SCIENTIFIC STUDY OF HUMAN TESTIMONY. 61 



No one has succeeded in remembering just what his neighbor told him, 

 although he wrote down instantly what he heard. 



2. In some of the stories interpolations occur, as well as omissions. 

 These additions are sometimes of an important nature, seriously modi- 

 fying the thought of the original, and, what is more strange is, that 

 these are frequently believed by the authors to be parts of the original ; 

 they are sure that they have given only what was given to them, and 

 are astonished and incredulous when a comparison is made between the 

 original and the others in the series. Not only the phraseology but the 

 thought is changed. 



Another method of experimenting with the memory is, to repeat the 

 same story to a number of individuals separately, and then, after all 

 have written out by themselves without conference what they can re- 

 member, to compare the results. 



Experiments of this kind, it will be observed, are made under every 

 conceivable advantage : there is no haste ; there is no excitement, at 

 least after the novelty is over ; there are no distractions ; the power of 

 recollection of words and facts is at its best. The accounts are written 

 down instantly as they are received ; they are consequently the virgin 

 impressions on the brain. I have made these experiments with in- 

 telligent, liberally-educated persons of both sexes, and have repeated 

 them sufficiently often to demonstrate that the results noted here are 

 laws and not exceptions ; and it is as clear as any fact in science can be, 

 that works like BoswelPs " Life of Johnson," and Goethe's conversa- 

 tions with Eckermann, and Luther's " Table-Talk," and indeed all con- 

 versational literature, must be regarded as representing the tendencies 

 of the heroes of the conversations, the general drift of their uttered 

 thought, rather than the precise language employed, or the order in 

 which the statements were made. Certain phrases often repeated by an 

 eminent man in the presence of his friend may be in some instances lit- 

 erally transcribed, especially if they are of an original and striking char- 

 acter ; but exact details of long conversations are never recalled except 

 perhaps by certain prodigies of whom I shall presently speak. Inter- 

 viewing reporters are sometimes unjustly censured for intentionally 

 interpolating errors in their published statements. The day following 

 an interview, or even five minutes after, neither party can tell pre- 

 cisely what has been said, although sufficient may be remembered for 

 practical needs. Conversation can only be accurately reported when it 

 is taken down at once as the words are uttered. Conversations re- 

 ported weeks, months, and years, after their occurrence, must be not 

 only wide, but very wide, of the facts ; and, besides the positive omis- 

 sions, there must be, in all cases, interpolations or additions both of 

 fact and of language which the author is confident, and very likely has 

 all along been confident, that he received from the original. The sub- 

 jective is confounded with the objective, and there is no way by which 

 they can be distinguished. 



