Semi-weekly Louisianian. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1871-1872, 1872-02-11
The Game Of Memory.

1ut UdWt vi MtulUI!'
The game of memory as prachced
by the Ojibways and Northern In
dams, has been found profitable,
both for recreation and improve
ment, as branch of object teach
ING. The Indian chief or teacher
in his rude way, has from twenty to
thirty or more sticks cut, made
sharp or pointed at the larger end,
and split at the top an inch or two.
These sticks are then planted around
in a circle, a short distance from
each other; then various substances
"a single specimen on each stick at
the top are distributed around the
circle in order, beginning on the
right hand of the teacher, and pro-
ceeding around in the order Of
numbers one, two, three, etc.
The Indians, or class, aresthen
allowed to 60 around the circle
slowly and take a strict and scru-
timing look at each specimen in
the order of the numbers one, two,
three, and thus around the circle.
This is done silently. The sticks,
or specimens, are then removed and
placed by the teacher, and then the
class on going around a second
time, each one in order, is to tell
the teacher, as far as possible, with
out mistake, what specimen is con-
tanned in stick number one, two,
three, four, five, and so around the
whole circle if possible.
With the Indians, the first speci-
men will probably be birch bark to
make canoes, the second little to-
bacco, the third the fur of beaver,
the fourth a bit of calico, the fifth a
feather of a particular bird, the sixth
the bone of some sort of fish, and so
or different substances, in the diff
ierent sticks planted around the
circle. The one who can repeat
without mistake up to the highest
number receives the premium or re-
ward. The consequence is the per-
ceptive faculties are all called into
exercise, and each individual will
soon learn to discriminate so sharp
ly that they will be able to track
wolf over dry leaves in the forests
as well as white man can track the
same animal in the snow.
You will ask how they can do it :?
] reply that they do it very readily
iy observation and sharp inspection
by first noticing leaf with holes in
it, the middle hole, or holes, a triAe
larger and in advance of the other
hole, or holes, near the central
holes. These two holes they know
by observation, were made by the
toes of the wolf and they Immediate
" stick down a leaf by this first leaf
thus marked, and search for a Sc
cond, and third and fourth, and SO
on, putting a stick at each leaf thus
marked. By these sticks in a row
they find where the animal drank
at spring perhaps, and they soon
discover his den among the rocks
or caves near by.
By this mode of sharp inspection
they become acquainted with the
habits of the wild animals, and also
gain knowledge of the different
plants and trees, and turp their
knowledge to good account for their
individual welfare. The writer has
known scholar by practicing this
exercise, who was enabled to memo
rize a long lesson for a bible class,
and at the recitation, without the
book, repeat it backward as well as
forward, or give any particular
verse called for and he trusts that
it may be made available in our
common schools as a recreative and
popular branch Of object teaching.