MAKING FOR THE SAKE OF SCIENCE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVII, Issue 11544, 1 December 1900, Page 2 (Supplement)

MAKING FOR THE SAKE OF SCIENCE.

COURTING WITH NOTEBOOK IN HAND.

Chicago, October 20.—An attempt to prove certain psychological theories of love by a graduate at the University of Chicago might have added much to the present knowledge of scientists had not the experiment been suddenly checked.

A zealous young student of sociology went among the university belles, courting one and then another, to note the manner of responses love prompted each to make. He was meeting with success beyond expectation when discovery brought the plan to an abrupt end.

The unique idea of original research was suggested to the young man, whose name is Charles Bush, during a lecture on the phenomena of love. Exactly what the young scientist's theories are no one knows, but an occasional chance remark indicated his belief that people of different classes of society have correspondingly different temperaments, and each is susceptible, in a greater or smaller degree, to affection.

Among the four young women to whom Bush paid attention there is a marked contrast of temperaments. Three of the girls lived in the dormitories on the campus. The other did not attend the university, but lived not far away, being employed in the city. The young women to whom Bush had been attentive recalled remarks he had made from time to time, and. from all the circumstances of his courting it was easy for them to guess its purpose. They all agreed to lend their aid to a plot to catch Bush at his own game. They went to the girl reputed to be the prettiest in the university and explained the situation to her, asking for her assent to meet Bush and be so cordial to him that he would be encouraged to try his experiments anew. The plan was to have the handsome girl be so bewitching that the scientist would fall in love for sure and then, when he came to tell of his affection, to have him given what is known in university vernacular as the " marble heart."

But the young sociologist did not fall a victim to the ruse. The couple were together for an afternoon, but in spite of all the handsome girl's blandishments Bush merely " experimented" upon her.