stinctively attachable and sociable, in so far as he-who never before looked into the futurethey show in the first weeks that they get opens this blank book of human imagination used to and are dependent on the human pres- and writes on it all sorts of contingencies of ence, and are miserable when it is taken from which the toy is the magic spring and center." them. In this instinct of companionship there Since toys are such immediate means of experiis involved a vague, inarticulate sympathy." ence between the great realities of life and the The child's first lessons in social relationships smallness of the child - a gap which can only be are learned by imitating the actions of the mem- filled by a microcosm of playthings-it has bers of the family. As Professor Baldwin puts seemed to me that a fruitful field of inquiry it: “Everything that he learns is copied, repro- would be to ascertain from children the basis of duced, assimilated from his fellows; and all of their interest in and love for toys. The followthem, including him—all the fellows, the socii ing test was accordingly given to 678 boys and --do and think what they do think because 770 girls from the age of seven on: “What they have each been through the same course toys do you like the best for playthings, and of copying, reproducing, and assimilating that why do you like them the best?” he has." From the second year on, when the The reasons given suggested the following child takes such keen pleasure in having others scheme of classification for the favorite toys: do what he does, and sharing with him what he 1. Imitation. 2. Emulation. 3. Love of noise. has, there are remarkable adjustments of the 4. Wonder and surprise. The first group, imiself to the social relationships. It is at the tation, embraces 49 per cent of all the toys. time, too, that toys serve such a beneficent mentioned. It includes such toys as enable purpose in disciplining the ego and correlating children to repeat actions once witnessed, and it to environing actions through play activities which touch at so many points the social sense. All these activities of which he partakes in the The group is represented by 15 per cent of the family—and which he helps to create-react boys and 34 per cent of the girls. Dolls are most favorably toward the healthy develop- oftenest mentioned, being given by 68 per cent ment of the social sense of the child.

of the girls and 5 per cent of the boys. The Indeed, no one factor in the early life of the doll interest, always strong with the girls, is child contributes more largely toward the de- strongest from nine to thirteen years ; and, alvelopment of its social consciousness than toys though at all times weak with the boys, it is and playthings. Advocates of the Kindergar- strongest from seven to eleven years. Doll's ten have long insisted on the educational value furniture and playthings for dolls have second of toys; for, as Froebel pointed out in his Mut place in the group. They are mentioned by ter and Kose Lieder, it is through play that less than one-third of 1 per cent of the boys universal life is mirrored to the child, and by and 51 per cent of the girls. Vehicles—sleds, “playing at” life he grows unconsciously into carts, and wagons-are one-third, with 30 per an understanding of the truth, dignity, and pur- cent of the boys and 10 per cent of the girls, pose of life. The social experience which toys and toy dishes fourth, with less than one-half bring into the life of the child is wide in range of 1 per cent of the boys and 30 per cent of and far-reaching in utility. Note, as Seguin the girls. Among the other toys classed in the has suggested, the fullness of heart and thank- imitation group are animals, tools, houses, fulness of a bright toy and how it awakens in ships, and soldiers. the child a sense of ownership. “He does not The second group-emulation and the spirit understand the idea of property, but he feels it of success--embraces balls, tops, marbles, kites, in his grasp-a feeling which he never experi- checkers, hoops, skipping ropes, cards, and enced in the case of his garments; and once his skates, and includes 27 per cent of the boys possession is assured, he endows it with all the and il per cent of the girls. The ball is the qualities of an ideal, and devotes himself to it favorite toy of the group, being given by 53 as to a reality. True to his sympathetic con- per cent of the boys and 20 per cent of the ception, though his mind know it to be false, girls. It is oftenest mentioned at the age of

thirteen years. Tops have the second place, aversion for companions and play-fellows. and are favored by 46 per cent of the boys and The catalogue of traits was neither as large nor 15 per cent of the girls. Marbles rank third, as varied as might have been expected, and for with 33 per cent of the boys and 4 per cent of the most part the children seemed to express the girls. The spirit of emulation, chance, and their ideals with remarkable intelligence and rivalry, if one may judge from this study, is clearness. The following from a boy of eleven essentially masculine.

