OFFERINGS FROM OUR COUNCIL.

ON A SPECIAL PHASE OF

MEMORY.

An

This temporary oblivion of a subject that is in reality safely laid up in the meTHERE is a peculiarity regarding memory mory is sometimes exhibited in matters which has often struck me as very remark- more complex than a mere name. In such able. I do not feel surprised that we have cases all that seems to be required is to the power to remember a thing, nor that we obtain a hold of any one link of the chain, should sometimes entirely forget it; but that and the whole is then drawn out. we should, for a time, lose our hold, as it instance occurred to me, a few days ago, were, of what is really stored in the memory, which is, in fact, the cause of my jotting and deport ourselves almost as if it were down these notes. I had put together, and not there, when it needs but a certain clue sent off to a certain magazine we wot of, to be given, or a reminder, as it is termed, something of the nature of an epigram, at and we regain our grasp of the matter in least that seemed the only title I could all its fulness. There appears to me to give it afterwards. This brought to my be two kinds or degrees of this temporary recollection, or rather it reminded me of, forgetfulness. As an example of one divi- an epigram which Dr. Johnson declared to sion we may instance a person forgetting to be the best in our language. At the same execute some commission with which he time I could neither remember the subject was intrusted. He returns, and, on being of the epigram nor its words. I had, inquestioned about it, at once exclaims that he deed, a clear recollection of reading it over quite forgot it, or, perhaps more correctly, a few times to fix it in my memory, and that he never thought of it afterwards. In there I had little doubt it was, if only I this case it was not forgotten in the sense could recall some of the words. I perfectly of having permanently faded from the remembered the book in which I read it, memory, for the slightest hint brought the and the very room I was sitting in; but not whole of it, in all its particulars, to the a trace of the subject. I could only recollect mind; but the thoughts, not having been Johnson's encomium on it, that the sentidirected to the matter, and being occupied ment was religious, and that the writer with other things, had failed to rouse the was of evangelical views, which, not being dormant recollection. The other class of Johnson's party, placed his praise beyond cases in which the memory fails for a time the suspicion of bias. I thought, and think to produce its stores, differs from the former still, that the writer was Dr. Doddridge; but in that the person is conscious at the time of that I am not quite certain. That evenof his infirmity, and is aware that the matter ing no effort I could make evolved any is lodged in his mind though all his efforts clearer ideas of the matter; and it was not to recall it are unavailing. A familiar in- until the middle of the next day, when stance of this, and one of occasional occur- engaged with other things, that it suddenly rence to most persons, is forgetting a came into my head, and I found I could person's name. The individual who exhi- immediately repeat the six lines without bits this weakness of memory is certain any difficulty. This instance, which is only that the word will presently occur to him, an example of a not uncommon phenomena, possibly when thinking of something else, set me cogitating on the singular way in and declares that he now all but has it. which a number of ideas lay hidden, in "It is just on the tip of my tongue," a some recess of brain, until a grip is made feeling, however, which is often deceptive, on one end of the string. It has, indeed, as, when recalled, it frequently proves very been inferred that nothing ever really fades different from something it was said to be from the mind, and that the difference of a like; and, when asserted to begin with a good and bad memory depends on the com B, very often commences with an M, or mand over its stores and the degree of ease something else equally different. The ten- with which we can bring forth a matter dency to forget names, by the way, is so committed to its keeping. I have read great in some persons that a case has somewhere of a learned man, travelling in occurred within my knowledge, indeed Germany, and meeting, at an inn, with a two cases,-in which persons actually for- chambermaid of a metaphysical turn of got their own names, and were placed mind, who had imbibed the opinion that somewhat in a dilemma in consequence, our brains were filled with cells provided

me.

My rose! my peerless rose! oh, how it shone

In splendid beauty on that gay parterre ; Its perfume more than all the richest there;

And it was mine! Oh, joy!

me.

Deep in its cup

with lids or doors. She believed that all | They were not bright or sweet enough for matters committed to the memory were stored in these cells; and that on our power, greater or less, to open these lids, depended our capability of recalling a subject. This can hardly be termed other than a puerile conceit; but it may be that the apparent strength of the memory depends rather on the power of recalling than that of retaining; and, perhaps, the latter faculty is more I laid my heart; and every blushing leaf nearly alike throughout our race than is Folded itself more closely, day by day, commonly supposed. Training the memory Around my life. I liv'd but when it op'ed. in this view is simply exercising the power It was the bud of buds-the only flow'r of recalling, having first provided a subject In Nature's garden that could bloom for on which this power is to be exercised. A trained memory is one that has been accus. tomed to bring forth its treasures when required; for one that is rarely practised is like a drawer that is seldom opened-it is hard to put one's hand on the thing required. If it is indeed true that the impression once made is really indelible, it is not so difficult to realise that, one day, human intirinity having passed away, every event of our whole life, small as well as great, may rise up before us, clear and distinct as at the time of its occurrence. As some may not remember the epigram on which the celebrated Johnson bestowed such unqualified praise, I add it here from "memory," but I believe correctly,

Lay out before me, set with golden rays
Of summer sunshine,-when the heavy
cloud,

That, but a short time back, had cover'd me
(And cloth'd my spirit in its black despair),
Seem'd lifted, and its silver lining show'd
More lovely by the contrast,-then I lost,
For one brief space, the thought of what
had been

In what yet might be.

