§ 7. Comparative strength of men and women. A dif ference in the physical strength of the sexes is found in some degree throughout the world, but it would appear to be far more marked in civilized than in savage communities. The records made at the field-games in the women's colleges are improving; but still fall far short of the men's records in any leading college: in the hundred-yard dash, thirteen seconds as against nine and a fraction ; in the high jump, fifty-two inches as against six feet and over. The muscular force of American college women as tested in various gymnasiums (average of all students in college) is little more than one third that of men. The average strength of back for women is 35 per cent that of men, the average strength of legs, 41 per cent, and the average strength of right forearm, 38 per cent. This is an abnormal difference. The natural and possible strength is more nearly attained by men than by women under our social conditions. Women escape the physical toil which strengthens, but not the mental strain which kills. Men carry more of the wood, but the women not less of the wor ries. A fairer test is applied among peasants in field-work in France and Germany, where the strength of women is found to be about two thirds that of men. American women should do and will do more to attain their natural strength as we attain sounder ideas of education and saner modes of living.
§ 8. Differences in natural intelligence. Mental qualities are not easily distinguishable from physical qualities, if in the physical are included keenness of eye, quickness of nerve, and even superior judgment of materials, tools, methods, etc. Moreover, mental ability is a very complex idea. It may refer to one of the many different qualities of mind, to quickness of observation, talent for color, form, harmony, to memory or imagination, to readiness in speech, to systematic habits of thought, to power of intense and prolonged mental applica tion, to mathematical power in various directions, to philo sophical capacity, that is, a capacity to discover the more far reaching causes of things. These qualities unite in unending combinations to produce that kaleidoscopic variety of person ality which makes the world so interesting. Some men the world calls geniuses have lacked some of these qualities al most entirely. Others who in most respects are either feeble-minded or insane (called idiot savants) have shown an uncanny talent in music, or in mathe matics, the very subject which is the stumbling block for many otherwise bright minds.
By this set of psychological tests the children testing "at age" or but one year above or below (accounted normal), were 77.3 per cent. of the total (of whom 35.8 per cent tested at age). Those testing two to four years above age (supernormal) were 4.2 per cent of the total.
Those testing two to seven years below age (subnormal) were 18.5 per cent of the total. Some children testing subnormal are simply slow of development and, as they mature, become normal and sometimes super normal. But on the other hand, many of the younger children testing almost normal will develop very little mentally, and at fifteen will be several years below age. This in part explains the failure of so many children to attain grades above the fourth, as shown in Figure 29, below.
Each of these natural mental traits has its peculiar part in fitting the man for some kind of work, and the absence or weakness of any one of them increases the difficulty of qualify ing as an efficient worker in some occupations. Native intelli gence shortens the time needed for preparation in any calling, hastens new methods, decreases the cost of supervision, saves materials, tools, and time, diminishes loss from breakage, makes possible the use of finer machinery and better appli ances, and imparts those subtler qualities that distinguish the best from the mediocre products. It is impossible to measure these factors of native ability exactly, tho the psychological tests recently devised are giving remarkable results. But in every school children in all their activities show marked differ ences in traits, which, we all believe, are inherited in certain families. Mental capacity of the higher order develops more slowly and longer than do the physical powers and the senses. Judgment and wisdom are the fruits only of a life rich in experience.
§ 9. Talent and training as factors of efficiency. It is im possible to measure exactly the parts that natural talent and acquired ability play in determining any person's efficiency. Two men sitting side by side in an examination, get the same grade; one of them has had excellent preparation from child hood, and all the opportunities that money, travel, and cul tured associates can give ; the other, under great difficulties, has prepared in a country district school with a little coach ing now and then, and struggling against great odds, has at last entered college. The same grade does not mean either that in their natural ability or in their training in this particular subject, they are equal. Yet the grade is the best expression to be had of their efficiency in the particular work.
One person with great natural musical ability may have lacked alike good opportunities of study and the health and in dustry to gain skill by long practice; while another with less natural ability but more favored in health and in education will attain to a much greater success both artistically and economically as composer, performer, or director of music.