XXI THE VESTIBULE SCHOOL Mental and physical tests make it possible to detect in individuals those qualities which are essential for certain kinds of work. Observation and questions help to deter mine the possession or lack of certain other important traits. However, none of these processes makes it possible to discover completely and conclusively all that it is desirable to know about an applicant. The shortcoming of them all is their necessary brevity. For example, an examination by the methods outlined may show that a man possesses the abilities of a first-rate operator. Neverthe less, this man, despite his ability, may turn out to be a very poor operator. His failure may be due to such rea sons as dislike for the work, dissatisfaction with the pay, lack of ambition, etc. These qualities may be called moral qualities, or qualities of character, and they must be dis tinguished from the qualities of technique or ability manifested by the employee in the tests. At the present time, very little is known or understood about the origin and operation of the moral traits. Enthusiasm, determination, cheerfulness, reliability, and their opposites are moral qualities which, at the present stage of science, can neither be definitely located nor accurately gauged. A casual observation of an individual may give some hint as to their presence or absence. Tests will give a much better indication because tests require work and in work moral qualities are more noticeably 270