The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1917-02-26

OF memory there are three laws; frat,
the original image is best remembered
when it makes a lively impression upon
Us, arouses our feelings and excites some
passion, such as fear. surprise, disgust or
amazement; second. a new idea or word
is the more easily remembered by con-
Meeting il with some idea or word with
which we are familiar; and. third, things
repeated oftenest are most clearly re-
membered.
The three things to note, then. In cul-
tivating the memory are, Cd attention,
(2) connection, and (3) repetition.
Let US consider the first Of these, at
tention.
As this is under control of will
that is to say, can attend a matter or
not, as | please-so memory itself is
shown TO be capable Of cultivation.
should not sit down. therefore. hopeless
ly fold my hands. and exclaim, "Oh. !
have poor memory For if will set
myself to it ! can develop a tenacious
and dependable memory, as surely as one
can develop his muscles by intelligent,
systematic exercise.
See that the object you wish not to
forget is sharply imprinted. in the first
place. upon your mind.
Practice observation. For instance
look about you now in this room, then
close your eyes and see how many Of the
things it contains you can recall--chairs,
pictures, books, rugs windows, where To-
Gated. what colors and shapes, and other
details. At first you can recollect very
little, but you will be surprised how your
power in this direction will increase.
Pass by shop window and see how
much Of its contents you can recall. Kei--
lar. the magician. told me he had train
cd himself to the point where he could
reproduce in his mind all of the things In
a show window to the smallest detail.
Profes sional detectives become very ex-
pert in the quick grasping of every little
item in the appearance OF room, OF
person or of any object or situation.
Instead of looking long and hxedly at
anything. look once. then look away and
zee how much you remember; then
again. noting another detail, and % on,
as the mind grasps but one thing clearly
at time; ten glances at intervals OF
minute are better than a gaze OF ten min
utes. You are, in effect, going back over
and over again picking up the details one
by one and adding them to your first i'm
preston, and thus are really using all
three laws, attention, connection, and
repetition.
Use both eye and ear in making the
first impression vivid. II it is number,
telephone number, say Spring 1855
say it aloud, Spring seventy-nine eighty
three" to get the sound of it marked up
on your brain and then write it down.
Spring 1888" and look at it, to get the
sight of it imprinted upon you.
Do not try to remember what does
not particularly interest you and what
you do not deem it worth while to at
tend. Efficiency in memory, as else
where, is attained by eliminating the So
perfuous.
Do not condemn or depreciate yourself
because you cannot remember a whole
page at one reading, or perform similar
freahsh feats. Those who possess this
natural aptitude are not for that reason,
necessarily Of clear and strong mental
power. Often their creative and reason
ing faculties are very mediocre.
You do not want TO cultivate your
memory so that you can perform tricks
with II. but that il may be useful toward
increasing your efficiency.
This, then, is the first rule Of memory:
attention, getting the image distinctly
and accurately fixed at the start.
Another time we will discuss the sec
ond and third laws.