ABSTRACT
IF we look for a moment at the coming and going of ideas in our minds, we cannot fail to see that the plot of the play is determined by two influences,—accidental external sense-impressions and previous experiences. Which of the two preponderates at a particular time depends upon circumstances. Cast your eye over a landscape, or follow attentively the rendering of a musical composition, and you will find yourselves seemingly wholly given up to the external impressions; subjective tendencies coming in only secondarily, and rather as feelings· than as ideas. Now try to recall the events of the past few days. External sense-impressions are hardly noticed; and the train of ideas, so far as it is clear and distinct, consists solely of reproductions of previous mental experiences. These are both extreme cases; ordinarily we find ourselves in some intermediate frame of mind. Memory-ideas art aroused by sense-perceptions and again interrupted by new impressions. Wherever the influence of past experience is traceable, we find the memory-ideas aroused evidencing a definite relation to the condition of consciousness at the time. Sense-perception varies with every variation of the environment; but the memory-image is always suggested, whether by a sense-perception or a previous memory-image. You will object that now and again a recollection crops up suddenly and for no apparent reason. But attentive: introspection will in most of these cases enable you to discover the thread of connection with your present state of mind However little obvious this connection, then, we may safely assume that it is there. If it escapes our observation altogether, as it may do, that is only because the conditions are not favourable for its apprehension.
