_W. F. P.’s Estimate_ _Miss H’s Estimate_
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Si.v.m.b. 222 Si.v.m.b. 222
Si.m.b. 11 Si.m.b. 13
Si.b. 7 Si.b. 4
G.v.m.b. 2 G.v.m.b. 2
G.b. 2 G.b. 2
——— — ——— —
240 4 239 4
It is almost incredible that two human beings could come to so close an
agreement, unless one had some clue to the opinions of the other, but it
is even so, no smallest hint passed in either direction. The fact is
that in very few instances can there be the slightest hesitancy in
deciding which is nearer the common original, the Sinclair or the
guessing reproduction.
If there is any reproduction of the Sinclair series whose resemblance to
the original might seem illusory it is that coupling with the leaf of a
tree or plant (Figs. 148, 148a). But of the 20 guesses of that original
not one is so near; in 18 instances (W. F. P.) or at least 15 (Miss H)
Mrs. Sinclair’s is very much the better, in 1 (W. F. P.) to 3 (Miss H)
it is much better, and in 1 (W. F. P.) or 2 (Miss H) it is better.
Perhaps some persons would think that such resemblance as there is
between the butterfly and Mrs. Sinclair’s reproduction (Figs. 97, 97a)
is too faint to count, or at least is accidental. But, by the
independent judgment of two persons, not a single one of the
corresponding guessing reproductions is as near the original or anything
like so near.
Or one might sneer at calling Mrs. Sinclair’s reproduction of Figure 147
“Suggestive.” Only 5 vertical lines, wrongly curving at the top, crossed
by three lines, to stand for a “door with hinges, lower sash,” and wire
screen covering the upper half! But not a single one of the 20 guesses
approaches so much resemblance. Miss H says that of 19 of these, and W.
F. P. of 16, “Si.v.m.b.” Miss H says of 1, W. F. P. of 2, “Si.m.b.,”
while W. F. P. at least is sure of his remaining 2, “Si.b.”
In the light of such tests as those just now made, even such degrees of
resemblance as we have found in the very weakest numbers of the 13 in
this Sinclair series take on deep significance. And the whole mass of
our counter-experiments clearly indicates that the reproductions by Mrs.
Sinclair in that series are prodigiously beyond the reach of chance
guessing.
[Illustration: The Best of the Twenty Guessing-Sets]
As already remarked, it is hardly practicable to reproduce here the 260
drawings resulting from 20 sets of attempts to guess what the 13
originals (the same as those in the Sinclair series of February 15th)
were. But following is shown Mrs. P—n’s set of guesses, the one which
made the nearest, though so distant, approach to success. Let the reader
compare her drawings, one by one, with the reproductions of Mrs.
Sinclair, and judge for himself both which were nearer the originals
they had in common, and by how much.