Helena weekly herald. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1867-1900, 1881-04-28
Memory.

Inc formation of memory starts with con-
sclousness, and has its moral aspect Where
the interests centre in self, and its immediate
surroundings, the memory cannot be laying
up treasures for the future. We see the diff
ference In the youngest children. 1t is a
great thing, OF course, to teach in an interest
ing way so as to make attention as little
painful an effort as possible. The child so
taught starts at an advantage; but there
is subtle form of Selfishness that eludes all
benevolent aims to enlarge the range of in
terests, that refuses to see beyond the charmed
circle, and shackles and confines the memory
at the outset. We may almost foretell Of
some children that they will remember what
now occupies them SO deeply, because we
see no undercurrent of self at work interfer-
ing with the free reception Of new congenial
ideas; while others take in new thoughts
with reserve; half occupied with them
selves, If they attend, turning the acquire
ment into an occasion for present show and
selt-glOry. The phrase hits the fancy explains
the posture of mind. Nothing hits the fancy
OF some children apart from self; with others,
the object which hits and seizes the attention
stands single, and takes them out of them
selves Sir Walter Scott owns to this mem
ory. l had always wonderful facility in
pleased me-" quoting the old Borderer who
had no command of his memory, and only
retained what hit his fancy. My memory
was precisely of the same kind; it seldom
failed to preserve most tenaciously favorite
passage Of poetry, q playhouse ditty, or
above ALL a BOrder-raid ballad; but names,
dates, and the other technicalities of history
escaped me in most melancholy degree"
vi course, this early passion of interest i'm
plies bias. The memory here came by
nature, was not cultivated by self-mastery
but, while following bent it carried him
out OF himself and beyond himself, which it |
is an important function Of memory to do |
All people have not only q memory but |
tenacious memory for some things. If for |
nothing useful, if not for things observed, for
things learned, for thoughts, for events, for
persons, for the outside of things, for words,
for names, for dates-yet for fOllies, vanities.
tritles, grudges connected with self; and
for losses, wrongs, Sights, snubs
injuries, real or fancied, in
fiicted in the course of lifetime on that dear
self. If memory is not put to its legitimate
uses, subject to rule, given work to do, it
degenerates into mere deposit, a residuum
of worthless refuse degrading the nature it
should elevate, supplying the mind with un-
wholesome food, Oh which it largely broods
and ruminates. Of the same class is the
memory reused out Of its lethargy by the
presence of otherS-as, for example, on the
revival of former acquantance-int sort of
malignant activity; memory dissociated
from sympathy, recalling precisely the things
which ought to be forgotten -misfortunes,
and the like-and forcing on
reluctant ears, with unfinching accuracy of
detail, facts long erased from buster, full
bettertrained memories as though inspired
by sort Of necessity to let loose the unman-
nerly crowd Of revived images where it gives
most annoyance. How often we wish for {
others the reverse of what we desire for our
selves! If they could only forget