1. technology and computing
2. hardware
3. computer components
4. memory

MEMORY
HOW
TO
DEVELOP,
AND
TRAIN
USE
IT
\
By WILLIAM
WALKER
L. N
FOWLER
ATKINSON
it COMFANT
T, Imperial Arcade, Lndgate Cirena
London, " C Bnsland
1912
THE
ELIZABETH
HOLYOKE,
TOWNE
CO.
MASS
Googk
Ki"
idjc^o(^
Copyright
1912
By
ELIZABETH
TOWNE
Googk
MEMORY
Googk
Googk
CONTENTS
L
n.
HL
IV.
V.
VI.
Vn.
Vni.
IX.
X.
Memory:
Its
Cultivation
Celebrated
of the
Cases
Memory
The
Importance
7
Memory
of
17
27
Memory.
.
.
.
Systems
Subconscious
37
Eecord-File..
Attention
48
..58
Association
Phases
of
70
81
Memory.
90
Training the Eye
Training
the
Ear
101
XI.
How
to Remember
Names
111
XII,
How
to Eemember
Faces
121
XTTI.
How
to Eemember
Places.
XIV.
How
to Remember
Numbers
140
XV.
How
to Eemember
Music.
152
XVI.
How
to Eemember
Occurrences..l60
XVn.
How
to Eemember
Facts
XVni.
How
to Eemember
Words,
How
to Eemember
Books, Plays,
XIX.
Tales,
XX.
General
etc.
Instructions
130
.^
168
etc. .178
186
,
.197
Googk
Googk
CHAPTER
I.
ITS
IMPOBTANCE.
MEMORY
It needs
:
of memory,
begin
although
realize
to
function
of
the
of
asked
consider
to
and
developed
with
the lesser
short,
phase
the
average
the
importance
^ '
a
of the
is
much
a
term
he
lines, as
contrasted
than
'
as
broader
that
of
In
in its
of memory
with
contrasted
' '
a
is
of memory,
^ '
opposite phase of
there
first
The
degrees of its development.
good memory'
the
with
do
every-day life,along
generally thinks
one
of
cultivated
the
is
when
person
in the affairs of
use
to
impressions.
mental
thought
has
few
very
important
that
the
ance
great importthen
even
just how
of the mind
retention
is its
of the
thinking person
average
to convince
little argument
very
poor
memory.
But
and
fuller
meaning
even
this
important
phase.
It is true
in
his
or
other
that
every-day
the
success
of the
individual
business, profession, trade
occupation depends
very
materially
Googk
Memobit
8
upon
the possessionof
value
in any
extent
a
in life
walk
His
good memory.
depends to a great
he may
the degree of memory
upon
have
of faces,names,
developed. His memory
and other tilings
facts,events, circumstances
concerninghis every-day work is the measure
of his
abilityto accomplish his
the social intercourse
possession
of
of
retentive
a
higher
comes
as
in
activities of
invaluable
an
marshallingthe
he
them
in review
"thus
As
ledge
sections of know-
acquired, and passing
his cognitivefaculties
before
Alexander
its mental
Smith
has
possessions.
said: '*A
ing
in nothpossessionis his memory;
is he rich ; in nothing else is he poor.**
has said: ^^ Memory is the only paradise
real
else
Eichter
which
from
Grant
memory
aid to the individual
the soul review
does
man's
thought,the
bits and
have
may
well
memory,
its sessor
posof society.And in
desirable member
the
the
women,
facts,renders
stocked with available
a
and
men
in
And
task.
but
memory
we
cannot
to
us,
be driven
and
we
away.
can
lose
**
ory
Memnothing by death.'* Lactantius says:
tempers prosperity,mitigatesadversity,
controls
youth, and delightsold age.**
Googk
Its Impobtakcb
But
the above
even
but
circle.
small
a
it is the
the
and
thought were
which
perform
work.
As
an
the memory
be
the cement, the
in which
ties
the other facul-
unrelated
is
There
membrance.''
re-
Memory is a
faculty,without
Without
no
bring its
can
ory^'"
mem-
work:
can
embedded.
