The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1905-10-13
/ remember, remember
How my childhood feeted by.
The mirth of its December
And the warmth of its July.
w. M. Prald.

w. M. Prald.
f.
So many are the systems of memory
culture that We can only mention few.
/ There are systems based on association
and contrast, on contiguity and assimila-
ton. The one of them all, however,
which seems the natural way, is called
the cumulative system It's principles
are easily learned and readily practised.
You will doubtless recognize it as some
thing you have practised without know
ing there was any "system" about II.
Gradually memorizing first a line a day,
increasing slowly, at stated intervals
another line, and daily reviewing. This
done daily and constantly, not intermit-
tently and half heartedly, will yield re-
suits that are wonderful.
1t was in this way that our ancestors,
not far descended from our first parents,
handed down rune and saga and legend
and law. The memories of educated
japanese and Chinese are said 10 be
wonderful. Indeed, the memory of the
trained minds Of the Orient is proverbial,
especially the Hindu. There are Jews
who are said to be able to repeat the
Talmud, itself library. japanese child.
rem spend over two years in studying
signs before they can even begin to read.
The Chinese language is composed en-.
tirely of word signs, different sign for
each word. Is it to be wondered at that
if they have any education a all, their
memory is exceedingly well trained? So
all of these countries have large num-
Der of poems and incidents handed down
from generation to generation by word
of mouth.
Tell me the tales that to me were so dear,
Long, long ago, long, long ago"
OF course, it goes without saying that
the more attention is given TO any par
ticular line of thought or action, the
more easily it is remembered. Going
further, the more CONCENTRATED the at
tention the more easily it is remembered
lnattention breeds forgetfulness. OBJ
servatlon quickens the faculties, and
pencil and paper TO outline or draw an
object seen but a moment, or even a ia
miliar object for that matter, will prove
revelation if you have never tried it,
Distinguishing and identifying voices of
friends and even relatives where not a.
ways easy, is test of observation by
hearing. Endeavoring to remember the
ENACT words of conversation is a good
exercise.
Attending a talk, a lecture or ser
mon, and jotting down as soon as posi-
ble all that can be remem bered will prove
itself a source of both pleasure and profit
Reviewing the events of the day will
each day strengthen the memory until
finally very brief space will show al
most fash light picture Of the days
doings.
Then there are questions one can ask
mentally that will greatly assist the
memory, both when storing the impress
sions and when occasion calls for the use
of that particular memory:
Its origin.
Its reason.
Its history.
Its characteristics or its qualities
Its associations or its connections.
It's uses or its applications.
Its results or consequences.
It's end or future
"Of all the faculties Of the mind, men,
DRY is the first that hourishes, and the
first that dies"
1 wonder how many have followed the
article thus far? Few, doubtless. But
a daily trial of the method outlined will
be worth dollars; and more than few
would be charged for a system longer
drawn out to be sure, but of no greater
practical value, if indeed you did not
chance to get practically the same thing.
So many of the systems are so cumber-
some that they are impractical, and often
absurd. In closing it may be of interest
to mention only few of the best known
rnnnrds OF nemnrv Thara are thnnsn,n.la