and almost with every
particular job. One most valuable division of people intellectually is as
to capacity of intellect. Some people have fine intellects, capable of
great accomplishments in the way of education and training. They are
particularly fitted for intellectual work; they have mental grasp; they
comprehend; they reason; they have good judgment; they learn easily; they
remember well. In every way their intellects are active, energetic,
capable. Other people have only moderate intellectual capacity. They
express themselves best in physical activity or in the direct, man-to-man
handling of others. Their few intellectual activities may be exceedingly
keen and accurate--or slow, dull, and vague. People with small
intellectual capacity sometimes have remarkable vigor and clearness of
mind in some one direction--such as finance, promotion, commerce; judgment
of people, horses, cattle, or other living beings; mechanics, invention,
music, art, poetry, or some other narrow specialty. Some intellects, in
other words, are simply incompetent--others, merely narrow.

People can also be divided, intellectually, into two other classes, the
theoretical and the practical. The man with a theoretical intellect is
thoughtful, meditative, reflective. His mind works slowly; it is
interested in philosophy, in theories, in abstractions, and is capable of
dealing with them. On the other hand, it is not particularly well
qualified for observing practical things, and for making a practical
application of the theories it learns so easily and in which it takes so
great an interest. This is the intellect of the philosopher, the dreamer,
the educator, the preacher, the writer, the reformer, the poet. This is
particularly the intellect of reason, of logic, of ideas and ideals.
Whether found amongst the world's leaders or in the lowliest walks of
life, its function is always that of dealing with theory, finding out
reasons, putting together logical arguments, teaching others and dealing
with abstractions. Oftentimes this type of intellect is so impractical
that its possessor never possesses anything else. Literature abounds in
the tragic tales of philosophers, poets, reformers, and dreamers who
starved beautifully and nobly. Every-day life sees thousands more
blundering along, either cursing their luck or wondering why Providence
withholds its material gifts from people so deserving as they.

Over against this is the practical, matter-of-fac