**
complete
**
Emerson:
bitmnen, the matrix
Burke:
we
mental
our
fundamental
other
none
are
whereby
of
And
which
of its
resent
rep-
said: **A11 knowledge is but
has
primary
memory
than **a good
more
means
largest share
Bacon
phases of
segment
is
Memory
9
succession.'*
And
the
mind
faculty of
energy
stored
it all life and
with
into effect unless
ideas
for
it to
upon." And Basile: ** Memory is the
cabinet of imagination,the treasury of rear
cil
son, the registryof conscience,and the counchamber
of thought." Kiant pronounced
look
memory
to be
* *
Kay,
the most
one
wonderful
of the faculties."
of the best authorities
on
said,regarding it: '* Unless
of treasuring
possessed the power
the subject has
the mind
recallingits past experiences,no
knowledge of any kind could be acquired. If
sensation,thought, or emotion passed
every
up
and
Googk
Memoby
10
entirelyfrom
the mind
to be present, then
been; and
not
it ceased
the moment
it would
it could
not
be
if it had
as
recognized or
be
should it happen to return.
named
Such
an
only be without knowledge,"
without experiencegathered from the past,
"but
without purpose, aim, or plan regarding
the future,for these imply knowledge and
Even
require memory.
voluntary motion,
would
not
motion
for
on"
or
a
without
purpose,
could have
no
is involved
for memory
memory,
istence
ex-
ing
in every purpose.
Not only the learnof the
of the scholar,but the inspiration
poet, the genius of the painter,the heroism
of the warrior,all depend upon memory.
Nay,
without
to
vanish
no
a
change
did
no
act of
from
a
istence
exsciousness
con-
past
the past state
past,there could be
fore,
change. Memory, there-
it was
of
consciousness
be said to be involved
existence"
In
a
present, and
the moment
may
for every
memory
involves
state
have
itself could
consciousness
even
a
property
of
in all
scious
con-
every
scious
con-
being !
ity,
the buildingof character and individualthe memory
plays an
important part,for
Googk
Its Impobtanoe
upon
the strengthof the
and
the firmness
11
impressionsreceived,
with which
tained,
they are re-
depends the fibre of character and
individuality.Our experiencesare indeed
the stepping stones to greater attainments,
and at the same
time our guides and protectors
from danger. If the memory
serves
us
well in this respect we are saved the pain of
repeatingthe mistakes of the past, and may
also profitby remembering and thus avoiding
the mistakes
**When
of others.
As
Beattie says
is pretematurally defective,
memory
experienceand knowledge
will be deficient in
and imprudent conduct
proportion,
the
opinion are
necessary
Bain
a
feeble
:
says:
hold
**
A
and
surd
ab-
quence."
conse-
character
ing
retain-
of bitter experience, or
wards
genuine delight,and unable to revive afterthe impressionof the time is in reality
the victim of
an
the guise of
a
intellectual weakness
moral
constantly before
things that affect
us
weakness.
an
us, true
estimate
under
have
To
of
the
is
reality,
having our will
to the
preciouscondition for
ence
always stimulated with an accurate referto our
happiness. The thoroughly edu-
one
Googk
Memoby
12
is he that can carry
cated man, in this respect,
with him at all times the exact estimate of
what
he has
object that
case
enjoyed
has
strong
front
a
presentto the
can
if he
as
every
affected him, and
ever
of encounter
suffered from
or
were
under
enemy
in
as
the genuine
impression.A full and accurate memory,
for pleasure or for pain, is the intellectual
basis both of prudence as regards self,and
sympathy as regards others/'
ory
So, we see that the cultivation of the memis far
the cultivation and
velopment
de-
singlemental faculty"it is
cultivation and development of our
tire
enmental
being" the development of our
of
the
than
more
a
selves.
To many
lection,
recolpersons the words memory,
and
remembrance, have the same
meaning,
the
The
but
exact
there is
shade
of
great difference in
a
meaning
of this book
student
distinction between
of each
should
the terms, for
term.
make
the
by
ing
do-
so
ous
he will be better able to grasp the varipoints of advice and instruction herein
given.
Let
us
examine
these terms.
Locke in his celebrated work, the
'*
Essay
Googk
13
Its Impobtance
Understanding'' has
Concerning Human
the
clearlystated the difference between
He
meaning of these several terms.
says:
"Memory is the power to revive again in our
minds
after imprinting,
those ideas which
have disappeared,
been laid aside out
or have
of sight" when
without
idea again recurs
an
the operationof the like objecton the external
it is remembrance; if it be
sensory,
sought after by the mind, and with pain and
endeavor
found, and brought again into
menting
view, it is recollection/' Fuller says, comthis : Memory is the power of reon
producing
in the mind
former
impressions,
**
or
are
percepts. Eemembrance
and
the exercise of that power,
EecoUection
the former
involuntaryor spontaneous, the
latter
ing
belitional.
