The Indianapolis times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1922-1965, 1929-05-17

nov to carry on his lnVenVln6 Caleet
by nationwide use OF the Blnet
test.
Held to Be Degeneracy
The second theory has had con-
siderable vogue for many years. II
explains genius as form OF de-
7eneracv certain abilities being
enormously developed at the expense
of other abilities, leaving the m
dividual mentally unbalanced
Advocates of this theory base
their CONGRATULATIONS on the history
of mental effectiveness which runs
through the biographies OF an ap-
Mailing number Of the worlds great
men But these conclusions OF
Nordau and other follows OF Lom-
broso fail to explain the equally
large number of great men Tree
from all forms of mental derange-
ment.
The third explanation offered IS
known as the Prophetic Theory. IL
would define genius as the superior
ability resulting from a continued
and sustained adolescence, and the
sniritlal abandon experienced when
Inc individual is freed from the
inhibitions involved in systematlzed
life.
This theory has much to recon-
mend if. but fails to explain the
large number of very superior IN
dividuals whose entire lives were
thoroughly "harnesSed up" and also
that other large number OF equally
gifted persons whose lives, free from /
the harness of responsibility, are /
frittered away in superhciaitles.
Reflected by Experts
The popular theory is that gifted /
individuals are born with special /
endowments for specific activities; /
that the great artist, musician, poet, /
banker, railroad magnate, Is porn /
with a something plus, and that
each is blessed with a special kind |
of machinery peculiar to his type !
of genius This marches along WIN !
ultra Orthodox theology.
The psvchozanalysts reject these |
several hypothesis and advance the |
SUGGESTION that the differences be- |
tween the genius and the common /
man. and between the several types /
of genius, do not consist in constl- /
+u+iona1 variations at all, but IN the /
complexes which go to make up the /
composite and mysterious thingS we |
call personality.
They denv that the genius can 90 |
something which the common man /
can not do. They think that he can /
he accounted for by analysis OF the /
,,rpes which are active in his lie /
as the result of the peculiar Stlnlu-
1ations to which he has been SUD-
iac+ed in his social environment.
Fo reach of these divergent the
cries an array OF reputable psychol-
oois+s stands ready to do battle Oh I
course the most that can be Salo III
the present state Of our knowieoge
is that no one Of them IS Wholly
+iobt and that the truth OF the maui
teT nrobablv Will be found TO IN
volve them all.
Must Investigate Further
70 shall have to wait for further
investigation 10 give us SatlSiac-
+orv definition. All that we may say
With assurance is that now and then
O., individual appears who mYentS
new device. song or concept; that
he nossesses the ability to perceive
sirniIarities and identities which had
not heen perceived before; that he
has creative imagination; thaI ne
has a flair for the thing With Wnlch
he busies himself, and therefore
slInerior concentration Of mind ana
mower of sustained application.
whether these traits are born IN
him. produced by ? fortunate comb
nation of circumstances, or devel-
oned in the course of his education
no one can say.
Nor does any one have a reliable
method of identifying these gifted
individuals before they blossom out.
Il is of the nature OF genius TO evade
or transcend rules. Genius makes
rules. 1t can not be measured with
ordinary yard sticks.
One wonders what might have
been Mr.. Edison'S reaction as a boy
TO the embattled questionnalres,
tests and measurements which con-
front the modern school boy. No
doubt The Boy is somewhere here IN
Indiana. but how will Governor
Leslie find him? Will he got to
school records, or to well manicured
and highly standardized laboratories
where boys repeat exercises with
bored uniformity?
Where Will He Find Him"
Or will the Governor go to the
ntrie shops in the attic. the wood
shed. the cellar. where the boy gives
way to mis- free spirit? And will the
Governor not after all have to de-
pend on his bunch?
If the boy should be found by
accident or QUESTIONABLE, what as
surance have We that the best
school of technology VIII foster his
proper development? Can We De
sure that even the most approved
course of training will not "cramp
the style" of our budding genius?