The record., 1899-02-09
Franks of Memory.

total inability To recall name when
an effort was made To do SO, and
when the occasion for such remem-
brance was past had the missing name
flash into the mind apparently of its
own volition? The year 1898 has
closed, but how many of us can re-
call readily the chief incidents of the
last twelve months and say accurately
in what month they occurred? Try it
and see.
Great minds have wrestled to find
an explanation for the pranks that
memory plays, and have had to give
up the effort. In the course ola sys
tematic attempt to arrive at some un-
derstanding with regard to the won
ders of memory very valuable and
unique body of testimony has been
obtained. The following questions
have been put before 200 Amcricn
university students and professional
persons, IsG being men and 10 be
ing women. The answers are with
the questions;
Question when YOU cannot re-
call a name YOU want, does it seem
come back spontaneously without be
ing suggested by any perceived asso-
citation of ideas? To this eleven per
cent. answered "No" and eighty
one per cent. "Yes."
Question docs such recovery
ever come during sleep? To this sew
enteen per cent. answered "No" and
twenty-eight "Nes. -
Some examples given:
This morning tried To recall
the name of character | had read
the night before in one of SCOTS
novels and failed taught class
and walking home in the afternoon
all the names REQUIRED to me without
effort
e.-I tried to recall the name of a
book. Gave it up. Half an hour
later, while talking of something else,
blurted it out without conscious vo-
lition.
Question 3.-On seeing light OF
hearing a sound for the first time
have YOU ever felt that you had seen
Cor heard) the same before? Fifty
nine per cent. answered eyes.
The action of unconscious memo
ory during sleep is illustrated by
furshe---a,,es; ions.
QIestioi ..-Do you dreains<<sme
ty four per cent answered eyes.
Question s.-Can you wake at a
given hour determined before going
to sleep without waking up many
times before? Fifty-nine per cent
answered eyes" Thirty-one pei
cent. answered NO"
Question OF YOU can, how
about failure? Sixty-nine per cent
seldom fail, twenty-five per cent
often.
Do you come direct from obliv
ion into consciousness? Sixty-foul
per cent. answered "Yes." F" and six
teen per cent. "Gradually."
Examples.
IL had to give medicine ex
actly every two hours to my wife
l am very sound sleeper, but foI
six weeks | woke up every two hours
and never missed giving the medi
cine.
a.-I am always awake five
minutes before | set the alarm.
81 had had little sleep for ten
days aud went to bed at Q, asking
to be called at midnight. | fell asleeI
at once. | rose and dressed as tn,
clock struck II, and could not be
lieve | had not been called.
\ strange phenomena has come t,
light in the course of inquiry into th'
: mystery of memory. 1t has beer
r discovered that by gazing steadil,
, at a crystal consciousness is partly
lost. Into the void thus produced
those who have practiced crystal gaz
ing find that there enter, unbid
den, forgotten incidents and hos
memories. Togive few instances
\ lady in crystal gazing saw bit o
! dark wall covered with white flow.
ers. She was conscious she mus
have seen it somewhere, but had n,
recollection where. She walked
over the ground she had just travers
e ed and found the wall, which she haC
7 passed unnoticed.
She took out her bank book anoth
er day. Shortly afterward she was
gazing at the crystal and saw nothing
but the number one. She though