按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
If； then； we bring a witness； who in our court house recollects nothing； in locum rei sitae； all the mentioned conditions act favor… ably。＇1＇ The most influential is the sense of location itself； inasmuch as every point at which something significant occurred not only is the content of an association； but is also the occasion of one。 It is； moreover； to be remembered that reproduction is a difficult task； and that all unnecessary additional difficulties which are permitted to accrue； definitely hinder it。 Here； too； there is only a definite number of units of psychical energy for use； and the number which must be used for other matters is lost to the principal task。 If； e。 g。； I recall an event which had occurred near the window of a definite house； I should have considerable difficulty to recall the form of the house； the location of the window； its appearance； etc。； and by the time this attempt has barely begun to succeed； I have made so much effort that there is not sufficient power left for the recollection of the event we are really concerned with。 Moreover； a mistake in the recollection of extraneous objects and the false associations thereby caused； may be very disturbing to the correctness of the memory of the chief thing。 If； however； I am on the spot； if I can see everything that I had seen at the time in question； all these difficulties are disposed of。
＇1＇ Cf。 Schneikert in H。 Gross's Archiv； XIII； 193。
We have still to count in the other conditions mentioned above。 If acoustic effects can appear anywhere； they can appear in the locality where they first occurred。 The same bell ringing； or a similar noise； may occur accidentally； the murmur of the brook is the same； the rustle of the wind； determined by local topography； vegetation； especially by trees； again by buildings； varies with the place。 And even if only a fine ear can indicate what the difference consists of； every normal individual senses that difference unconsciously。 Even the ‘‘universal noise；'' which is to be found everywhere； will be differentiated and characteristic according to locality； and that； together with all these other things； is extraordinarily favorable to the association of ideas and the reproduction of the past。 Colors and forms are the same； similar orders may occur； and possibly the same attitudes are awakened； since these depend in so great degree upon external conditions。 Now； once these with their retrospective tendencies are given； the recollection of any contemporary event increases； as one might say； spontaneously。 Whatever may especially occur to aid the memory of an event； occurs best at the place where the event itself happened； and hence； one can not too insistently advise the examination of witnesses； in important cases； only in loco rei sitae。 Incidentally； the judge himself learns the real situation and saves himself； thereby； much time and effort； for he is enabled in a few words to render the circumstantial descriptions which have to be composed with so much difficulty when the things are not seen and must be derived from the testimonies of the witnesses themselves。
Whoever does not believe in the importance of conducting the examination at the place of an event； needs only to repeat his examination twice； once at the court； and again at the placethen he certainly will doubt no more。 Of course the thing should not be so done that the event should be discussed with the witness at the place of its occurrence and then the protocol written in the house of the mayor； or in an inn half an hour awaythe protocol must to the very last stroke of the pen be written then and there； in order that every impression may be renewed and every smallest doubt studied and corrected。 Then the differences between what has passed； what has been later added； and what is found to…day can be easily determined by sticking to the rule of Uphues； that the recognition of the present as present is always necessary for the eventual recognition of the past。 Kant has already suggested what surprising results such an examination will give： ‘‘There are many ideas which we shall never again in our lives be conscious of； unless some occasion cause them to spring up in the memory。'' But such a particularly powerful occasion is locality； inasmuch as it brings into play all the influences which our senses are capable of responding to。＇1＇
＇1＇ Jost： ber Gedchtnisbildung。
Of course the possibility of artificially…stimulated memory disappears like all memory； with the lapse of time。 As a matter of fact； we know that those of our experiences which concern particular persons and things； and which are recalled at the sight of those persons and things； become； later on； when the connections of images have been broken； capable only of awakening general notions； even though the persons or things are as absolutely present as before。 But very unfavorable circumstances must have been at work before such a situation can develop。
It is characteristic； as is popularly known； that memory can be intensified by means of special occasions。 It is Hfler's opinion that the Spartan boys were whipped at the boundary stones of their country in order that they might recall their position； and even now…a…days our peasants have the custom； when setting up new boundary stones； of grasping small boys by the ears and hair in order that they shall the better remember the position of the new boundary mark when； as grown men； they will be questioned about it。 This being the case； it is safer to believe a witness when he can demonstrate some intensely influential event which was contemporaneous with the situation under discussion； and which reminds him of that situation。
Section 54。 （c） The Peculiarities of Reproduction。
The differences in memory which men exhibit are not； among their other human qualities； the least。 As is well known； this difference is expressed not only in the vigor； reliability； and promptness of their memory； but also in the field of memory； in the accompaniment of rapid prehensivity by rapid forgetfulness； or slow prehensivity and slow forgetfulness； or in the contrast between narrow； but intense memory； and broad but approximate memory。
Certain special considerations arise with regard to the field of greatest memory。 As a rule； it may be presupposed that a memory which has developed with especial vigor in one direction has generally done this at the cost of memory in another direction。 Thus； as a rule； memory for numbers and memory for names exclude each other。 My father had so bad a memory for names that very frequently he could not quickly recall my Christian name； and I was his own son。 Frequently he had to repeat the names of his four brothers until he hit upon mine； and that was not always a successful way。＇1＇ When he undertook an introduction it was always： ‘‘My honored mmm；''‘‘The dear friend of my youth mmm。'' On the other hand； his memory for figures was astounding。 He noted and remembered not only figures that interested him for one reason or another； but also those that had not the slightest connection with him； and that he had read merely by accident。 He could recall instantaneously the popu