to the
"Tabu" of the Sandwich Islanders. Tabu is a term with them which
signifies consecrated--not to be touched--to be let alone--not to be
violated. Thus, according to their religious observances, a certain day
will be proclaimed _Tabu_; that is, one upon which there is to be no
work or no going out.

A few days after this article was read, the scholars observed one
morning a flower stuck up in a conspicuous place against the wall, with
the word TABU in large characters above it. This excited considerable
curiosity. The teacher informed them, in explanation, that the flower
was a very rare and beautiful specimen, brought by one of the scholars,
which he wished all to examine. "You would naturally feel a disposition
to examine it by the touch," said he, "but you will all see that, by the
time it was touched by sixty individuals, it would be likely to be
injured, if not destroyed. So I concluded to label it _Tabu_. And it has
occurred to me that this will be a convenient mode of apprising you
generally that any article must not be handled. You know we sometimes
have some apparatus exposed, which would be liable to injury from
disturbance, where there are so many persons to touch it. I shall, in
such a case, just mention that an article is Tabu, and you will
understand that it is not only not to be _injured_, but not even
_touched_."

A little delicate management of this sort will often have more influence
over young persons than the most vehement scolding, or the most watchful
and jealous precautions. The Tabu was always most scrupulously regarded,
after this, whenever employed.

20. MENTAL ANALYSIS.--Scene, a class in Arithmetic at recitation. The
teacher gives them an example in addition, requesting them, when they
have performed it, to rise. Some finish it very soon, others are very
slow in accomplishing the work.

"I should like to ascertain," says the teacher, "how great is the
difference of rapidity with which different members of the class work in
addition. I will give you another example, and then notice by my watch
the shortest and longest time required to do it."

The result of the experiment was that some members of the class were two
or three times as long in doing it as others.

"Perhaps you think," said the teacher, "that this difference is
altogether owing to difference of skill; but it is not. It is mainly
owing to the different methods adopted by various individuals. I am
going to describe some