Article February 4, 1933 Issue

Memory of Good

[Original article in French]

ANDRÉE FINQUENEISEL

One sometimes hears the parents of a young child who is learning his school lessons remark with some pride, "Oh, he has such a good memory!" and the child may continue with increased self-confidence in the ability of this so-called "good memory." Such was the case in the writer's experience as a young girl, till she began the study of Christian Science.

One day, as she was working in an office with a more experienced student of Christian Science, it seemed very important that she should remember to do a certain work at a certain time, and she said, "You may trust me to remember this, as I have a good memory!" Immediately the older student remarked, "Do you mean by that, that someone else has a poor one?" The rebuke was timely, and caused the writer to think carefully over what she had said, with the result that the thought of having a good memory was changed to that of possessing a memory especially for good.

There is indeed a wide difference between these two statements. The usual thought about a good memory entails the belief that one can remember evil as well as good; indeed, it seems as if mortals display a tendency for remembering evil more than good, and the cry, "Oh, if I could only forget the past, its pains, sorrows, and disappointments!" is often heard from those in search of health and happiness.

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