CHAPTER X.
Memory in Education.

" Few therefore are left who have sufficient memory."

PLATO, PEUED

ONE of the most conspicuous features in Indian
education as it used to be, was the training of
memory. For long after writing was introduced, reli-
gious literature, history and technical knowledge were-
handed on orally from one generation to the next. Edu-
cation, as in ancient Greece, was by means of oral
instruction, and the learning by heart of classic literature.,
The learned man did not rely upon his library, but upon
Ms memory alone. The memory thus trained and relied
upon was capable of marvellous feats ; even now there are?
men who know by heart hundreds and thousands of verses-
of Sanskrit literature which they have learnt once for all
and can never forget. So too the singer of hymns or-
player of instruments used no written music, but relied
altogether on memory ; in. the dark, or on a journey, it
was all the same, what he knew was always at his com-
mand. Learning of this kind is growing rare ; in India
it has been generally superseded by the State systems of
primary education.

Socrates, in the Phsedrus, is made to relate the story
of an Egyptian named Theuth, who invented numbers
and arithmetic, geometry and astronomy, draughts and
dice, and above all, letters. At that time Thamus was-
king of all Egypt. " To him Theuth went and showed
him his arts, and told him that they ought to be distri-
buted amongst the rest of the Egyptians. Thamus asked
Mm what was the use of each, and as he explained it^,
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