The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1877-04-27
Culture Of the Memory.


er himself fortunate, while he who has drawn
a blank in the lottery must resign himself to
the misfortune. Thus we hear many persons |
lamenting poor memory, AMI even claiming !
sympathy on account of it, utterly unconscious
that they have any power or responsibility in
the matter.
Now, the truth is, that the memory is
faculty which, as much as any other, needs |
derelopmem Its capacity is doubtless greater
in some than in others by natural endowment
but this difference is less important than that |
which is caused by education or neglect. |
Whether for the purpose of facilitating men
tai processes, or of promoting practical eff !
cheney in life's pursuits, a cuhirdted memory
is much more valuable than naturally |
strong one. We may be capable of amass-
ing within our minds a vast amount of facts, |
or rules, or knowledge of any kind thrown to-
gethcr ut random without rcaping any bene.
fit, either in mental power or the conduct of
aifairs-but when the memory ha, been so
trained as to retain what j. confled to it in
classified order and make it available at every
moment of need, its value c,nnot b. over-e,-
tima'ed.
Like all our other pow the memory is
strengthened and developed by exercise and
weakened by disu,c In whatever direction
we make constant demands upon it, it resp nds
ob dent)y. The merchant finds no difficulty
in remembering the prices and qualities of
goods in his own line; the physician easily
recalls the daily symptoms of his patient
the mechanic does not forget the functions
of his various tools. The same conditions
daily rep, atcd will almost Invariably bring
up corresponding ideas, and in our regular
employment we seldom have OCCASION to com
plain of poor memory Thi4 may afford a
clue to the cultivation of this faculty in direc-
| tions where it is now defective. If we would
have it faithfully serve Us, we must keep it
in constant use The same attention which
we bestow on our daily business, and which
! enables us to recall its details with so much
ease, will be equally effective if exercised in
other matters To strengthen the memory on
any given point the nrst requisite is to bring
all our mental energy to BE- upon it. We
are charged with some message or comnision,
perhaps, which we promise, in all good faith,
to convey or to execute, but not being in the
line Of our thoughts, it passes out of our
minds and is unfulflled. We commonly ex-
cuse ourselves for such dereiction, on the
the ground that we are unable by any effort
of the will, to command the power of memo
iy. Yet had we, by a strong self. control,
fixed our attention wholly upon the matter
when presented to W, had we dismissed all
wandering thoughts and concentrated our
mental energies for the time upon that one
thing, the impression would have been so
strong that, in all probability it would have
been remembered and accomplished. This
mental conce ntration is the first and most i'm
portast means of improving the memory. 1t
is largely within our own powers of will to en-
force this and he who is conscious of neglect
in this respect cannot claim to be excused for
forgetfulness.
Another valuable method of training the
memory is through the laws of association.
fed il we would recall it with facility. We
must base rules upon principles, and effects
upon causes, if we would imprint them firmly
on our minds That this is not done with
sufficient thoroughness is the chief cause why
so much of the knowledge which we acquire
passes from us. 1t comes to us in a vague
desuhory way, instead of as the various links
forming an entire chain. If however, we ac-
custom ourselves to search for the reasons oi
phenomena, the laws which underlie the facts
of life, the relations which events bear to each
other, the sources from which they have
sprung, aud the results to which they lead
we shall Gnd a rapid increase in the facility
with which We can recall them to mind The
Emperor Napoleon, who was one Of the mos
marked instances of a retentive mind, used t.
say of himself that his knowledge was all lait
away in drawers and all that he had acquired
, on that subject was at once presented befor,
, him.
This is, as we have before hinted, one grea
need in our present systems of education
To take up a single study leisuiely, present
, ing it the student in all its relations, anc
q leading him to trace its principles from thei
|. foundations up to their highest known resu,t Is
D is Of far more real value, both as a menta
, discipline, and as permanent acquisition 0
t knowledge, than to skim over the surface o
: twenty branches, overlooking the mind will
! isolal ed facts or rules, bearing no apparen
4 connection with each other and thus fxin
. no tenacious grasp upon the memory.
d There is one great cEcoursg cement to th
d cultivation OF the memory, in the fact tina
the work will grow easier with every effort
If we patiently and steadily fix our attentio
on every subject we wish to recall, the powe
n of concentration will become habitual. If "
d constantly arrange and classify our knowledg
e it will grow more and more available. If "
accus tom ourselves to seek out causes, and I
is refer isolated facts to general principles, il
l. stead of being overburdened with a'disorderl
< mass Of disconnected knowledge which it
l. futile to try to remember, the well-ordere
te store-house of the brain will meet all the d.
'e mands made upon it with ease and READINGS
n Although at first such efforts may seem ac
ID ually to retard the acquisition of knowledg
and make all progress slow and difficult, Il
h; power of vigorous thought thus gained, ar
ee the ever increasing facility with which Il
lg memory will act, will more than compensa
r. for the apparent hindrance. Whoever W
OF patiently and steadily submit himself to Il
ne necessary discipline will not only reap the r
u ward of a cult waited and, thereforefore avail
u bic memory, but will also find that all !
IN powers have gained new strength and vigo
al and that he has obtained mental earnestne
n, which will give new tone and zest to b
to chai acter, and new value to his life Phi!
he deiphia Ledger.
IN