THE POWER OF MIND. William Walker Atkinson

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СКАЧАТЬ will mean something to him. He will remember them as he remembers the names of the goods he sells, or the names of anything else possessing an interest for him. Every name has its origin and meaning, and it is quite interesting to trace back a name, through all its variations to its origin. We remember a family in Pennsylvania, whose ancestors came over from Germany bearing the name of Buchley. (pronounced Beekley). The grandchildren scattered and gradually adopted the spelling of their English neighbors, various changes being undergone by different branches of the family. At the present time the family reunions are composed of Beachleys, Beachlys, Beechlys, Beechleys, Beckleys, Bickleys, Bockleys, Backleys, Buckleys, Beechys, Beachys, Beachleys, Beachlys, Beechlys, Beekleys, Beckleys, Bickles, Buckles, Peachys, Peaches and Pecks. Given a few more generations and the resemblance will have been entirely lost, the dropping of a letter here, and the change of spelling there, destroying all connection. Now, we had much trouble in remembering the original name when we first heard it, but after hearing from an old member of that family a history of his family, we never had the slightest trouble in remembering the name of anyone bearing the original name or any of its variations. We also had much trouble in remembering the long German name of a merchant with whom we once had business relations, until we discovered that the name was the German equivalent for “rabbit­skin,” when the trouble was over and the man’s name was remembered as easily as Smith.

      We merely mention above instances in order to give you an idea of the change wrought by an acquired interest in a particular name. If you will remember something suggestive about a name, you will be very apt to have no trouble in recalling the name itself. A man named Miller may be remembered by thinking of the miller at work. Baker, Painter, Carpenter, etc., may be remembered in the same way. Names derived from those of animals may also be remembered by association, Lyon, Fox, Lamb, etc., being instances. Names derived from the names of trees are also in the rule, Mr. Cherry being associated with the fruit. Black, Brown, Green, Blue, White and Gray have an easy means of association. Bacon, Clay, Gun, Cannon, Hall, Kane, etc., are easily handled. We knew a woman who could not remember the name of a man called Hawlk, until she fixed in her mind the fondness of that man (a preacher, by the way,) for chicken, when the association of Hawk and Chicken occurred to her, and she had no trouble thereafter. A ridiculous association is sometimes the better, particularly if one has a sense of humor.

      But all of the above plans are, at the best, makeshifts. The better way is to begin to pay attention to the names of people whom you meet, and thus train the mind to take an interest in the same, and to store away clear impressions. Force your attention upon the name, and by an act of Will impress it upon your memory. Take an interest in the name—think of it and give it your attention. Then endeavor to fasten it to your impression of the person’s appearance. We once knew a man who would associate names with noses, his mind seeming to be open to such associations, the result being that when he saw a man’s nose he would remember his name; and when he would think of a man’s name he would form an involuntary mental image of his nose. After leaving the person, endeavor to recall his appearance always in connection with his name. Form the strongest possible connection between the appearance and the name, so that they will be fused. Bring up a mental picture of Dr. Street, whom you have just met, and repeat the name several times, “Street, Street, Street,” fairly forcing the name in upon the image, by an effort of the will. You will find that this practice will soon result in your taking an unusual interest in persons’ names, and the consequent attention will give clear impressions. The clear impressions once obtained, the remembrance or recollection easily follows.

      We have found it easy to remember the names of writers by forming a mental image of the book or poem, and attaching to it the name of the writer. This plan may be assisted by always associating the name of the writer with the title of the book or poem, in speaking of the latter, thus: “Hawthorne’s ‘Scarlet Letter’;” “Poe’s ‘Raven’;” or “Tennyson’s ‘In Memorium.’” This association will render it difficult to ever speak or think of the work unless the name of the writer also comes before the mind.

      Many find it advisable to also get the benefit of the eye­impression, and therefore, when possible, write down the name and regard it for a moment then throwing away the memorandum. In this way they are enabled to see the name in their “mind’s eye,” as well as remembering the sound and other impressions. It is well to get the impressions of as many faculties as possible. Louis Napoleon is said to have acquired his great memory of names by this plan of writing them down. His famous uncle did not need this aid as he always connected the sound of the name with the appearance of the man. But the nephew found it impossible to duplicate this and was compelled to resort to the plan above mentioned, and by constant practice he soon acquired the reputation of having inherited his uncle’s gift.

      Sometimes a name, which has a tendency to escape one, may be recalled by association with a similar name, or something having some real or fancied connection. We remember once having met a Philadelphia lawyer named Townsend, whose name for some reason always escaped our memory, although we knew other people of the same name. For some reason we could never think of him as “Mr. Townsend.” At last, however, we happened to think of the well known journalistic writer, George Alfred Townsend, whose nom de plume was “Gath.” We then called our Mr. Townsend by his namesake’s nom de plume, and after that had no trouble in remembering his name. It took only a moment to connect “Gath” with “Townsend.” It has been a number of years since we have thought of this Mr. Townsend, but when we began to write the above lines his mental image stood clearly forth, but associated with “Gath” and not at first with his own name.

      Plans of this kind are not the best, as a rule, and are only to be used in exceptional cases. The better plan is to take an interest in names. Study them—analyze them, and you will find that the increased interest will result in clearer impressions and easy recollection.

      Another plan, favored by some, when they happen to “forget” a name, is to run over the alphabet from a to z, slowly, in the mind, giving each letter a moment’s attention in turn. When l is reached the missing name “Langtry” will come into the field of consciousness, brought there by the recognition of the initial letter, and the association of the balance of the name with that letter. Some vary this plan by writing down the letters in turn until the initial letter is reached and recognized. In this last mentioned variation the visual memory aids in recalling the name. The same principle operates to notify us of the incorrect spelling of a written word when we have failed to remember the correct spelling by the sense of sound or general memory.

      Some have found it helpful in recalling an elusive name if they would endeavor to recall the place where they met the owner of the name, the circumstances surrounding the meeting, etc. In other words, they would try to place themselves back just where they were at the time when they met the person, and in this way they often found it easy to recall the name, which apparently came into the field of consciousness along with the mental picture.

      Others have accomplished the same result by bringing before the mind a picture of any peculiarity in the person’s appearance or dress.

      Plans of this kind are useful in exceptional cases, or in an emergency. But the best plan is to take an interest in names. Study them—analyze them, and you will find that the increased interest will result in clearer impressions and easier recollection.

      Chapter XVII.

       Artificial Systems.

       Table of Content

      Treating of the many artificial systems of memory training which have been offered the public in all ages and among all people, showing the general nature of the principal systems, and calling attention to their weak points—The history of these systems takes the reader back to the time of Simonides, 500 b. c., and shows how the old systems are dressed up and offered as new systems СКАЧАТЬ