The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1877-09-29
Culture OF the Mem0ry.

THE student lamenting his lack of
ability to remember his lessons, and,
Jealous of another who spends only half
the time which he employs in their prep
aration, sees that his rivals memory
always serves him in the recitation
room, may take encouragement from the
following, condensed from the Philadel-
phia Public Ledger:
1t is a common idea that good mem
DRY is a ready-made gift which nature
whimsically confers upon some and with
holds from others.
Now, the truth is that the memory is a
faculty which, as much as any other,
needs development. Its capacity is
doubtless greater in some than in others
by natural endowment, but this differ
ence is less important than that which
is caused by education or neglect.
Whether for the purpose of facilitating
mental processes, or of promoting prac-
teal efficiency in life's pursuits, Gull
tivated memory is much more valuable
than a naturally strong one. We may
be capable of amassing within our minds
a vast amount of facts, or rules, or
knowledge of any kind thrown together
either in mental power or the conduct
of affairs; but when the memory has
been so trained as to retain what is con-
tided to it in classified order and make it
available at every moment of need, its
value cannot be overestimated.
Like all our other powers, the mem
DRY is strengthened and developed by
exercise, and weakened by disuse. In
whatever direction we make constant
demands upon it, it responds obediently.
The merchant finds no difficulty in re-
membering 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 repeated, will
almost invariably bring up correspond
ing ideas, and in our regular employ
ments we seldom have occasion to COM
plain of a poor memory. This may
afford clew to the cultivation of this
faculty in directions where it is now de-
fective. If we would have it faithfully
serve us, we must keep it in constant
use. The same attention which we be-
stow on our daily business, and which
enables us to recall its details with so
much ease, will be equally effective if ex-
ercised in other matters. To strengthen
the memory on any other point, the
first requisite is to bring all our mental
energy to bear upon it. We are charged
with some message or commission, per-
haps, 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 unful-
filed. We commonly excuse ourselves
for such dereliction on the ground that
we are unable by any effort of the will
to command the power of memory. Yet
had we, by a strong sefcontrol, fixed
our attention wholly upon the matter
when presented to US, 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 prob
ability, it would have been remem-
bered and accomplished. This men
tai concentration is the first and
most important means of improving
the memory. 1t is largely within our
own power Of will to enforce 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 asso-
citation Our knowledge must be ar.
ranged and classified if 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 su1fi-
cient thoroughness is the chief cause
why so much of the knowledge which we
acquire passes from us. The Emperor
Napoleon, who was one of the most
marked instances of a retentive mind,
used to say of himself that his knowl-
edge was all laid away in drawers, and
that he had only to open the proper
drawer and all that he had acquired on
that subject was at once presented be-
fore him.
This is, as we have before limited, one
great need in our present system of
education. To take up single study
leisurely, presenting it to the student in
all its relations, and leading him to trace
its principles from their foundations up
to their highest known results, is of far
more real value, both as a mental disci-
pline and as a permanent acquisition of
knowledge, than to skim over the sur
face of twenty branches, overlooking
the mind with isolated facts or rules,
bearing no apparent connection with
each other, and thus fixing no tenacious
grasp upon the memory.
There is one great encouragement to
the cultivation of the memory in the
fact that the work will grow easier
with every effort. If we patiently and
steadily fix our attention on every sub
ject we wish to recall, the power of con-
centration will become habitual. If we
constantly arrange and classify our
ovledge, it will grow more and more
available.