vo-
help
fort
recollect only through positiveefit but we
self,
The act of remembering, taken by itis involuntary.In other words, when
without having tried to
the mind remembers
remember, it acts spontaneously. Thus it
contrasted senses
may be said,in the narrow,
of the two terms, that we remember
by chance,
and if the endeavor
but recollectby intention,
We
remember
because
we
cannot
Googk
14
Memoby
comes,
reproduced beeffort to bring it forth,
snccessful that which
be
by the
very
firmly intrendied
more
is
in
the
mind
than
ever.''
ferent
Psychologymakes a littledifdistinction from that of Locke, as given
It uses
above.
the word memory
not only
of ^*The power
in his sense
to revive,etc.,''
But
the New
but also in the
mind
which
sense
of the activities of the
tend to receive and
store away
the various
impressionsof the senses, and the
ideas conceived by the mind, to the end that
voluntarily,
inor
they may be reproduced voluntarily,
thereafter.
remembrance
and
The
tween
distinction be-
as made
recollection,
correct by The New
by Locke, is adopted as
Psychology.
It has long been recognizedthat the memory,
velopment,
in all of its phases, is capable of deculture,training and guidance
exercise. like any other
through intelligent
facultyof mind, or physicalpart,muscle or
limb,it may be improved and strengthened.
imtil recent years, the entire efforts of
directed to
these memory-developers were
But
the
of that phase of the memory
strengthening
Googk
15
Its Impobtange
'"
member,
which,yon will rerecollection,
Locke defined as an idea or impression
sought after by the mind, and with
pain and endeavor found, and brought again
into view.'* The New Psychology goes much
further than this. While
pointing out the
collecting"
most improved and scientificmethods for ^^rethe impressionsand ideas of the
known
*^
as
**
it also instructs the student in the
memory,
use
methods
of the proper
whereby
the
ory
mem-
be stored with clear and distinct impressions
may
which
rally
will,thereafter,flow natuinto the field of conand involuntarily
sciousness
when
the mind
is
thinkingupon
the associated subjector line of thought;and
which may also be
re-collected" by a voluntary
effort with
far less expenditure of
^*
energy
than
under
the
old
methods
and
systems.
will
You
as
we
see
tail,
this idea carried out in de-
progress
with the various
stages
You will see
subject,in this work.
that the first thing to do it to findsomething
to remember; then to impress that thing
lets
tabclearlyand distinctly
upon the receptive
of the
of the memory;
then to exercise the
re-
Googk
Memoby
16
in the direction of
membrance
bringingout
stored-away facts of the memory
; then to
of recollecting
acquire the scientific methods
that may
be necessary
specialitems of memory
the
at
some
in
method
specialtime. This is the natural
as
cultivation,
opposed to
memory
will find
the artificialsystems that you
in another
chapter. It
of the memory,
of the mind
and
a
method
of correct
but
ment
develop-
also
of its
itself in several
recognizesthe truth of
of the poet. Pope, who
reflection how
sense
is not only development
gions
re-
It is not merely
phases of activity.
of recollecting,
but also a method
seeing,thinkingand remembering.
This method
and
tioned
men-
from
said:
allied!
*'
the
verse
Remembrance
What
thoughtdivide
thin
tions
parti-
!''
Googk
18
Memoby
tivation of the memory
is
thing from ** trick memory/'
a
or
far
different
feats of
tal
men-
legerdemainif the termi is permissible.
is capable of
Kay says: **That the memory
indefinite improvement, there can be no manner
of doubt; but with regard to the means
by which this improvement is to be effected
mankind
stillgreatly in ignorance." Dr.
are
Noah Porter says: **The natural as opposed
tions
to the artificialmemory
depends on the relaof sense
and the relations of thought,"
of the eye and the
the spontaneous memory
ear
availingitself of the obvious conjunctions
of objectswhich are furnished by space and
of those higher
time,and the rational memory
which
combinations
superinduceupon
memory
and
proposes
necessary
rational
those lower.
