336 THE POPULAR SCIENCE MONTHLY. 



I suspect we have in this and similar trials a very simple mental dy- 

 namometer which may find its place in education." It appears to me, 

 on the contrary, that tests of the kind should be as little used as may 

 be. Memory will always have an unfair predominance in competitive 

 examinations ; but tests which are purely mnemonic, the judgment 

 being in no way whatever called upon, ought not to be introduced, 

 and should be discarded as soon as possible where already in use. 1 



It is worthy of notice that the growth of the mind is often accom- 

 panied by an apparent loss of power in particular respects ; and this 

 fact is exceedingly important, especially to all who desire to estimate 

 the condition of their own mind. The mental phenomenon called 

 (not very correctly) absence of mind is often regarded by the person 

 experiencing it, and still more by those who observe it in him, as a 

 proof of failing powers. But it often, if not generally, accompanies 

 the increase of mental power. Newton displayed absence of mind 

 much more frequently and to a much more marked degree when his 

 powers were at their highest than in his youth, and not only did in- 

 stances become much less frequent when he was at an advanced age, 

 but the opposite quality, sensitiveness to small annoyances, began 

 then to be displayed. Even an apparent impairment of the memory 

 is not necessarily indicative of failing mental powers, since it is often 

 the result of an increased concentration of the attention on subjects 

 specially calling for the exercise of the highest forms of mental power 

 — as analysis, comparison, generalization, and judgment. I have 

 already noted that profound thinkers often refrain from exercising the 

 memory, simply to avoid the distraction of their thoughts from the 

 main subject of their study. But this statement may be extended 

 into the general remark that the most profound students, whether of 

 physical science, mathematics, history, politics, or, in fine, of any diffi- 

 cult subject of research, are apt to give the memory less exercise than 

 shallower thinkers. Of course, the memory is exerted to a consider- 

 ble degree, even in the mere marshaling of thoughts before theories 

 can be formed or weighed. But the greater part of the mental action 



ticated instances fully as remarkable as those here referred to. For instance, there is a 

 case of an American Indian who could repeat twenty or thirty lines of Homer which 

 had been read once to him, though he knew nothing of the Greek language. The 

 power of repeating backward a long passage after it has been but once read is somewhat 

 similar to that of repeating unconnected numbers, letters, or words This power has 

 been possessed to a remarkable degree by persons in no way distinguished by general 

 ability 



1 It may perhaps occur to the reader that I who write may object to mnemonic tests, 

 because they would act unfavorably if they were applied to my own mental qualities. 

 The reverse is, however, the case. I can recall competitive examinations in which I had 

 an undue advantage over others because my memory chances to be very retentive in one 

 particular respect : In its general nature my memory is about equal, I imagine, to the 

 average, perhaps it is better than the average for facts, and rather below the average for 

 what is commonly called learning " by heart : " but it is singularly retentive for the sub- 

 ject-matter of passages read overnight. 