is fairly typical: “For a chum I like a boy The third group embraces such toys as give who does not use bad language, smoke, or mix pleasure by gratifying a love for noise, and in with bad company; who will help me if I get it are represented 9 per cent of the boys and 2 into a scrape and not run away like a coward; per cent of the girls. Fife, horn, and other one who is an honest, upright, kind-hearted wind instruments lead, with 17 per cent of boy; one who will come and see me when I am the boys and 6 per cent of the girls; firecrack- sick and cheer me, and not a fairweather friend, ers and firearms second, with 21 per cent of who sticks by me because I have good things, the boys and less than one-third of one per

and not a friend who is always telling everycent of the girls; and the drum takes fourth thing about me that he knows, and not one who rank, with 12 per cent of the boys and one- is always hanging around me. Such is the half of one per cent of the girls. Pianos, or- chum I like." gans, and other musical instruments, none of The papers were collated along the following them often mentioned, are included with this lines: age, sex, moral, physical, and mental group.

traits, habits, and general characteristics. Age The fourth group embraces all those toys preferences were indicated by 13t of the chilwhich excite feelings of wonder and surprise, dren, 107 wishing a chum of the same age, and and it is represented by but 2 per cent of the twenty-seven an older or younger chum. The whole number of the children tested, the boys girls had stronger age preferences than the somewhat in the lead. The group includes the boys. Sex is mentioned by 591 of the children. following toys, mentioned in the order of rank: Among the boys 335 want boy chums and magic tricks, puzzles, jack-in-the-box, punch twenty want girl chums; among the girls 328 and judy, and magic animals.

want chums of their own sex and twenty-eight The social circle widens when the child want boy chums. Sex preferences are most reaches the age of three or four years and pronounced between the years eight to eleven. mingles with other children. New social re- Size is mentioned by eighty-nine of the chillationships-more complex in character—are dren. The same size is desired by fifty-eight formed. The interests, the passions, and the and a larger person by thirty-one. A girl of activities of his companions are reflected in and eleven says: “I would like a chum not too fat related to his own interests, passions, and ac- or too slim, just between, with long, yellow tivities; and the social sense is widened and hair"; and a boy of ten says: “I like a chum clarified through these new experiences and that is about my own age and size. If you relationships.

would like to know why, I will tell you. If he In order to determine the social elements were larger than I, and he wanted to climb a mediating children's likes and dislikes I gave tree that I couldn't, it wouldn't be very pleasthe following test: “ What kind of a chum ant.

While if we were just the same size one ( companion, intimate friend ) do you like the could do what the other could.” A pretty best?” The question was asked of 2,336 Mass- or handsome chum is desired by five boys and achusetts school children-1,068 boys and 1,268 fourteen girls, and special teeth, eyes, hair, and girls-between the ages of seven and sixteen nose by six boys and thirty-two girls; and fifyears. The purpose of the study was to ascer- teen boys and fifty-five girls want a quick or tain some of the elements constituting the sprightly chum. social sense of children, and to discover the in- The favorite mental characteristic is good nafluences conditioning their predilection and ture-a chum that is jolly and cheerful. “One who is full of fun,” “one that don't get mad,” feet at the door. Who always asks to be ex- : * one with a bright, sunny nature,” is desired cused whenever he steps on anybodys' toe. Who by 141 of the boys and 228 of the girls. Fifty- always lifts his hat when he sees anybody he eight of the children want one that is bright and knows." Thirty-six of the boys and sixty-four talented, and forty-two one that uses good lan- of the girls want a chum that can keep secrets; guage. The moral traits, as might be expected, ninety-one of the boys and eight of the girls lead the list. Four hundred and seventy-eight one that neither uses tobacco nor drinks, and of the children want a chum that is kind, char- seventy-three of the boys and seventeen of the itable, or humane, and 455 a chum that is hon- girls one that don't swear. Dress and neatness est, fair, or just. One is impressed in reading influence twenty-two boys and sixty-five girls, these papers with the importance of play in the and wealth seven boys and three girls. Indusformation of the child's standards of morality, try is not strong, but twenty-three boys and as is illustrated by a lad of thirteen: “ The thirty-six girls expressing the desire to have a kind of a chum that I like is one that don't chum that liked to work. Among the general cheat when you're playing ball. I don't like characteristics were classed“ good chum," " reone that says you're two strikes when you're spectable chum,” and “nice chum.” These one, or says you're out when you're two terms are indefinite, and may mean one or a strikes.” Truthfulness takes third place among dozen traits. They are oftenest mentioned by the desired moralities. It is more pronounced the young children, and the girls seemed to with the girls than with the boys, and increases have an almost undisputed monoply of that with advance in years. Constancy comes next. much-used word “nice." The fact that both “I like a chum who would speak just as nice of “good” and “ nice" diminish with advance in you back of you as right in front of your face, years indicates that they belong to a period not one who would pretend to like you just to when ideas are not well defined. get something out of you; and then go away During the adolescent period there is an apand tell tales about you afterwards," is the ideal parent struggle between the real actual self and of constancy of one young miss. This, like the ideal self-a pretty strong desire to have a kindness, is essentially a feminine virtue and chum that embodies the traits they most desire, is apparent only among the older children. but which they are conscious of lacking. This Unselfishness has fifth place among the morali- struggle is well expressed by a girl of thirteen, ties; affection, sixth; modesty, seventh; obe- who says: “I cannot tell the kind of a chum I dience, eighth; and courage, ninih. But five like the best, because I like to have two kinds. of the boys and twenty-three of the girls ex- I like to have a friend to whom I can go and press prefereuce for a religious chum.

