ral order of the growth of thought, nature prescribes the
following sequence: A union of sensations, produces images; a grouping
of images, produces concepts; a relationing of concepts, produces ideas;
a generalizing of ideas, produces thoughts of the first order; a
generalization of thoughts of the first order, produces thoughts of the
second order: a still wider generalization of thoughts of the second
order, produces thoughts of the third order; progressing in like manner,
to the highest ladder of the mental scale.

In considering this order, we observe that sensations, form the base of
the educational pyramid. All knowledge which comes to the ego, the seat
of consciousness, must come through sensations produced by contact with
material things in the domain of nature. Hence, as a primary step in
educational work, a careful training of the senses, becomes a matter of
the greatest importance. This training cannot be commenced, without
first ascertaining what these senses are, and the natural order of their
evolution.

Commencing with the lowest, we have muscle feelings, or the sense of
musculation; the sense of touch, the sense of pressure, the sense of
warmth, the sense of cold, the sense of smell, the sense of taste, the
sense of hearing and the sense of seeing. Altogether, we have nine
important avenues, through which the inner man may gain a correct
knowledge of the outer world.

Professor Gates has discovered a system of sense training, which may be
successfully applied to kindergarten children. In application, only a
few minutes daily practice by each child, is required. By this training,
in extending the upper and lower thresholds of sensation, the capacity
of each sense, may be doubled from five to eight times. To the
inexperienced, this proposition is so stupendous, that it seems almost
unthinkable! However, we may state parenthetically, that an application
of this system, to children in the Solaris kindergarten, has shown such
marvelous results, that its efficacy and excellence have been well
established. It has proved fully equal to the demands of twentieth
century progress!

Turning again to the teachings of Prof. Gates, we learn that mind is the
key-stone and the arch of life, the all-containing attribute, which
combines all forms of its expression: that to properly cultivate the
mind, is to extend the scope and usefulness of life. Hence, that in
choosing a system of education, which will be in harmony