The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1920-12-12

of the first. but often unconscious OF
the second The external conditions
which we see and feel make greater
impression than those which prevail
within our bodies. For example, most
OF US think that in the northern United
States we work fast In winter. AS a
matter OF fact. the statistics of ten thou
sand people show that we work slowly.
The ordinary impression Is apparently
psychological In order to keep warm
out OF doors In winter we walk fast. and
this leads US to think that We do every
thing rapidly.
Again, the blue sky. clear afr. bright
sunshine and fresh colors OF the first
day after a storm are unquestionably
inspiring, but does that inspiration make
us work any better7 May II not lead to
a nervous excitement which actually
binders our work by causing us TO look
out at the beauties Of nature or to be
less concentrated In other ways? The
actual figures show that. taking the year
as a whole, on dull days. especially the
second such day when storm begins
TO clear, we accomplish more than on
bright days, even though we grumble
about the clouds and the dampness. A
bright sky certainly makes US cheerful.
but its chief helpfulness, so far as our
work Is concerned. is felt when II Is a
change from the monotony OF series
of duh days. Clouds and rain produce
exactly as much rejoicing when they
succeed prolonged clear weather of the
kind we praise so highly.
THE questions which have been asked
and the possibilities that have been sug-
rested show how indefinite are our ideas
OF the effect of climate. We understand
its psychological effects fairly well. We
know little of It's physiological enects,
however, except when they are In some
exereme or unusual or when people are
sick or are In some other pathological
condition. We need to determine now
ordinary people are Influenced by ordi-
nary conditions OF weather.
Government school Tests.
TT has been proven that from New
England to Florida physical strength
and health vary In accordance with the
seasons. Extremes seem to produce the
same effect everywhere. But does men,
tai activity vary in the same way? The
general conclusion il that mental work
varies In the same way as physical bu'
reaches its highest efficiency at a lower
temperature Before we can accept this
however. tests are needed on n large
scale. The most feasible method seems
to be by marks of students In sucf
schools as West Point and Annapolis
There the young men live an ex'
tremely regular life with minimum OF
outside distractions. Their recitations
are graded with great severity and reg
ularity. and a given subject often Is
fought six days in the week. The marks
are handed to the heads Of the depart
ments at frequent intervals and posted
where the students can see them. Nc
division has more than ten or twelve, sc
that every student has full opportunity
to show how we'll he Is prepared.
by charting the results 1t can be
seen that the curves of mental activity
have two main maxima. In fall and II
spring. There is rise in mental &C
ton. or better marks. from the opening
OF school until shortly after the first OF
November. Then fall Is due. but the
thought Of the approaching examination:
inspires and urges on the student sc
that the curve holds its height until
Christmas. Then comes a great fall
The curve declines until the middle OF
January. when a gradual increase IS