The
faculties
artificial
to substitute for the natural
relations under
present and
must
an
the
arrange
which
all objects
themselves,
entirelynew set of relations that are purely
arbitrary and mechanical,which excite
littleor
to aid
us
the mind
no
other interest than
in remembering.
that
they are
It follows
that if
tasks itself to the specialeffort of
objectsunder
considering
these artificialre-
Googk
Cultivation
19
Mbmoby
op
it will give less attention to those
lationsy
which have a direct and legitimateinterest
for itself." Granville
methods
most
which
says:
**The defects of
devised
been
have
and
lies in
improving the memory,
the fact that while they serve
to impress particular
der
subjectson the mind, they do not renthe memory,
tive.'*
attenas
a whole, ready or
Fuller says:
ory
Surely an art of mem-
employed
for
*'
be made
may
destructive to natural
more
than spectaclesare
eyes/* These
tiplied
opinionsof the best authorities might be mulof the best
the consensus
indefinitely"
opinionis decidedlyagainstthe artificialsystems,
memory
and
in favor
Natural
based
well
of the natural
systems
the
upon
of memory
fundamental
he said: **The
it;secondly,upon
upon
we
iculture
are
conception
consider
the
extent
the
on
depends, first,
we
ones.
so
expressedby Helvetius,several centuries
ago, when
of
to
dailynse
our
of the three
the memory:
objects we
ideas.*'
essentials
(1)
we
ory
mem-
make
the attention with which
it; and, thirdly,
upon
range
of the
Use
would
impress
the order in which
This
then
is the list
in the cultivation of
and
exercise;review
Googk
20
Memoby
and
practice; (2) Attention and
(3) IntelligentAssociation.
and
You
Interest;
will find that in the several
chapters
of this book dealingwith the various phases
of memory,
we
last,and all the
urge, first,
time,the importance of the use and employment
of the memory,
in the way of employment,
exercise,practiceand review work.
Like any other mental faculty,or physical
will tend to atrophy
function,the memory
velop
by disuse,and increase,strengthen and deby rational exercise and employment
within
the bounds
muscle
a
by exercise;you
specialfacultyof the mind in the
and
case
must
you
pursue
of the memory,
Nature's
laws
are
You
of moderation.
the
same
if you
train any
same
way;
in the
method
would
velop
de-
develop it
constant,and bear
a
close
analogy to each other. You will also notice
the great stress that we lay upon the use of
the facultyof attention,
terest.
accompanied by insions
By attention you acquirethe impresthat you
file away
of memory.
And
in your mental record-file
the degree of attention
and
regulates the depth, clearness
strength of the impression. Without a good
Googk
Cultivation
of
Memoby
21
record,you cannot expect to obtain a good
reproduction of it. A poor phonographic
record results in a poor reproduction,
and the
of the memory
rule applies in the case
as
well. You will also notice that we explainthe
laws of association,
which
and the principles
the subject,as well as the methods
govern
associations may
be
whereby the proper
made.
Every association that you weld to an
idea or an impression,serves
erence
as
a cross-refin the index, whereby the thing is
found
by
remembrance
it is needed.
We
or
call your
recollection when
attention
fact that one's entire education
its
is
this law of
eflBciency
upon
a most
important feature
to the
depends
for
association.
It
in the rational
while at the same
cultivation of the memory,
time being the bane of the artificial systems.
educate,while artificial
the powers
tend to weaken
of the mind,
ones
if carried to any great length.
The
There is no Royal Eoad
to Memory.
cultivation of the memory
depends upon the
ing
practicealong certain scientificlines accordto well established psychologicallaws.
Natural
Those
associations
who
hope
for
a
sure
**
short cuf
will
Googk
22
be
Mbmoey
for
disappointed,
Halleck
says:
none
such
exists.
As
**The student ought not to be
find that memory
is no exception
to the rule of improvement by proper
methodical and long continued exercise. There
disappointedto
is no
short cut,to the
royalroad,no
of either mind
who
follows
has laid down
or
muscle.
But
the rules which
know
may
ment
improvethe student
psychology
that he is walking
in the shortest
lessly
path,and not wandering aimabout. Using these rules,he will advance
much faster than those without chart,
He will find mnemonics
of
or pilot.
compass,
extremely limited use.
Improvement comes
that dazzle at
by orderly steps. Methods
first sightnever
give solid results.
The
student is urged to pay attention to
what we have to say in other chaptersof the
book upon
the subjectsof attention and association.
*'
It is not
to state here
necessary
the particulars
that' we mention
there. The
cultivation of the attention is
prerequisite
in this reand deficiency
for good memory,
spect
means
deficiencynot only in the field
but also in the general field of
of memory
mental
work.
