III.] ORIGIN OF TASTE FOR SCIENCE. 149
have distinguished each head by a letter, and added to each reply the letters that seemed appropriate to its contents. The replies are subsequently analysed according to these letters.
SIGNIFICATION OF THE LETTERS.
| |
Number. of
Instances. |
|
a. |
59 |
Innate tastes (mem : not necessarily hereditary). |
|
6. |
11 |
Fortunate accidents. It will be noticed that |
|
c. |
19 |
these generally testify to the existence of an
innate taste.
Indirect opportunities and indirect motives. |
|
d. |
24 |
Professional influences to exertion. |
|
e. |
34 |
Encouragement at home of scientific inclinations. |
|
f |
20 |
Influence and encouragement of private friends |
|
q. |
13 |
and acquaintances.
Influence and encouragement of teachers. |
|
h. |
8 |
Travel in distant regions. |
|
z. |
3 |
Residual influences, unclassed. |
EXTRACTS AT LENGTH.
PHYSICS.
(1) "My tastes are entirely innate ; they date from childhood." (a)
(2) " As far back as I can remember, I loved nature and desired to learn her secrets, and have
