Speaker 1: Cultivation of the memory. This book is written with the
fundamental intention and idea of pointing out a rational and
workable method whereby the memory may be developed, trained and cultivated.
Many persons seem to be under the impression that memories
are bestowed by nature in a fixed degree or possibilities,
and that little more can be done for them, In short,
that memories are born, not made. But the fallacy of
any such idea is demonstrated by the investigations and experiments
of all the leading authorities, as well as by the
results obtained by persons who have developed and cultivated their
own memories by individual effort without the assistance of an instructor.
But all such improvement to be real must be along
certain natural lines and in accordance with the well established
laws of psychology, instead of along artificial lines and in
defiance of psychological principles. Cultivation of the memory is a
far different thing from trick memory or feats of mental ledger. Domain.
If the term is permissible, Ka says that the memory
is capable of indefinite improvement, there can be no manner
of doubt. But with regard to the means by which
this improvement is to be effected, mankind are still greatly
in ignorance. Doctor Noah Porter says, the natural, as opposed
to the artificial memory, depends on the relations of sense
and the relations of thought, the spontaneous memory of the
eye and the ear, availing itself of the obvious conjunctions
of objects which are furnished by space and time, and
the rational memory of those higher combinations which the rational
faculties superinduce upon those lower. The artificial memory proposes to
substitute for the natural and necessary relations under which all
objects must present and arrange themselves, an entirely new set
of relations that are purely arbitrary and mechanical, which excite
little or no other interest than that they are to
aid us in remembering. It follows that if the mind
tests itself to the special effort of considering objects under
these artificial relations, it will give less attention to those
which have a direct and legitimate interest for itself. Grandville
says the defects of most methods which have been devised
and employed for improving the memory lies in the fact that,
while they serve to impress particular subjects in the mind,
they do not render the memory as a whole, ready
or attentive. Fuller says, surely an art of memory may
be made more destructive to natural memory than spectacles are
to eyes. These opinions of the best authorities might be
multiplied indefinitely. The consensus of the best opinion is decidedly
against the artificial systems and in favor of the natural ones.
Natural systems of memory culture are based upon the fundamental
conception so well expressed by Helvatius several centuries ago, when
he said, the extent of the memory depends first on
the daily use we make of it, secondly upon the
attention with which we consider the objects we would impress
upon it, and thirdly upon the order in which we
range our ideas. This, then, is the list of the
three essentials in the cultivation of the memory. One use
and exercise, review and practice, two attention and interest, and
three intelligent association. You will find that in the several
chapters of this book dealing with the various phases of memory,
we urge, first, last, and all the time, the importance
of the use and employment of the memory in the
way of employment, exercise, practice, and review work. Like any
other mental faculty or physical function, the memory will tend
to atrophy by disuse, and increase, strengthen and develop by
rational exercise and employment within the bounds of moderation. You
develop a muscle by exercise. You train any special faculty
of the mind in the same way, and you must
pursue the same method in the case of the memory,
if you would develop it. Nature's law lause are constant
and bear a close analogy to each other. You will
also notice the great stress that we lay upon the
use of the faculty of attention accompanied by interest. By attention,
you acquire the impressions that you file away in your
mental record file of memory, and the degree of attention
regulates the depth, clearness, and strength of the impression. Without
a good record, you cannot expect to obtain a good
reproduction of it. A poor phonographic record results in a
poor reproduction, and the rule applies in the case of
the memory as well. You will also notice that we
explain the laws of association and the principles which govern
the subject, as well as the methods whereby the proper
associations may be made. Every association that you weld to
an idea or an impression serves as a cross reference
in the index, whereby the thing is found by remembrance
or recollection when it is needed. We call your attention
to the fact that one's entire education depends for its
efficiency upon this law of association. It is a most
important feature in the rational cultivation of the memory, while
at the same time being the bane of the artificial systems.
Natural associations educate, while artificial ones tend to weaken the
powers of the mind if carried to any great length.
