IMAQINATIOK 57 



the line. I find this much easier to do if the words begin in a strai ght 



line than if there are breaks. Example : ><CCWrj"^>v 



Etantfait /r^^^"-"^ /\ 



Tons r^/^^ ^K'^\ 



Ades /^/* '^^^^^ A o\ 



Q^'^fii r^ (library) ao' 



Avec V^ \ / ^1 



Unfleur V^^^^^tAg^^/ 



Comme V^^ ^ Vv/ 



{La Fontaine 8. iv.)" ^>>^ ^w _^ ^,^ 



The poor visualizer says : 



*' My ability to form mental images seems, from what I have studied 

 of other people's images, to be defective, and somewhat peculiar. The 

 process by which I seem to remember any particular event is not by a 

 series of distinct images, but a sort of panorama, the faintest impres- 

 sions of wliich are perceptible through a thick fog.— I cannot shut my 

 eyes and get a distinct image of anyone, although I used to be able to a 

 few years ago, and the faculty seems to have gradually slipped away. 

 — In my most vivid dreams, where the events appear like the most real 

 facts, I am often troubled with a dimness of sight which causes the 

 images to appear indistinct. — To come to the question of the breakfast- 

 table, there is nothing definite about it. Everything is vague. I can- 

 not say what I see. I could not possibly count the chairs, but I happen 

 to know that there are ten. I see nothing in detail. — The chief thing is a 

 genei'al impression that I cannot tell exactly what I do see. The color- 

 ing is about the same, as far as I can recall it, only vei'y much washed 

 out. Perhaps the only color I can see at all distinctly is that of the table- 

 cloth, and I could probably see the color of the wall-paper if I could 

 remember what color it was." 



A person whose visual imagination is strong finds it 

 hard to understand how those who are without the faculty 

 can think at all. Some people undoubtedly have no visual 

 images at all tvorthy of the name* and instead of seeing their 

 breakfast-table, they tell you that they remember it or know 

 what was on it. This knowing and remembering takes 



* Take the following report from oue of my students : "I am unable 

 to form in my mind's eye any visual likeness of the table whatever. After 

 many trials, I can only ge* a hazy surface, with nothing on it or about it. 

 I can see no variety in color, and no positive limitations in extent, while I 

 cannot see what I see well enough to determine its posilioi in respect to 

 my eye, or to endow it with any quality of size. I am in the same position 

 as to the word dog. I cannot see it in my mind's eye at all ; and so cannot 

 tell whether I should have to run my eye along it, if I did see it." 



