Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1894-10-26
PIIANTASY.


with the objects which first produced
them, but as images entirely separated
from their origin. Phantasy is well
nigh passive in character, and in this
respect is similar to sensation, the mind
considering but for the passing instant
the pictures which pass before II.
The consideration of phantasy in It's
various forms, dreaming, Somnambu-
lism. reverie. delirium. and insanity are
interesting problems in mental philoso-
ply, and can all be accounted for by
law of association of ideas; but 70 the
teacher it will not of so much interest
except as it leads to the more active
mental process OF
IMAGINATION.
In phantasy the images come and 90
apparently without any volition OF our
own, passing like the fleeting pictures
of the panorama. In Imagination, how
ever, the mind actively selects the
forms brought up by imperfect memo
| nv. puts them together in new relations,
and thus constructs new images. Inc
imagination is constructive. a crea-
tive process. 1t is the principal pro-
cess brought into activity by the poet
dramatist. and inventor. The materi
ais on which it draws are ali our knowl-
edge gained previously through the
medium of the senses. While the inn
ages are such as have been pictured on
the mind by real objects. new objects
are built up by the following process;
Imagination may change size; II scorns
the limits of time and space. 1t can
with equal facility produce theLiliputian
6 inches high a the Brobdlgnaglan
60 feet high, though no such beings
have ever been seen. 1t can transfer
itself TO the sun and back in an instant.
though light at a velocity Of lSS,OOO
miles per second requires 10 minutes to
make the same journey. 1t may change
order of arrangement and relative pos
itions of various images. 1t can place
mountains where valleys are, make a
fertile garden in the midst OF desert;
or build city far ont in space, unsup-
ported By any planet OF material OBJ
iect Whatever. 1t can transfer forms
of one object to another entirely differ
ent. The graceful lines and curves of
nature can be dissected and recombin-
ed to appear in the architecture OF a
building. 1t can create no new materl-
al. but over the materials furnished by
memory, of existing forms it exercises
the complete power of dissection and
reconciliation, of expanding or dimln'
ishing in size, of moving forward OF
backward in time and space.
The Imagination is the indispensable
, power of the poet, philosopher and in
! ventor. Copernicus imaged his solar
system, and late astronomers demon
. strated its truth. Newton imageC
the motions of the earth and moon, anC
finally deduced his law Of gravitation
:. Whitney's cotton gin was all imageC
in his mind before it had existence il
the material world. People, events
deeds, are imaged by poets and novel
o lists and they communicate their image
o to others through the medium of Ian
+ guage.
O This power is susceptible Of cultiva
a ton to a great extent Drawing, com
# position. and oral variations are yalua
If BILE means of cutivating it. The teach
a er can often assist greatly in supplyin
n subjects and materials tor the pupil
D. Imagination, but require him 10 pro
IS duce and communicate the image. Tn
al study OF geometry, the reading OF p'
st etry and oratorical discourse are ais
,r valuable stmulants to the imaginin
n power. This power is quite early d'
III veloped, though not so active as the pc
ID ceptive powers in early childhood. a
" studies require more or less imaginin
ct power, though arithmetic, geograph.,
ne grammar, history, ETC., do not requi
~ so great effort of imagination as II
e. other studies above mentioned.
- Communicated