Rensselaer Union, Volume 6, Number 37, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 4 June 1874 — The Tricks of Bad Memory. [ARTICLE]

The Tricks of Bad Memory.

There are plenty of people who find it easy enough to remember some things, who have no corresponding ability to retain even thd shadows of otbers in their minds; and the provoking part of it is that the things we remember most easily and most surely are apt to be those of least consequence, or those even which we would gladly forget. Memory plays tricks, too, sometimes, failing just at the moment when we need its services most imperatively, and performing its functions perfectly well at all other times. Schoolboys and school-girls suffer greatly in this way about examination time, and many excellent people, without other mental defect, find themselves sadly embarrassed by their utter inability to remember—anything—in a witness-box. Flurry and diffidence are the causes of the trouble in such cases, doubtless, but neither flurry nor diffidence can account for the fact that with many people proper names are never forthcoming when wanted. We know a man, not at all diffident. who, in addressing his most intimate friend, is sure to call him, “Ah ,” or “Mr. ah ,” unable for the instant to recall a name which comes to him the very moment that its comiqg is too late. Very provoking must it be too to remember everything approximately and vaguely, but nothing accurately or with certainty; and the people who suffer thus are not few. They recall everything in shadowy form, and are never quite certain of anything past. The facts of yesterday are to them only uncertain ghosts of fact, resembling their originals, but presenting themselves in so uncertain and ill-defined outline as to be wholly useless for any practical purpose. These are they who make lawyers’ heads grow gray, ana convince the rest of the world that stupidity is the common lot Still more provoking to its possessor must be that not uncommon kind of memory which recalls all but the essential part of the thing wanted. "If it be a jest or a story, they remember all of it but the point And people of this sort are very apt too to be much given to the telling of good stories, persisting in the attempt in spite of repeated failure. They hurl conundrums at their friends on all occasions—excellent conundnims-of which, when their friends “give » up,” they are sure to forget the answers. They tell stories excel-* lenuy so far as beginnings and middles ara concerned, breaking down only at the wy end. and forcing the listener to con-

tent himself with the assurance that the forgotten climax was “ very good—very good indeed.’’ To be constantly with such people is equivalent to a perpetual course of reading the half sheets issued by the story .papers for advertising pur. poses, in M&nch, just as the reader’s inter est is fairly aroused, he is quietly informed that “ the rest of this story may be found,” etc., etc., etc. Now, for these and all other serious defects in our memories we have to thank ourselves and our teachers; ourselves because, by determined effort, wc may cure the ill if we choose; our teachers because almost every bad memory is the result of educational blundering. In our schools the riSfemory is used, too much and trained too little. It is overtaxed and left undisciplined. It is required to do work which belongs of right to other faculties, and is not properly drilled in the art of doing its own. —Hearth and Home.