In
all branches
a
of The
New
Googk
Cultivation
23
Mbmoby
op
tion
Psychology there is found a constant repetiof the injunctionto cultivate the faculty
of
says:
^^
Haziness
of many
of
perceptionlies at the
If
bad memory.
a
the first step has been
good
a
Halleck
concentration.
aad
attention
nite,
perceptionis defitaken
toward
If the first
memory.
root
suring
in-
sion
impres-
vivid,its effect upon the brain cells is
more
lasting. All persons ought to practice
their visualizing
This will react upon
power.
izing
definite. Visualperceptionand make it more
is
will
form
also
a
brain
habit of
and hence
thingspictorially,
membering
re-
more
exactly.*'
The subjectof association must also receive
its proper
share of attention,for it is by
of association
means
records
may
Blackie
As
helps the mind
so
Classes
much
are
be recovered
as
says:
burdens
And
as
the memory
Halleck says
fication.
classimany:
is most
what
of the
or
Nothing
and
order
the class well is to know
what
**
few, individuals
essential in the character
and
the stored away
of the memory
re-collected.
to know
that
individual,
least to
regarding
subjectof association by relation:
**
tain.'*
re-
the
When-
Googk
Memoby
24
ever
we
discover
can
any
relation between
facts,it is far easier to remember
law of memory
intelligent
may
in these words
up
thought relation
to
old
an
by
whole
and
us,
we
a
mind.
Endeavor
each
Bind
one.
relations
:
be
The
summed
to link
mental
new
new
them.
by some
acquisition
facts to other facts
and effect,
cause
similarity,
part, or by any logicalrelation,
and
of
shall find that when
an
idea
occurs
to
host of related ideas will flow into the
If
wish to prepare
speech or write
tions
article on any subject,pertinentillustraan
will suggest themselves.
The
person
is merely contiguous will
whose
memory
wonder
In
we
how
we
a
think of them."
study for the cultivation of the
along the lines laid down in this
memory,
book, you have read the first chapterthereof
and have informed
garding
yourself thoroughly rethe importance of the memory
to the
and what a large part it plays in
individual,
the entire work of the mind.
Now
carefully
read the third chapter and acquaintyourself
in the direction of cultiwith the possibilities
vating
the memory
denced
to a high degree,as eviby the instances related of the extreme
your
Googk
26
Mbmoey
gives you some
general advice and
return
to the
parting instruction. Then
chaptersdealingwith the particularphases
which
of memory
in which
you
have
decided to develop
yourself,studying the details of the
instruction carefullyuntil you know
every
point of it Then, most importantof all" ^e*
to work.
The rest is a matter of practice,
and rehearsal. Go back to
practice,
practice,
the chaptersfrom time to time,and refresh
mind
regardingthe details. Ee-read
your
each chapter at intervals. Make
the book
sorbing
of the word, by abyour own, in every sense
its contents.
Googk
CHAPTEB
CELEBRATED
In
order
CASES
that
the marvelous
the
to
and
a
to hold
they
have
number
these
up
of celebrated
so
doing
cases
as
in
every-day life. We
to
show
to
what
In
teacher
student, for
of
not
necessary
them
text
grammar,
handed
and
down
ment
develop-
possible.
books
handed
down
And
word,
MuUer
extent
to
inous
volum-
some
to
the
that
the
Sanscrit
entire
orally for several
from
student
states
to the
were
to-day
even
glossary of Panini^s
equal in
merely
equal in extent
Max
Testament.
entire
for
imitation,
extent
ages.
to repeat, word
desire
no
thing for the
uncommon
religious work
were
is
and
to memory,
to
no
be able
New
and
past
cases,
India, in the past, the sacred
committed
it is
worthy
mention
lines
possible
have
we
wonderful
along these
appreciate
may
thought it advisable
exceptional
are
MEMOBT.
development
of
we
In
OF
student
extent
present.
for
the
memory,
to mention
m.
Bible,
centuries
2T
Googk
Memoby
28
being committed
Brahmins
to-day who
before
are
writing.
to
have
There
committed
to
tire
repeat at will,the encollection of religionspoems
known
as
the Mahabarata, consistingof over
300,000
slokas or verses.
Leland
states that, ^'the
Slavonian
minstrels of the present day have
by heart with remarkable accuracy immensely
the same
found
I have
long epic poems.
Algonquin Indians whose sagas or
among
and yet are
mythic legends are interminable,
word by word accurately.I have
committed
heard in England of a lady ninety years of
was
miraculous,and of
memory
age whose
which
extraordinary instances are narrated
by her friends. She attributed it to the fact
memory,
that when
a
verse
and
who
young
from
she had
the Bible
constantly review
she
can
been
day,
every
it. lAs her
learned
more,
made
to learn
and
memory
verse
or
chaptercalled
proved,
im-
the result being
that in the end she could repeat from
any
then
memory
for in the whole
'*
Scripture.
