ABSTRACT
Two great principles concerned in memory retention and reproduction. In order to consciousness an impression requires to be of a certain magnitude or intensity and to persist before the mind for a certain time. In verbal recitations there are two different kinds of ideas to be apprehended the word ideas and the sense ideas or meanings. In learning poetry by rote, as children usually do, the words follow each other in quick succession, and consciousness is concerned chiefly with the words, little or no attention being given to the sense. The power of attention is not a steady or constant power, but waxes and wanes, so that it cannot be kept at full stretch for any length of time. After attention the next important principle to be considered is repetition. An idea or impression is fixed in the memory in two ways by attention and repetition, repetition coming in to supply what is wanting in attention.
