Juniata sentinel. [volume] (Mifflintown, Pa.) 1846-1873, 1871-12-13
For the SENTINEL,
FOR tne
MEMORY.


HEMORY.
Memory is the store house OF the
mind, where is placed the pleasing fan.
cies, sorrows, and troubles, that cross
the paths of mankind. No one can in
terfere with the relics she has collected
there; ever shine as bright jewels in a
golden casket
Aristotle makes experience the mother
of art, memory the mother Of experience.
We know tits the past that improves
the present and colors the future. She
must have her share in all the improve
ments man can make. In the most
original invention there is something
from the past.
What a privilege and consolation in the
twilight Of life, when mind and body are
unfit to perform ON the stage Of activity,
to be able to take retrospective views
'To the fairy haunts of long lost hours,
Blest with far greener sh des, far fresher
flowers"
Some minds penetrate on the instant
Others by continued application-the
latter generally are the most retentive.
although there are wonderful exceptional
instances on record. Seneca could re
peat two thousand words heard but once
Mozart the great musician could take a
copy of piece Of music after hearing it
once. At fourteen years of age his
presence was requested by Pope Clement,
the XVIII for remembering and noting
correctly afterwards, far-famed piece of
which it was forbidden to give a copy
1t is related of Temistocles that he could
call by name every citizens of Athens
though they numbered twenty thousand.
Cyrus knew the names of every soldier
in lis army. We have heard of persons
quoting entire books. Lord Granville
could repeat the new Testament from be
ginning to end in the original greek. We
all know of Americas musical prodigy
Blind Tom. He evidently has all the
faculties centered in the memory of sweet
sounds otherwise he is blind imbecil.-
Like Mozart he can remember music
correctly heard but once.
But these are the marvels of memory
few indeed comparatively near reach
their fame. We all have our memory
bells that tinkle on, on, through life
Very often actions and thoughts-move
off the best-are sounded, Among the
most cherished they come. not as pale
and fading before US, but vivid and fresh
as when they were first written on the
tablet of the soul. Before our imagining
vision come the faces Of dear friends that
have long been numbered with the dead.
We think of the interest and impressions
when they walked with US that are now
mere pictures hung in halls
Many minds are busted with the wh:l
of gain and all the glittering array of
the world-yet, sometimes, will come the
remembrance Of the little rustic school
house by the wayside Again will they
and their playmates wear the garb of
innocent childhood.
Whittier, the poetical idol of our land,
composed his most popular works from
recollections of his early youth. We,
too, from his magic description, can see
the old home circle. the bright wool
fire, and almost shuader at the north
winds roaring. Some of the forms on
which the fire light danced have gone to
their long homes-yet the poet says each
in their respective sphere to fill up the
tale of other years-aud those who re-
main on earth will
.'Sit with him by the old homestead hearth
And stretch the hands Of memory forth
To warm them at the wood fires blaze"
EUREKA.