forget everything I would rather not remember A chum that is “not rough or quarrelsome” in her presence. I mean by that a person who is desired by 418 of the children, the girls lead- is never serious. I like also to have a friend ing. Fondness for play is more desired by the who is just the opposite. One who is serious boys than by the girls, and diminishes with and can help me. I like it this way because of both sexes as the children grow older; and one my two moods.” And several children specify finds all sorts of play specialties enumerated. certain persons whom they like best for chums Says a girl of twelve: “I like a girl chum the because they differ from themselves-persons best who likes to climb and do stumps.” A chum who are what they themselves are not, but what that is polite, “has good manners," does not they would like to be—a sort of a double that appear until the ninth year, increases as the seems to suggest itself to the young mind durchildren grow older, and is always more marked ing this period of inquiry and doubt. among the girls than among the boys. It is The conclusion of such studies must be reformulated by a boy of nine in these words: garded as tentative rather than final, but the “I like a chum who has very good manners, who writer heartily agrees with Professor Baldwin never swears or lies or never use; vulgar words. that “th, only way to get a solid basis for soWho takes off his hat at the door and wipes his cial theory based upon human want or desire

R

is to work out first a descriptiveand genetic psy- The attitude of the boys toward the investigachology of desire in its social aspects on the one tion was such as to encourage the belief that hand, and, on the other hand, the only way to their replies were as accurate as their knowlget an adequate psychological view of the rise edge would permit. In order, however, to test and development of desire in its social aspects their sincerity, questions were inserted concernis by a patient tracing of the conditions of so- ing which not many of them could be expected cial environment in which the child and the race to have much information. If boys intend to have lived and which they have grown up to deceive they are not likely to discriminate bereflect.

WILL S. MONROE. tween that about which they have knowledge State Normal School, Westfield, Juss. and that of which they know nothing. They

try to deceive consistently, and so pretend to Heredity and Environment; A Study in

knowledge when they have none. The history Adolescence *

book of the institution was also consulted for ECENT investigation on the effect of

the same purpose. suggestion has opened new lines of The physical condition of children is a pas

thought concerning the relative intluence tial test of the vigor of their ancestors. Eightyof heredity and environment. The results four and seventy-six hundredths per cent were gotten from statistics can never be conclusive. in good health; 12 said their health was fair, Too many factors whose value cannot be ac- and as most of these had little or nothing the curately estimated enter into life. The experi- matter with them, it does not seem unreasonmental method is only possible, unfortunately, able to class half of them with those in good under limitations that greatly lessen its scientific health. If we do this the percentage rises to value. The families best qualified to train

87.61. So far as this indicates the physical children are rarely willing to receive those of vigor of their families it is not seriously distinctly bad ancestry, while humanity and the against them. The Elmira Reformatory refeeling of responsibility to childhood will never ports 90.4 per cent of its inmates in good health permit children of good parentage to be placed at the time of admission, and only 3.7 per cent in vicious families for the sake of learning the

diseased. effect of surroundings. The statistical method If we turn from the physical condition of is valuable, however, in correcting or strength- the boys to their mental ability we find 30.45 ening conclusions arrived at theoretically, and per cent good, +1.63 per cent fair, and 27.92 in suggesting possible lines of research.

per cent poor. This estimate was made for The first part of this investigation consists of each inmate by the teachers of the several answers to questions from about 200 boys in classes.