It is related that
Mithridates,the ancient
warrior-king,knew
the
in his great army,
and
name
of every
conversed
soldier
fluentlyin
Googk
Celebrated Cases
29
twenty-two dialects. Pliny relates that Charof every
mides
could repeat the contents
book in his large library. Hortensins, the
orator, had
Boman
remarkable
a
memory
which
enabled him to retain and recollect the
exact
words
without making
he attended
over
his
of
a
opponent's argument,
singlenotation. On a wager,
a
great auction sale which lasted
entire day, and then called off in their
an
of
objectsold,the name
its purchaser,and the price thereof. Seneca
is said to have acquiredthe abilityto memorize
order every
proper
several
repeat them
in which
also to
hundred
verse;
feat
persons,
then
in the exact
word
then
the
to the
same
He
saved
had
also
as
complished
ac-
several
gave
him
they
repeating them
order
to
the order
reverse
of whom
Eusebius
of Esdras
they
listeningto
reversing the
success.
memory
each
memorizing
and
of
and
names,
call off the list backward.
the
and
proper
in the order
given him, and
been
and
thousand
word
a
ceeded;
pro-
for
of their
delivery"
process,
with
plete
com-
stated that
the
world, for when
only the
Hebrew
tures
Scripthe
destroyed the manuscripts Esdras
Chaldeans
was
able
Googk
Memoby
30
to the
repeat them, word by word
then reproduced them.
who
to
scholars
text of the
Koran,
been
from
Bulwer
from
able to repeat the entire
are
Odyssey, in three
works
perfect. Scaliger
letter
able
repeat all of his
to
with
memory,
to recall any
line,or chapter.
a
book
but once, when
recalled
could
being
as
he would
it upon
recite all of his
could repeat his works
verse,
is said to have
after, if
years
well
given paragraph,
Landor
having impressed
of Horace
could repeat the entire
Pascal
memory.
own
the greatest ease.
repeat the Odes
could
the
is said
Jonson
Ben
weeks.
Bible,from beginning to end, as
able
medan
Moham-
the entire text of the Iliad and
committed
to have
The
Beribes,
read
disposeof it,
his memory,
to be
necessary.
Byron
poems.
Buffon
own
from
beginning to
end.
Bryant possessed the same
abilityto repeat
his own
works.
could repeat
Bishop Saunderson
the
greater part of Juvenal
all of
sova,
a
Eussian
25,000poems,
war
TuUy,
and
and
all of Horace.
seus,
Per-
Fedo-
peasant, could repeat
over
folk-songs,
legends,fairy-tales,
stories,
etc.,when
she
was
over
seventy
Googk
Celebbated
The
of age.
years
Cases
celebrated
aged Scottish beggar,
an
* *
31
Blind
could
in the Bible called for, as
verse
entire text
The
of all the
the accounts
in New
of
a
well
any
the
as
books.
ago, contained
years
Clark who
named
man
repeat
chapters and
few
a
newspapers,
' '
Alick,
lived
York
City. He is said to have been
vote in each
givethe exact presidential
able to
State of the Union
since the firstelection. He
give the population in every town of
any size in the world either present or in the
of the
at record
past providing there was
He could quote from Shakespeare for
same.
hours at a time beginningat any given point
in any play. He could recite the entire text
Greek.
of the Iliad in the original
could
The
historical
a
man
is said .tohave been able to take up
to read it all
fresh newspaper;
the advertisements;and
word
its contents,
to end.
have
man
Dutch-
of memory.
to all students
is known
This
of the unnamed
case
On
one
heaped wonder
the contents
for
cluding
through,inthen
to
peat
re-
ning
word, from begin-
occasion he is said to
upon
wonder, by repeating
of the paper
backward,
be-
Googk
Memoby
32
ginning with the last word and ending with
the first. Lyon, the English actor,is said to
have duplicatedthis feat,nsing a largeLondon
and including the market
tions,
quotapaper
reports of the debates in Parliament,
the railroad
time-tables
London
A
and
waiter
similar feat,on
a
the advertisements.
is said to have formed
perhe memora wager,
izing
correctlyrepeatingthe contents
One of the most
eight-page paper.
and
an
instances
known
to
of
When
markable
re-
extraordinarymemory
historyis that
Meinecken.
of
of the child Christian
less than
four
years
of
dred
repeat the entire Bible ; two hunhymns; five thousand Latin words; and
ecclesiastical history,theory, dogmas,
age he could
much
arguments; and
quantityof
encyclopaedic
an
theologicalliterature.
retained
practically
to him.
at
an
His
case
He
every
was
ia said to have
word
that
was
abnormal, and
read
he died
early age.