Flow'rs of every hue
Fell at my feet, to choose them as I would.
My eye was captur'd by the loveliness
Of one-the queen of flowers! Yes, I must

have

The best or none. I pass'd all others by:

I clasp'd it closer, closer to my side.
Its very beauty still'd my heart's wild
throb,

Yet set my soul on fire.

My hold ne'er loos'd it-tighter, and tighter still,

I press'd my darling rose! my queen! my pride!

But, oh! I little reck'd the end. A thorn-
A cruel thorn lay hidden 'neath those
leaves;

And, as I clasp'd, it entered, piercing deep,
With such a poison on its tiny shaft
As deaden'd all the kindlier sympathies
My bosom ever knew.
One cry I gave—
One tear to love and beauty, wither'd thus
In early spring-time. Then I tore
The treach'rous blossom from my inmost
soul,

And cast it from me, that some other foot
Might bruise its petals, as my heart had
been.

The flow'rs bloom'd on, but not for me they
sigh'd

Out perfume. It was worse than mockery
To seek to woe me thus. Was I to cull,
And, in the culling, wound myself again?
Forbid it, pride! It could not-should not
be!

The blossom bloom'd not that might wake
afresh

Life's early dream of sweetness.

Sweet and low was her voice, and oh! as things," of daily occurrence, that you can

HALF-A-CENTURY OF CONUNDRUMS.

In order to give a little variety to our Pastime, we insert Fifty Conundrums - some old and some new; some tolerably good, and some very bad. To the subscriber who succeeds in solving the largest number of them, a Prize Volume will be presented, bearing the name of the recipient in the autograph of the Editor. A volume, similarly inscribed, but of smaller value, will be given to the next most successful riddler.

1. Why is a school mistress like the letter C? 3. Why is sealing a letter the reverse of beating a schoolboy?

3. What is a man like who is out of his depth in the water, and cannot swim?

4. I went into the woods and picked it up; sat down and looked earnestly for it; and, not finding it, brought it home with me and cut it.

5. Why is a boiled egg like a young colt?

6 Why were the governments of Algiers and Malta as different from each other as light and darkness?

24. Add two letters to a plural word and make it singular, without changing its nature.

25. Who is the most adventurous person in the East?

26. Take away a syllable from a word of five syllables, and no syllable remains.

27. Why is a tallow-chandler a bad fellow, and sure to be found out?

28. Why is a philanthropist like a horse?
29. Why are posts in a field like seeds?

30. When is a young lady over head and ears in debt?

7. When can grass be spelt with fewer than five nor on one side of him. Where did Peter's wife 31. Peter's wife walked neither in front, behind,

letters?

8. What is that which is useful in itself, but is always present with a railway train in motion? 9. Why is a pretty young lady like an excellent mirror?

10. At what season is it dangerous to walk in the meadows?

11. What are the first words Adam addressed to Eve?

12. What is the most comical, and at the same time most pleasant, thing to see about dinnertime?

13. Why is a baronet riding in Rotten-row like a difficulty overcome?

14. Why is the letter d like a plain gold ring? 15. Why is a beautiful lady like a letter in deep thought; like another letter on its way home from France; like a third carrying a candle; and a fourth singing "Home, sweet Home?"

walk then when she went out with him?

32. On which side of the bed does the biggest pillow lie?

33. What is the first thing we do before getting up in the morning?

34. Why is a waiter like a racehorse!

35. Which is the hardest of all keys to turn?
33. Why is the desert a good place for a hungry
man?

37. When were sandwiches first made in Arabia?
38. Of what material was Eve's wedding dress?
39. Of what opera do crinolines remind us?
40. Why is marriage like the letter e?
41. Why are the Yankee mercenaries like butter?
42. Why are laundresses like navigators?
43. How far is it to the bottom of the deepest

sea?

44. A hangman meeting a farmer, wished him 16. What English cities would be most val d in "Good day." The farmer, taking but little notice, the interior of Africa?

the hangman said that, however proud he might in their callings. That word he spoke, and passed be, one word expressed all the difference there was on his way. What was the word?

45. What is that that is always invisible, and though never out of sight, cannot be found in sky, carth, or water, or in any part of the world?

46. What sea would make the best bed-room? 47. Why is the House of Commons like a parson's horse?

48. How many young ladies would reach from London to Brighton?

49. When does a young Tom in his boat on the Isis resemble a Choctaw Indian?

50. What is the difference between a ragged | beggar and Alexander, Emperor of Russia!