The Columbus dispatch. (Columbus, Miss.) 19??-1922, 1921-12-04

Scientists, studying the records Of
the intelligence tests applied to Ann
erican soldiers, have reached the con-
clusion that these men had on an
average the intellectual development
which is considered normal for boy
IA years old.
This does not seem very flattering
to us as a nation, but it is borne out
\ by Thomas A. Edison, who has been
conducting some intelligence tests Of
his own on men who apply to him
for employment. He expresses him
self as amazed at the low average Of
| intelligence which his tests have re-
vealed. He says that not more than 2
per cent of the adult population can
understand a self-evident fact when
it is put before them.
These disturbing opinions from high
authorities are supported in way
by the new school of psychologists.
Their Investigations tend to show
that an individual who is not given
proper opportunity to develop his
mind and personality does remain a
child in all those respects in which
his development is retarded. They
would say that the typical American
man of business, while highly de-
veloped in his special line, is "infan-
tile" as whole, because he is UNI
developed in so many other ways.
This view of course eXcites the an
tagonism of every good American,
but it is perhaps worth examining
just for the sake of understanding
a point of view we cannot share.
Many women are wont to remark
that their husbands, brothers, or even
their fathers are just big boys, but a
good deal of evidence can be brought |
forward to show that women are on
an average even more infantile than
men. Men, in order to make a living,
have to achieve certain degree OF
maturity, They may have boyish
traits but they cannot afford to have
the helplessness of children. Women,
on the other hand, know that an APP
pearance of helplessness, if accompan-
led by good looks, is often a great
asset in the pursuit of a husband. /
Thus society encourages women to
hold on to any infantile traits they
may have. The "cuteness," the help
lessness, the ignorance, which so
many of them affect, are infantile.
The woman may use these tricks con-
in pursuit of man, but the
mere fact that she does it is an indi-
cation, according to the psychologists,
that she has never become fully adult.
This prevailing infantilism of women
is widely recognized in popular slang
and popular songs, which reveal far
more of our folk-psychology than does
our formal literature. "When grown
up ladies', act like babies, I've just
got to love 'em, that's ALI"
1t is not possible to summarize here
all of the evidence which might be
brought forward to prove that the
public as a whole has never grown up.
Our tastes in reading, movies and
theater are specially significant, how
ever. L ne duulI ueslIeS 10 understand
life. The child wishes to cultivate his
Illusions about it. Children read fairy I
stories. Most of the stories in or
magazines, nearly all of our movies, {
most of our novels and most of our
stage plays are fairy tales in effect. |
That is, they all foster lovely illusions |
about life, rather than study the ,
ruth of it. The American public is
nearly always antagonized by any
work of art which sets forth the truth
lbout life.
"Why write about such ugly things \
when there are so many pleasant !
Kings to write about?" is the for !
nula always used. 9
Tell me a nice pretty story, =
laddy,' is what the same individual =
vas saying at the age of 10. How =
much has his point of view changed ? !
isks the psychologist.
Do other nations differ from US in ,
his respect? 1t is probable that in
III parts Of the world most men and
women never grow up, but in the