Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-02-27
The Three Laws of Memory
I.-AttentiOn.
BY DIR. FRANK CRANE.

OF memory theer are three laws; first, the
original image is best remembered When IL ni Ia
a lively impression upon us, arouses our leellnse
and excites some passion, such as rear SUI pIIe,
disgust or amazement, second, a new IDEA ol WIZ
is the more easily remembered by cohn neo fanii'
with some idea word with which we are ldnlil
lar; and, third things repeated oftenest are nio'
clearly remembered. .....
The three things to note, then, in cultlvatihg
the memory are "a attention, ~ connecIioA' OH"
CD repetition. .,
: Let us consider the first of these, attention.
As this is under control of the will-tnat Is 10
saw | can attend a matter Or not, | please-so
memory itself is shown to be capable OF cuiIlVa-
ton l should not sit down therefore nopeiosolS
fold my hands, and eXclaim, "Oh, l nave pour
memory!" For if | will set myself to 1T can oe-
velop a tenacious and dependable memory as sure
ly as one develop his muscles by lnteiilsen''
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 anu
see how many of the things it contains you can re-
call-chars, pictures, books, rugs, WINDOWS "hele
located what colors and shapes, and other details
At first you can recollect very little out you VIII
be surprised how your power in this dlrecuon VIII
Increase n 80 ;.s
Pass by shop window and see how much or It's
contents you recall Kellar, the magician, 1olo
me he had trained himself to the point Wne[e ne
could reproduce in his mind all of the Things III
a show window to the smallest detail.
Professional detectives become very expert III
The quick grasping of every little item IN tne dP
Or situation
Instead of looking long and fxedly at any
thing look once then look away and see how much
YOU can remember, then, again, noting another de-
tail and so on; as the mind grasps but one tnlng
clearly at a time ten gances at intervals OF min
ute are better than gaze of ten minutes You
are in effect going back and over again. PICK
ing up the details one by and adding them 10
your first impression, and thus really using all
three laws, attention, connection, and repetition
Use both eye and in making the first I'M
preston vivid. If it is number, telephone num-
ber say Spring 1885," say it loud, Spring seven
ty-nne eighty-three" to get the sound of 1t mark
ed upon your brain, and then write 1t down,
Spring 1881 and look at it, to get the sight OF 1t
imprinted upon you.
Do not try to remember what does not par
worth while to attend. Efficiency in memory, as
elsewhere is attained by eliminating the superfu-
YOU cannot remember whole page at one reading,
Or perform similar freakish feats. Those VINO pos
sess this natural aptitude not for that reason,
necessarily of clear and strong mental power Otten
heir creative and reasoning faculties are very me-
docre.
You do not want to cultivate your memory so
that you perform tricks with it, but that II may
be useful toward increasing your efficiency.
This them is the first rule of memory: atten-
ton, getting the image distinctly and accurately
fixed at the start
Another time we will discuss the second and
third laws.
Copyright 1917, by Frank Crane)