13 DECEMBER 1919, Page 16

MEMORY AND COLOUR.

lTo THE EDITOR OF THE " SPECTATOR.") SIR,— I have been immensely interested in the correspondence re the association of colours with letters and numerals. But mine differ from those detailed by one of your correspondents, and are as follows: 1, grey; 2, white; 3, pink; 4, white; 6, black; 6, bright red; 7, white; 8, green; 9, black. As to letters, only the vowels bear distinct colours in my mental yision; a, black;-e, white; i, bright red; o, white; u, yellow. I have frequently, for many years past, endeavoured to find others with the same peculiarity, but in vain. My own opinion is that the association is the result of the effort of the child's mind to fix an item of knowledgeby extraneous assistance, and that this effort is controlled by its individual bent. For instance, if the artistic in colour is naturally inherent the association will probably be one of colour; if a taste for form and perspective is embryonic in the infant student's miihd it will grasp at lines and shapes with which to associate and thereby memorize the teaching. The days of the week are all distinct colours to me, and I almost feel that I can -remember the coupling of day and colour in my infantile effort to memorize.—I am, Sir, &c.,

Bramblcbury, Bade, N. Cornwall. J. E. B. BEvsx.