I saw a case in the paper last week where a judge at the county court used his powers of "noticing little things," and "putting this and that together." He was trying a man as a debtor.
The man pleaded that he was out of work, and could get no employment.
The judge said—"Then what are you doing with that pencil behind your ear if you are not in business?"
The man had to admit that he had been helping his wife in her business, which, it turned out, was a very profitable one, and the judge thereupon ordered him to pay his debt.
Dr. Reiss, of the Police Department of the University of Lausanne, records how the police read the spoor.
A burglary had taken place in a house, and the thief's footprints were found in the garden. Those going towards the house were not so deeply impressed as those coming away from it nor were they so close together; from this the police gathered that the burglar had carried away with him a heavy load which made him take short steps and he was fully weighted down so that they sank deeply in the ground.
HINTS TO INSTRUCTORS.
HOW TO TEACH DEDUCTION IN PRACTICE.
Read aloud a story in which a good amount of observation of details occur, with consequent deductions, such as in either the "Memoirs" or the "Adventures of Sherlock Holmes."
Then question the boys afterwards as to which details suggested certain solutions, to see that they really have grasped the method.
Follow up ordinary tracks and deduce their meaning. For examples of daily practice see my book of "Aids to Scouting."