[Illustration: Fig. 2]
Next, two strings were hung at equal distances between the double
strings, and the latter put 100 mm. instead of 50 mm. apart. This was
liked better in every case, and the reasons given were much alike.
The double string was still the repeated unit, while the two strings
between did not _feel_ repeated. In spite of the obvious inconsistency
of the statement that they did not _feel_ the alternates to be repeated
even when they knew that they were so, just as much as the double
string, several subjects made the same remark. V. felt the series as
a rhythm, where the double strings were all he was interested in,
although he knew he should notice if the others were changed. B. could
not detect that they were of any importance, except as he imagined them
absent. B. could feel either the double strings or the two strings
between them as the major unit, only, whichever one he took, the
other retired into obscurity. He felt the minor units in a different
way as being repeated together with the majors, but very weakly, and
not at all unless he previously considered that he ought to do so.
L. said his attention was fastened on the double strings, but it was
the "effort or ease with which he passed over the alternates which
formed the pleasure." Another temporal subject felt the rhythm as the
others did, with more emphasis on the double strings. But the major
units seemed the _rest-phase_ in his rhythm, _i. e._, he paused here
in observation of the series, although his attention was most active;
_vice versa_, the minor units required little attention, but were the
active or moving parts of the rhythm. Since they all considered the
strings in the alternate space merely as steps or lesser beats on the
way to the major element which they sought, and as obstacles rather
than otherwise, why did they prefer the space with two strings rather
than one? This suggested that some factor in the alternate spaces was
important other than simply the amount of resistance to overcome in
getting past the two lines. In answer to this they could only say that
the two strings in the alternate space formed a pleasanter unity by
itself, although, as they went across, they did not think of it in
terms of unity.
What, then, is the real rest-phase of the rhythm of alternating
repeated objects?
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