81 Mutcriul* and Their Handling 



the submarines, which could not be built on the 

 \vater, were transferred from the land to the 

 water. Finally, his imagination took these sep- 

 arate associations and linked them together on the 

 ground of probability, because they fitted together. 



In ordinary conversation, we call this associa- 

 tion of ideas, "putting two and two together," two 

 and two being two separate and definite associa- 

 tions which, however, should logically suggest that 

 they can be combined and form a new association 

 of four. When work becomes so familiar that 

 we lose interest in it, the associations are not 

 active in our minds, because they fail to record 

 themselves afresh. There is no tendency for new 

 associations to lodge themselves, so there is no 

 likelihood that improvements will suggest them- 

 selves out of the associations we already possess. 



Our observation is not confined, however, to 

 the things we experience. With a little training, 

 our observation will develop itself in our reading. 

 The things we read about are associated with 

 the things we have experienced. They develop 

 the records in our minds, make it possible to widen 

 the associations, and make them more useful. 

 Similarly, these associations are broadened and 

 developed by talking to people who are interested 

 in the same things and, then, by adding their 

 experiences to our own. 