John
Stuart Mill is said to have
acquireda
fair knowledge of Greek, at the age of three
years, and
and
other
to have
memorized
at the
historians,
Hume, Gibbon,
age
of
eight.
Googk
34
Mbmoby
claimed
that if the entire stock of Bibles
to be
destroyed,he could
book entire,
from his memory.
were
Bev.
Thomas
able to walk
the
restore
the
Fuller is said to have been
down
a
long London
reading
street,
of the
signson both sides ; then
them in the order in which they had
recalling
been seen, and then by reversingthe order.
There
who
names
are
many
memorized
cases
record
on
the words
of persons
of every
known
as well as a great number
tongue of civilization,
of dialects,
languages, and tongues of
savage
races.
Bossuet
had
memorized
the
Bible,and Homer, Horace and Virgil
beside. Niebuhr, the historian,
was
once
ployed
emin a government office,
the records of
which were
stored
destroyed. He, thereupon,reentire
the entire contents
which he had written"
of the book
of
all from his
ords
rec-
ory.
mem-
of ten
Gray knew the names
thousand
plants. Milton had a vocabulary
of twenty thousand words, and Shakespeare
Cuvier and
of twenty-fivethousand.
one
Agassiz are said to have memorized lists of
several thousand speciesand varieties of ani-
Asa
Googk
Celebbated
mals.
Gases
35
the librarian
Magliabechi,
is said to have
of
Florence,
known
the location of every
in the large libraryof which he was
volume
in
charge; and the complete list of works
ries.'
along certain lines in all the other great libraHe
once
claimed
a
repeat titles of over
in many
languages,and
In nearly every walk
able
was
to
half -million of books
upon
subjects.
many
of life are
to be found
oped
(wonderfullydevelalong the lines of their particular
oceur
pation. Librarians possess this facultyto an
in the finer
unusual degree. Skilled workers
persons
with
that he
memories
lines of manufacture
memory
for the
also manifest
tiny parts
etc.
article,
wonderful
Some
memory
lawyers
are
Bank
for
a
ful
wonder-
of the
factured
manu-
officers have
names
able to recall
and
cases
a
faces.
quoted
authorities,
years after they have read
and yet
Ithem. Perhaps the most common,
ing
the most remarkable,instances of memorizin one's dailywork is to be found in the
of the theatrical profession.In some
cases
of stock companies must not
members
cases
only be able to repeat the lines of the play
in the
Googk
36
Memoby
engaged in actingat the time,but
also the one
that they are rehearsing for the
followingweek, and possiblythe one for the
And
second week.
in repertoirecompanies
the actors are requiredto be
letter-perfect^'
in a dozen or more
plays" surelya wonderful
that no notice
feat,and yet one so common
is given to it.
In some
of the celebrated cases, the degree
normal,
of recollection manifested is undoubtedly abit
but in the majority of the cases
they
are
**
may
be
seen
only by the
that the result has been obtained
use
exercise.
of natural
That
methods
wonderful
and
sistent
per-
memories
acquiredby anyone who will devote
time and work, is a fact
to the task patience,
generallyacknowledgedby all students of the
subject. It is not a gift,but something to
be won
by effort and work along scientific
may
be
lines.
Googk
CHAPTER
IV.
MEMOBT
a
SYSTEMS.
The
subject of Memory
new
one
at
years,
devoted
by
any
to the
thereupon; and
invented, the
artificial
subject;
along
always been
of
might be taught
treasures.
used
a
in the
ridiculous
The
books
written
has
a
**
to have
seems
her
up
been
built up,
and
nature, the
ory
mem-
hidden
has
majority of these systems,
degree. Fanciful
on
plan might be
trick*' the
give
of
cise
exer-
could improve
one
some
the
tific
by scien-
of Association
law
been
Instead
memory
that
to
"systems^*
or
lines,there
idea that
use
thought
practice and
rational
methods, and
by the
much
memory.
develop the
natural
an
many
thousand
two
of which
purpose
to
been
methods
many
training and
devised
has
training of the
endeavoring
Nature's
For
means.
