TRANSACTIONS OF SCIENTIFIC SECTION. 261 



MEMORY. 



When the subject chosen for consideration this even- 

 ing was given our Chairman, the speaker purposely left 

 it general rather than limited, because he was uncertain 

 what phase or subject would be presented. 



The subject, however limited in specific title, is large, 

 the facts many and complex ; but most of the data, 

 either vague or unreliable. The faculty discussed is 

 fundamental, very generally misused and often abused, 

 and the value of its service greatly over-estimated by 

 most people, and the possibilities of its development, 

 under wise treatment, not fully appreciated. 



Many of the popular methods employed for strength- 

 ening the faculty are showy, but harmful rather than 

 positively helpful. 



While some definite conclusions have been reached in 

 this study, and conclusions which are valuable to the 

 speaker, the paper is read with considerable timidity. 

 It is necessarily incomplete, and is presented as a memo- 

 randum of the study thus far pursued rather than as a 

 discussion of the subject. 



We barely note that memory is the chief source of joy 

 or of sorrow in old age. It is not my purpose to give a 

 history of wonderful memories. That can be found in 

 almost every book which treats on memory. 



However, I will cite two cases : 



1. Sir William Hamilton tells of a Corsican who could 

 repeat either forward or backward 36,000 names after 

 hearing them once. The historian being of good repute, 

 we accept the history as history of fact, but marvel at 

 the wonderful memory of the Corsican. 



2. A recent number of the Journal of Education is 

 responsible for the following : 



Rosseau had the greatest difiiculty in composing his 

 works because extremely defective in the gift of 



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