At Elmira, again, 75.8 per cent of the the reformatory at Waukesha, Wisconsin. 7,168 young men who have been in the institu

tion were of good ability, while only 1.2 per * This is a preliminary paper, vritten to be read

cent were regarded as deficient. The difference before the Child Study Section of the National Educa

between these results may be partly due to the tion Association at Washington, July, 1898. The subject will be more fully discussed and additional

fact that the estimate of the Waukesha boys statistics given in another paper now in course of was based almost wholly on ability, as shown in preparation. The writer desires to express his obliga- school work, while at Elmira the opportunity tion to Supt. Charles O. Merica, of the Wisconsin In

for judgment is considerably enlarged. dustrial School, to Supt. G. A. Merrill, and State Agent Lewis, of the Minnesota State Public School,

Twenty-eight and thirty-five one hundreths and to Supt. S. S. Landt, of the Wisconsin State Public

per cent of the boys have lost their father and School. Through their courtesy much valuable in- 31.03 per cent their mother. This is rather a formation, otherwise inaccessible, was obtained. The

large proportion. Morrison found that 20 per writer is also indebted to his colleagues, Professors

cent of the industrial school population of EngG. E. Culver and V. E. McCaskill, who kindly looked over his questions and gave valuable suggestions, and

land and Scotland were fatherless and 14 per to Prof. Joseph V. Collins, who assisted in some of the

cent motherless. The large number of mothermathematical computations.

less children, found by this investigation may

per cent

be accounted for either by the father's desire The mothers of two out of 179 had been before to reuarry, leading him to wish to be rid of his a criminal court. children, or by trouble with the stepmother. So far as could be learned from the boys, This seems to be indicated by the fact that 22.5 their fathers were, in almost all cases, hardper cent of all the children have stepmothers, working men, 125 were skilled workmen, 46 while only 15.53 per cent have stepfathers. unskilled, and 33 were farmers. Only 5 did The danger to young children, if either parent not work, and 2 were saloon keepers. When remarries, becomes evident when we see that asked about the character of their fathers 86.33 30.43 per cent of these boys report unkind per cent said they were good men, 11 treatment by their stepparent.

thought them bad, and 2.65 per cent fair. Morrison * thinks that the large number of This es: imate is probably not far from correct. reformatory children who have lost one or both It shows a moral discernment in the boys that parents is evidence “ of a degenerate race goes deeper than arrest and conviction, since either on the father's or the mother's side." it exceeds the number of those against whom a The inference that these children are more in- crime had been proven. Ill treatment by the clined to crime does not seem to be warranted. parents does not appear to have greatly inPartially orphaned children of wage earners

fluenced this estimate. These boys seem to gravitate to the reformatory quite regardless of have regarded this as natural, if not as a criminal proclivities. If fatherless, they are a

privilege. burden to the mother, who has difficulty in sup- Drunkenness in their ancestry was admitted porting them, and if motherless, the father by 37.32 per cent. The parents seem to have finds them an obstacle to remarrying. In both been generally meant here, as the same quescases they are left to themselves, while the tion asked about them later gave practically the parent is a way from home at work, and so they same result. It is interesting to note that of become incorrigible through street life.

the 81 boys, one or both of whose parents or Insanity was found in the ancestry of 1.6 per ancestors were hard drinkers, 52 did not themcent; epilepsy in 5.68 per cent, and 6.13 per

selves drink, while of the 136 whose parents cent reported chorea. In only four instances and ancestors did not drink, 31 reported that did two of these three nervous diseases appear

they were accustomed to drink either whisky in the same family line. One boy reported a or beer or both. It is not easy to explain this death from nervous prostration and consump

on the supposition that youthful delinquency is tion. Either insanity, epilepsy, or chorea was

the result of debilitated nerve centers brought traced in the ancestry of 13.82 per cent.

about by ancestral alcoholism and disease. Ten and forty-seven hundredths per cent are

But, if boyhood crimes originale in a longing of ancestry in which at least one has been con- for excitement, which finds its gratification in victed of crime, while 7.48 per cent said that

crime because a healthier outlet for those feeltheir father had been convicted. If we include ings is not at hand, the results found here are in the estimate those who had never been con

not so difficult to understand. Intemperance victed, so far as their sons knew, the percent

would then follow crime rather than precede age falls to 6.96. In either case it is large, and

it, and this has been found to be true *. In any indicates the surroundings in which the boys case, it leaves a large number of delinquents to grew up as well as the tendencies bequeathed be accounted for in some other way. At the to them. The offenses of which they were con

Elmira Reformatory over 50 per cent are of victed indicate, in most cases, general worth- temperate ancestry. lessness rather than criminality. They were If we consider all who were included in this usually drunkenness or disorderly conduct. investigation, 31 out of 217 bad learned to One, however, was convicted of murder, one of drink whisky, while 59 in 218 drank beer. Of trying to shoot a man, and one of robbery. the 54 who gave the age at which they began