There is no royal road to memory. The cultivation of
the memory depends upon the practice along certain scientific lines
according to well established psychological laws. Those who hope for
a sure short cut will be disappointed, for none such exists.
As Halleck says, the student ought not to be disap
pointed to find that memory is no exception to the
rule of improvement by proper, methodical and long continued exercise.
There is no royal road, no short cut to the
improvement of either mind or muscle. But the student who
follows the rules which psychology is laid down may know
that he is walking in the shortest path and not
wandering aimlessly about. Using these rules, he will advance much
faster than those without chart, compass, or pilot. He will
find menomics of extremely limited use. Improvement comes by orderly steps.
Methods that dazzle at first sight never give solid results.
The student is urged to pay attention to what we
have to say in other chapters of the book upon
the subjects of attention and association. It is not necessary
to state the particulars that we mention there. The cultivation
of the attention is a prerequisite for good memory, and
deficiency in this respect means deficiency not only in the
field of memory, but also in the general field of
mental work. In all branches of the New psychology, there
is found a constant repetition of the injunction to cultivate
the faculty of attention and concentration. Hallick says haziness of
perception lies at the root of many a bad memory.
If perception is definite, the first step has been taken
toward ensuring a good memory. If the first impression is vivid,
its effect upon the brain cells is more lasting. All
persons ought to practice their visualizing power. This will react
upon perception and make it more definite. Visualizing will also
form a brain habit of remembering things pictorially and Hence,
more exactly, the subject of association must also receive its
proper share of attention, For it is by means of
association that the stored away records of the memory may
be recovered or recollected. As Blackie says, nothing helps the
mind so much as order and classification. Classes are few
individuals many. To know the class well is to know
what is most essential in the character of the individual,
and what burdens the memory least to retain. And, as
Hallick says, regarding the subject of association, by relation, whenever
we can discover any relation between facts, it is far
easier to remember them. The intelligent law of memory may
be summed up in these words. Endeavor to link, by
some thought relation, each new mental acquisition to an old one,
bind new facts to other facts by relations of similarity,
cause and effect, whole and part, or by any logical relation.
And we shall find that when an idea occurs to us,
a host of related ideas will flow into the mind.
If we wish to prepare a speech or write an
article on any subject, pertinent illustrations will suggest themselves. The
person whose memory is merely contiguous will wonder how we
think of them. In your study for the cultivation of
the memory along the lines laid down in this book.
You have read the first chapter thereof and have informed
yourself thoroughly regarding the importance of the memory to the
individual and what a large part it plays in the
entire work of the mind. Now carefully read the third
chapter and acquaint yourself with the possibilities in the direction
of cultivating the memory to a high degree, as evidenced
by the instances related of the extreme cases of development
noted therein. Then study the chapter on memory systems and
realize that the only true method is the natural method,
which requires work, patience, and practice. Then make up your
mind that you will follow this plan as far as
it will take you. Then acquaint yourself with the secret
of memory, the subconscious region of the mind, in which
the records of memory are kept stored away and indexed,
and in which the little mental office boys are busily
at work. This will give you the key to the method.
Then take up the two chapters on attention and association respectively,
and acquaint yourself with these important principles. Then study the
chapter on the phases of memory, and take metal stock
of yourself, determining in which phase of memory you are
strongest and in which you need development. Then read the
two chapters on training the eye and ear, respectively. You
need this instruction. Then read over the several chapters on
the training of the special phases of the memory. Whether
you need them or not, you may find something of
importance in them. Then read the concluding chapter, which gives
you some general advice and parting instruction. Then return to
the chapters dealing with the particular phases of memory in
which you have decided to develop yourself, studying the details
of the instruction carefully until you know every point of it. Then,
most important of all, get to work. Is a matter
of practice, practice, practice, and rehearsal. Go back to the
chapters from time to time and refresh your mind regarding
the details. Reread each chapter at intervals. Make the book
your own in every sense of the word, by absorbing
its contents.