JAMES WINNE. 266 



him at exactly five minutes past twelve ; and the second 

 night, and the third night. But on the third night, he 

 very soon fell asleep and suffered the fit at eighteen min- 

 utes past twelve. Again I heard that hideous noise 

 which he usually belched forth when the fit first at- 

 tacked him. I no longer awakened at five minutes past 

 twelve, but at eighteen minutes past twelve, and con- 

 tinued to awaken at exactly eighteen minutes past 

 twelve, till an experience similar to the one just related 

 changed the period of the fit to a later hour. As the 

 year passed, the period of attack was made later and 

 later (we played at "hide and go seek ") till it became five 

 o'clock a. m. 



In the meantime, I had done much thinking, and an- 

 nounced my conclusion to the young man and to his 

 physician. I was convinced that the period could be so 

 disturbed by continued interruptions that the fit would 

 seize him at irregular intervals ; and this irregularity 

 would become dangerous because the young man was 

 liable to an attack at a moment when to fall would mean 

 to him immediate death. 



The period was liable to become irregular because the 

 activities of man are much more irregular in wakeful- 

 ness than in sleep. 



When I last knew of the case, the period continued to 

 be at five a. m. 



What is the character of that faculty which brings 

 back to my view the events of former years with all the 

 freshness and reality of present scenes ? And how can 

 we most effectively develop it 1 



Just at this point it may be helpful to discover the re- 

 lation of this faculty to other faculties of mind. 



I. Suppose you and I have been intimate friends for 

 years ; moved to another state, I write to you. You read 

 my letter, your mind is occupied, its activity awakened. 

 The thoughts of the writer are communicated to your 



221 



