THE OBSERVATIONAL METHOD 237 
view; but once established in a position, he may be a loud 
“knocker”, and his pushing may consist of trying to push 
other people “off the map”. Preferring to be led and 
wanting to lead are also two pretty and time-honored 
distinctions, and very valuable ones when properly made. 
However, there is nothing in a brief interview which will 
justify making such a distinction. And a man’s own word 
in this respect is the last thing to be trusted. Not many 
men will acknowledge that they prefer to be led, and that 
they are passive, or lack energy. Closely allied to these 
items are those given under the head of activity, namely, 
live wire, nervously quick, slow but steady, phlegmatic. 
These descriptions are very commonly applied in daily 
speech. But how is a live wire to be detected by mere ob 
servation? Because a man jerks out his words, bites his 
finger nails, keeps his hands and feet in constant motion, 
and gives many similar signs, it may be proper to call him 
a live wire or nervously quick. But the question which 
such nice phrases do not answer is: How does this life and 
nervous energy transform itself? Does it do work or does 
it only expend itself in motion? Is it constant or is it only 
flickering? Is it backed by ability, or is it only a man 
nerism, an eccentricity? The same thing may be said 
about the epithets slow but steady, and phlegmatic. An 
applicant may have a slow but steady way of answering 
questions and filling out an application form but he may 
be a live wire when it comes to planning a shop layout, or 
setting up an intricate machine. There are many workers 
who give the appearance of being very phlegmatic who 
produce an uncanny amount of work. The saying that 
still waters run deep applies to men in the employment 
office as well as elsewhere. The quality of being a good 
mixer is one which is most uncertain. Human relation