Page:Memory; how to develop, train, and use it - Atkinson - 1919.djvu/208

202 you will recognize the value of this point. Association is memory’s method of indexing and cross-indexing. Each association renders it easier to remember or recollect the thing. Each association gives you another string to your mental bow. Endeavor to associate a new bit of knowledge with something already known by, and familiar to you. In this way to avoid the danger of having the thing isolated and alone in your mind—without a label, or index number and name, connect your object or thought to be remembered with other objects or thoughts, by the association of contiguity in space and time, and by relationship of kind, resemblance or oppositeness. Sometimes the latter is very useful, as in the case of the man who said that “Smith reminds me so much of Brown—he’s so different.” You will often be able to remember a thing by remembering something else that happened at the same place, or about the same time—these things give you the “loose ends” of recollection whereby you may unwind the ball of memory. In the same way, one is often able to recollect names by slowly running over the alphabet, with a pencil,