The Birmingham age-herald., 1907-10-20
DEVELOPING THE MEMORY.
Habit of Remembering Can Be Ac-
 quired Just as Any Other Habit.

From the London Mail.
 What do we mean when we speak of having a memory? In the ordinary way we refer to the possession of a faculty by means of which we are enabled to re- tain the knowledge of past events and experiences of any kind, and not only to retain this knowledge, but be able to bring it consciously before ourselves when desired
 It implies therefore at least two some what distinct things. First of all mem ory implies that an impression has been made upon the mind, and secondly, 1t inl- plies that this same impression can be consciously recalled at will. It implies. that is to say, the power of recollection as well as the power of storing up ideas.
 But there is a third part of the faculty of memory. namely. that we are able to recognize that what we recollect Is the same idea as that by which We were for merly impressed. Memory is really threefold faculty, any part of which may be specially developed or specially de- fective.
 We sometimes use the word memory in the sense of one part or other only of this threefold process. Sometimes we mean merely the faculty which enables us to treasure up and preserve for future use the knowledge and impressions which we acquire. In this sense the faculty of memory Is obviously the very foundation of all intellectual improvement. It en- ables us to retain knowledge.
 As matter of fact, we, In all prob ability, forget nothing. That is to say, impressions once made upon the brain are made forever. But, as We all ex- perience too often, we find considerable difficulty in recollecting all we have known Every one has had repeated ex- perience of the feeling of helpless in- ability to recolect a name, word. a figure, and so forth, while at the same time being perfectly conscious that the word, name, or figure is stored up some where in the brain could we only bring it up into our consciousness by recol- lecting it. Hence the remark. 'l cannot think of it just now, but it will occur to me later.'
 Education means not merely knowing facts, but the power to bring them for ward for use when required, and the latter is by far the most difficult. and is that part of the memory which can be improved by careful training. To have bad memory means that impress sions once made upon the mind cannot be readily recalled. and therefore can not be applied when required. good memory is partly natural gift and partly an acquired character. Some brains are naturally more easily im- pressed than others that is to say, the same stimulus makes a deeper impress sion upon one person than upon an- other; that is natural quality of brain. But this natural gift, like all others. can be developed.
 The habit of remembering can be ac- quired just as other habits are ac- quired, until a good memory becomes a second nature. We can increase our facility of recollection by concentrat- ing the attention at the time we re- ceive the impression. and then by re- peatedly calling up the same idea aft erward. just as a child is taught the multiplication table. Oft-repeated inn pression and recollection make the memory automatic, and. indeed, quite independent of consciousness.
 This brings us to an interesting fea-