WHITE DUCK 107 



away from llicm. Every impression, \vc arc told by 

 Professor James, no sooner enters the consciousness than 

 it is drafted off in some determinate direction, making 

 connection witli the other materials there, and finally 

 producing a reaction. In this instance the impression 

 is the story of a duck described as beautiful, the reaction 

 an incredulous smile. The particular connections it 

 strikes into arc determined by our past experiences and 

 the association of the present impression with them. 

 The impression arouses its old associates; they go to 

 meet it ; it is received by them, and rearranged by the 

 mind. It is the fate of every impression thus to fall 

 into a mind preoccupied with memories, ideas, and in- 

 terests. This mental escort is drawn from the mind's 

 ready-made stock. Our philosopher adds: "In all ap- 

 perceptive operations of the mind a certain general law 

 makes itself felt — the law of economy. In admitting a 

 new experience we instinctively seek to disturb as little 

 as possible the pre-existing stock of ideas." 



All this is illuminating and helpful, since it enables 

 me to see into my smiling reader's mind and to indulge 

 in a smile on my part. For with what in this case will 

 the object described (a white duck) connect itself? 

 What are the memories, ideas, interests, already in stock, 

 which will be its associates and form its escort and 

 take it in? They are of the duck as he has seen, eaten, 

 and known it all his life — the familiar duck of the farm- 

 yard, a heavy bird that waddles in its walk and is seen 

 dibbling in horse-ponds or in any mud-puddle. It is 

 the bird which the hen-wife fattens for the market 



