The peculiarities of appearance which are easily detected by the
physical eye constitute one of the most helpful methods of associating
the face and the name together. You will find as you practice that this
means is very often available. It is not possible to take advantage of
this opportunity, however, unless you are observing. In fact, to the
unobserving person there is no peculiarity about the appearance and
therefore no aid.
For this purpose it will pay to give considerable attention to the
development of the observation. You will find the stranger's appearance
more and more helpful to you as you develop your ability to observe
keenly the faces of the persons whom you meet. Many people have some
distinctive or prominent characteristic which will directly suggest
the name, or with which the name may be associated.
[Illustration]
Note this peculiarity of the stranger's face, and quickly associate it
with the name as you hear it. Use your imagination and strengthen the
association as much as possible, enlarge and make more prominent the
peculiarity which you have noticed. If you meet a Mr. Cole and his hair
is dark, note the fact. See his hair as black as coal, in your picture.
Imagine taking a big piece of soft coal and rubbing it over his hair to
blacken it. The picture here is for Mr. White; note his snow-white hair
and mustache; note these facts carefully, they will suggest the name
immediately upon your seeing the face again.
Sometimes you can use the whole face, sometimes only certain
peculiarities, a deep wrinkle, a scar, a blemish, etc. Sometimes it
will be the general build of the body or the expression of character.
Sometimes the similarity will be very noticeable. Other times the
decided contrast will be as useful in fixing them in mind.
Color of hair or complexion is often helpful and may be more apparent
if you use the idea of changed spelling, or taking the name as it
sounds rather than as it is spelled. A few examples follow:
Mr. Short is a small man--short.
Mr. Biggar is short and slender, suggesting that he could be
bigger.
Mr. Stout--is very slender.
Mr. Smiley--is stern and cross looking.
Mr. Gray--has gray hair.
Mr. Redman--has rosy, pink cheeks.
Mr. Molar--has a large mole(r).
Mr. Fisher--has deep wrinkles, fissures.
Mr. Baldy--is very bald.
Mr. Reddish--has sandy hair, reddish.
Mr. Remlinger--is bald with a rim of hair lingering.
Mr. Eyer--has bright, keen eyes.
Mr. Cloes--looks close and stingy.