better than to say a word he
was taken from his wife, whom he never
saw again.
He started on the next train, and arrfy :
| ing at Berlin noticed the imperial pal.
acc. Later he arrived at the prison,
/ where his sentence began.
/ He thought perhaps ne would stay
there one, two or three weeks, as he had
not heard as to the length of time given
him After II months of confinement DR..
! Beland was allowed TO take q walk on
! thr street, which was a great relief.
Time went on. until three wears had
passed. and ono June ), 1918, the doctor
was given his release. and a happier man
/ there could not have been.
During his confinement Mrs. Beiand
1 had died, but a daughter was left who
also was prisoner but was released
4 when her father was. Having the luck
to get his passports, the doctor started
for America, and after a long voyage soon
: reachel.the t. S. A. He has Ieteured IL
tho principal cities since his return. and
being ono of Hinsdalc's old residents
came to lecture without any admission
fee.
= DR.. Beland will long be remembered
in town and his lecture was ono that thu
townspeople will never forget.
A purse of money was presented him al
tho. close of his lecture by some promi
.nent townspeople, after which cordia
handshaking by the attending crowd tool
place. t
The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1919-01-25
TOTAL OF 100000 TONS.
Americas Share of German Shipping In
eludes Giant Inspector.

NEW YORK, Jan. 25.-German ships
allotted TO the United States for the
transportation of.troops aggregate to.
tai of 100000 tops including the giant
Hamburg American liner Imperator, it
is learned here. The Imperator, which
is a sister ship of the Leviathan aud
has been laid up at Hamburg since her
arrival there late in July. 1914, is ex:
peeted here in the near future with
several Thousand American soldiers.
Great Britain will also receive 100000
tons. the total representing virtually all
the tonnage held in German ports dur,
ing the war. The United States il is
understood. however, will receive tho
larger vessels.
The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1919-01-25
moNopLANE SCARS TO RECORD.
Major Schroeder Up 1880 Feet With
Two Passengers.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 25-A new
record for altitude in a monoplane has
been made by Major Il. ". Schroeder,
holder of the American altitude record.
The war department received teie-
gram Yesterday from the commandant
at McCook Field. Dayton, Ohio, that
Major Schroeder with two passengers
in monoplane climbed to 19,500 feet
in thirty-one minutes. With him were
Lieut.. George Y. Elsy and X. A. Craig,
mechanician.
The previous record for machine of
This type was about 10000 feet. The
Flanc was built by Grover C. Looming
Of Long Island, \. Y, and was powered
with an eight cylinder motor. II mas
developed a speed of 145 miles an hour.
The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1919-01-25

GOVERNOR NAMES STAFF
Personnel of oficial Family of New
Hampshire Executive Announced.

PORTSMOUTH, y. II. Jan. 25-Goy.
Bartlett in his homie today announced
the personnel of his official staff as fol.
lows: Charles w Howard, Nashua, act
ing general and chief of. staff; Ira D.
Colby. Claremont, judge advocate; DR..
Benjamin p Burpee, Manchester, sur,
geon general; John A. Mnehling, Man
chester; Robert S. johnson. Concord
William j. Pater, Portsmouth; j. Levi
Mcadcr, Rochester; William G. Dupont,
Berlin; John S. Childs, Hillsboro, and
Charles W. Fletcher. Rindgc One
place remains 10 be filed.
The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1919-01-25
NORTHFIELD. MASS.

Miss Elizabeth Graham, and Warren
Greggs were married in the home of her
sister, Mrs Walter Neville of Lowell,
iy Rev Mr.. Singleton Jan. p at 4
. clock. Supper was served, after which
the happy couple left for their future
home in Quincy, Mass. The bride
has been employed at the Seminary
laundry several years. She is a sister
of Mrs. Frank Maynard of Northfield
and Mrs Hermon Brown of Vernon.
Mr.. Greggs formerly was employed at
tile seminary A brother Clarence
Greggs is employed there also
The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1919-01-25
ATTACK ON REVAL
COMPLETE FAILURE
Bolshevik Fleet Said to Have Been
Sunk in Toto-Riga Saved by
British Vessels.

LONDON, Friday. Jan. "A British
wireless serviee) ).-Bolshevi attempts
to lombard Reval, capital of Esthonia,
from the sea have resulted in complete
failure, according to reports received
here. Every vessel in the fleet is said
to have been sunk.
Riga was saved from attack by Boil
shivists and from disorders within the
city by a British fleet which was sent
into the Baltic late in December for
the purpose of assisting British refu-
gees to leave Russia
The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1919-01-25
BACK TO GERMANY.
Special Edition of Irish Papers Say
Ex-Kaiser Plans to Return.

LONDON, Jan PA Dublin
despatch to the Daily Mail under
Fridays date says: A sensational
edition selling rapidly on the streets
here maintained that the kaiser
and his family intend to return to
Germany as soon as the national as
scmbly has given the country a le-
gal constitutions