The Delta independent., 1890-02-11
fHE DELTA INDEPENDENT
H. WILSON, Proprietor.
The Lecture on Msmmory,

We give below a necessarily brief synop-
osis of the lecture, Oh the subject of "4lem-
ory," as delivered by Prof Phil M Condit,
on Tuesday evening. Jan. 2sth. The entire
lecture sparkled, Throughout, with many
good things, presented in an able manner.
Among many interesting statements, we cite
the following:
The Professor lead him many hearers to
his subject in decidedly pleasing manner
stating that there was time when it was
thought that ones memory was strengthened
by being forced to learn long strings
of useless words, but that day had long
since passed.
He gave as the principals Of memory, the
laws of association, comparison, repetition
and the securing of vivid first impression,
and also presented q number of very inter-
esting definitions in Psychology, among which,
was that of, 'mind-tle name of an indivis-
able, spirited force, made up of three powers,
knowing, thinking aud feeling" He also de.
fined memory as being the effect of learning.
through whatever avenue it may have entered
the mind and mentioned the fact that ito re-.
member we'll requires close observation, com.
parison and classi6catio as we'll as the three
great acts ofacquiring, retaining and recalling
DR.. johnson once said: THE art of memory is
the art of attention."
He made the assertion that memory was
ma lie up of sensational and intel ellectual mem.
ory, and as TEACHER he admitted that the
teaching of children ofthe present day, tends
to the cultivation Of the sensational rather
than the intellectual. He here pointed out
some of the mistakes made, by teachers, in
this respect,
The second step in the outline of the Prors
entertaining lecture, was relative to volgp.
tary and involuntary attention, stating, that
the teachers aim should be to cultivate in.
voluntary attention and the Voluntary would
come later, it heing possessed, only, by long
trained minds.
"When we succeed ip arousing interest we
impress the memory and this is the first step
in and bringing sbouta healthy exercise oil
the memory"
'seveath law of teaching should be fol.
lowed to wit: Review! Review! Rsview!!!'
Here the Prof. gave many ways of teach.
ing $50 as to cause the pupil, not only to rec
collect with ease, but also to use the truth.
recollected." The Prot In connection u.s.
serted that "Our knowledge, to be of any use
to US, must not be in the memory, as Il pile
of isolated facts, but must be worked up in.
to trains, along which the mind will work
without effect" and that it followed "in orde,
to strengthen the memory, we must not force
oursslves to commit large number of dis
connected facts, but must awaken . percep
tion Of all the connecting lipks between what
isalready known what is to be remembered
The memory Of real connection Is the mem
ory Of great intellects, while the memory Of
ofisolsted facts, 10 the memory of idiots. u
The Prof. here gave some very amusing and
ct the esame time instructive incidents relative
to the subject he wished to bring out.
In referring to the freaks Of memory, he
gave number Of examples and stated as hi,
opinion that were these so-called freaks oil
noture Investigated property correct reason.
could be given for them.
He considered that good health had great
deal to do with good memory, citing uum.
Der of cases to prove his assertion.
The Professor IN closing up his lecture
summed up his statements ina concise, but
interesting way and closed with the words
"Let Us render ajust account of our steward.
ships and there will be less danger of what
Mr.. Carter Justly calls the The artificial
production ofstupidity.'"
J, R..APosrLH,