The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1876-04-15
The Burden of Memory.

Appleton's Journal contains in its frs
number calculation, by Berthelot the EN-
nent French organic chemist Of the number q
combinations which may be made OF acids
with certain alcohols. He says, If you give
each compound, thus possible, name, ami
allow line for each name, and then priit
one hundred lines on page, and place a
million volumes in a library, you would
want fourteen thousand libraries TO cOmple.e
your catalogue.
The science of chemistry is perhaps the
most striking example of the rapid accumu'
laton OF facts so characteristic Of the present
age. Hosts of Investigators Ia every field OF
research are unearthing treasures OF know
ledge and adding them to the accumulated
scientific wealth Of the world. The burden
which the memory is called upon to bear Is
already so heavy, that It could scarcely De
possible for any man, however gifted by ma
ture, to carry with certainty, those pertain
ing to any one department OF science, even
though his entire life were devoted to it.
This fact explains the increasing demand
for works of reference Encyclopedias, hand
books, compilations of tables, and variols
and multiplied helps to memory abound A;
new books of like character are constantly
issued, and those which already exist need
constant revision, to keep pace with tae
march of discovery.
1t is quite evident that only a small fr,c-
ton Of the mass of facts can ever be stocd
I'D in any individual memory; the attempt
to remember them would occupy thrice The
wears allotted 10 the life TO mankind. If eny
part can be remembered II becomes imppr-
liant to know what ought to be remembered
and what must be left to the works OF refer
ence.
While facts are almost numberless, prinel-
ples are few We can, then, easily remember
PRINCIPLES, and knowledge OF general prin
ciples 10 the key to research in books for fats
we do not know; il Is also the means whereby
we can test the truth or falsity of the stae
ments contained in such works. Itwouldbe
strange indeed tina, errors should not creep
into any extended work OF reference; nay II
is strange that SO few errors are committed
But II a fact be enormously stated, the error
will almost surely be discovered by conad-
ering It with reference to the PRINCIPLES
which underie il. We should therefore ftst
seek to remember principles, and after than,
Just as many facts as we can.
But to every individual there is a choice in
the facts which are To be remembered. Th,se
which are Of the most frequent application in
his business or profession, are the ones he
will be most likely to choose TO remem,e DER,
and with coed reason. The lifelong STUDENT
there are a few such still to be found) will
choose such facts as lie must frequently r.fer
TO in his studies But facts, 10 be most eaiily
remembered, require thorough and CAREFUL
classification.
To classify properly is however a tast OF
skill-skill only acquired by proper aIpre-
citation of the true end OF all classification,
namely, convenient reference. \ business
IL tina ~ n
and places each kind OF document IN lis pro-
per pieeon.holc; but this classification might
| be carried so far as TO utterly defeat the pur.
pose II is designed TO subserve. The lieon
holes nigh, be SO multiplied that a letiei, or
note, or receipt, could be picked out of a bun.
die sooner than Il particular pigeon-hole Gould
be found among the entire number OF
course this is supposlng very extreme .ase,
but i. illustrate the point We wish TO make
namely, that too much classification Is as
bad Ms too little.
A great many people have too many pigeon
holes In their memories, more have tooiew
and few, those who seem largely giftei 10y
nature in power OF memOry, have nethcl toe
many nor too few, but no single man ha:
room in his mem ~ FIR everything. Al
must more 81 recourse 10 lhell
book shelves.
A poor recourse u Is IN many casts Down
comes "A huge volume, the title OF which, il
broad letters ON its back, shows that he iugI
tive fact we are after, is or ought 10 be- within
its covers We turn 10 the back part 10 fine
, the index, but We don't see H. Perhaps It il
at the beginning. We hopefully turn owe
iths leaves Of the book 10 find 1t there, anC
discover nothing but mcaccr table of con
4 tents We throw down the book in infinite