Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-11-17
DID YOU EVER GROW UP
BY Frederic J. IIaskin

washington. Nov. ig.--.Soientists, |
studying the records here Of the in
tclllgence tests applied 10 American
soldiers, have reached the conclusion
chat these men had on an average the
Intellectual development which is con-
sidered normal for boy II years old.
/ This does not seem very hattering
/ TO us ae a nation, but II is borne out
/ by Thomas A. Edison, who as is well
!. known. has been conducting some in
ltelliaence tests OF his own on mon who
apply TO him for employment. lie
expresses himself as amazed at the
low eyornge Of intelligence which his
tests have revealed. He says that not
more than two per cent Of the adult
lpopiilation can understand a self-eyi-
dent fact whep II is put before them.
These disturbing opinions from high
authorities are borne out In a way by
the new school Of psychologists. Their
H.. estigations tend to show that an
4 individual who, is not given proper
opportunity TO develop his mind and
personality does remain a child in all
those respects in which his develop
ment is retarded They would say
! that the typical American man Of
business, while highly developed in
his special line, is "infantile" as a
whole. because he is undeveloped IN
so many other ways.
This view OF course excites the
antagonism Of every good American
but il is perhaps worth examining
just for the sake Of understanding q
point Of view we cannot share
/ In tho first place II is to be noted
that this view gets good deal q
= corrOboration in every day life. How
b. often you hear it said OF some mar
I that "he is just a great big over growr
s boy" That may, according to th'
psychologists. be scientific description
o OF his mind ana personality.
Grown.up Babies.
Many women are TO remark tha
their husbands, brothers. or ever
:. their fathers are just big boys, but :
6 cd deal Of evidence can be brough
forward to show that women are OF
!, an average even more infantiie thar
have to achieve a certain degree @
q maturity. They may have boyisl
: traits but they cannot afford 20 hav
e the helplcssness Of children. Women
n on the other hand. know that an ap
% pearance Of helplessness. II accom-
4 panied by good looks, is often n grea
ST asset IN the pursuit Of O. husband
Thus society encourages women {
l. hold onto any infantile traits they ma
o.. have. Tho "cuteness," the helpless
ot ness: the ignorance. which so man
ST of them affect, are infantile. Tn
t. woman may use these trick
t. consciously in pursuit Of a man. lbt
g. the mere fact that she uses sue
W tricks at all is an indication, accordin
ne to the psye biologists, that she hs
never become fully a-dlt This epr'
= vaiIing infantilism Of women is wide
ecognized in popular slang an
&" popular songs, which reveal far mo-
l.. Of our folk psychology than does Ol
formal literature when grown-l
s- ladies', act like babies. I've just got
love 'em. that's all!"
IA The ladies know that. And it is J
trouble at all for them to act III
n babies, because most of them ha
an not grown mentally and morally nea
ly as fast as they have grown ply,
lal cally, say the scientists.
It is not possible to summarize III
he all of the evidence which might
-o- brought forward 10 prove that
public as whole has never grown
Our taste in reading. movies and &
ater are especially significant, hC
ever. The adult desires to understs
life. The child wishes to cultivate
ing Illusions about it. Children read "a
stories. Most OF the stories in
ry- magazines. nearly all Of our NOV
As most of our novels and most of
,et- stage plays are fairy tales in eff
to- That is. they all foster lovely iIlusi
ere about life. rather than study the tr
for Of it. The American public is nes
a always antagonized by any work
art which sets forth the truth ah
at life.
nm why write about such ugly thi
yes when there are so many pleas
DEL things TO write about?" IS the form
rat always used.
Tell me d nice pretty story.
-iop dy." is what the same individual
-3th saying at the age Of ten. How III
lsh has his point OF view changed, {
lere the psychologist.
and Do other nations differ from u.
men this respect? 1t is probable that in
all parts of the world most men and "
en- never grow up, but in the hi.
civilized European nations there
=, probGbly a larger percentage of
u adults. as indicated by the much /,
er number of persons who show
si"s ture taste in literature. drama. art
music, and have mature outlook
flee life
pos Education to Blame.
eie'i What then is the cause OF our
ure 10 bring ourselves 10 a real
ears turity? Mr.. Edison has the supper
Ee- most OF the experts when he lays
chief blame on education. Our ed
who ton teaches the child lot OF
beliefs, instead OF teaching him
think. But above all it bores him.
In erature. science, history-the tn
=. which help any individual 10 IN
MSS stand and appreciate life-are I