least,there
is not
Development
been
often
to
systems have
all artificial in their character
use
is calculated
of which
to
result
to any
in
a
great
decrease
tent
ex-
of
87
Googk
Memoby
38
the natural
justas
oUection,
in the
case
and
rec-
of natural ^^aids"
physicalsystem there is always found
to the
a
of remembranoe
powers
decrease
prefers to
in the natural
do
her
own
Nature
powers.
unaided.
work,
She
be
led,directed and harnessed,
trained,
but she insists upon doing the work herself,
The principle
of Association
or dropping the task.
is an important one, and forms a part
of natural memory
and should be
training,
used. But when
so
pressed into service in
may
of the artificialsystems, the result is
many
the
erection of
mental
mechanism
a
complex
which
is
unnatural
and
no
more
provement
im-
an
methods, than
wooden
a
leg is an improvement upon the
originallimb. There are many
points in
of these "systems*^ which may
be emsome
ployed
ing,
trainto advantagein natural memory
by divorcingthem from their fantastic
rules and complex arrangement We ask you
to run
the list of the principal"sysover
tems'*
upon
with
useless
us,
material
the
natural
that you
may
discard
by recognizingit
and cull the valuable for your
own
as
the
such;
use.
Googk
Memoby
The
Systems
ancient Greeks
lived about
B. 0.
500
was
Greek
many
have
since that time.
romantic
up
some
influenced
has
systems that
memory
storyconnected
of his i^stem.
was
his work
poet who
the early
of
one
and
authorities,
nearly all of the
sprung
of memory
fond
were
Simonides, the
systems.
39
There
is
a
with the foundation
It is related that the poet
present at a largebanquet attended by
of the principal
of the place. He
men
called out
was
and
by
left before
Shortlyafter
a
the
from
message
close
of
the
home,
meal.
he
of the banthe ceiling
quet
left,
hall fell upon
the guests, Mlling all
present in the room, and mutilatingtheir
bodies so terriblythat their friends were
able
unto recognizethem*
Simonides,having
for placesand posia well-developed
tion,
memory
was
which
able
order
in
fore
each guest had been seated,and therewas
able to aid in the identification of
the remains.
so
to recall the exact
This
impressedhim
occurrence
that he devised
forcibly
a
system of
ory
mem-
which attained
position,
great popularityin Greece, and the
based upon
the idea of
Googk
40
Memoby
leading writers
mended
The
of
the
recom-
it.
system of Simonides
the idea of position"it
topicalsystem.''
to
day highly
His
picturein the mind
and
into sections,
based
was
known
was
students
a
were
upon
*Hhe
as
taught
largebuildingdivided
then into rooms,
The thingto be remembered
was
* *
halls,etc.
visualized ' *
*
certain space or place in
occupying some
that building,the grouping being made
cording
acas
to
When
one
association
wished
and
to recall the
all Ithat
was
resemblance.
thingsto
necessary
was
sciousness,
con-
to
visualize the mental
buildingand then take
to room, calling
an
imaginarytripfrom room
off the various thingsas theyhad been placed.
The Greeks thoughtvery highlyof this plan,
variations of it were
and many
employed.
Cicero said: "By those who would improve
be fixed
certain places must
the memory,
upon, and of those things which they desire
to keep in memory
symbols must be conceived
in the mind and ranged, as it were, in those
places; thus, the order of places would preserve
the order of things,and the symbols
Googk
42
Mbmoby
tlie front wall" that
of the first room, are
hand wall the tens ; on
oppositethe entrance"
the units;on the rightthe left hand
the twenties;
the fourth wall the
and on
thirties;
the floorthe forties. Numbers
10,20, 30 and
40, each find a place on the roof above their
respectivewalls,while 50 occupiesthe centre
on
of the
One
room.
places,and
ten
will thus furnish 50
room
rooms
as
many
as
500.
ing
Hav-
fixed these clearlyin the
be able readilyand at
once
positionof each place or
necessary
mind, so aa to
to tell exactlythe
number, it is then
to associate with each of them
some
familiar
ject
object (or symbol) so that the obbeingsuggestedits placemay be instantly
remembered, or when the place be before the
mind its object may
immediatelyspring up.
jects
this has been done thoroughly,the obWhen
can
be
ginning
in any order from befrom end to beginning,or
over
run
end, or
the place of any particular
can
one
giveiL All that is further necessary
to
the ideas
the
means
objectsin
they are
we
wish
at once
is to
to remember
be
sociate
as-
with
places,by which
easilyremembered, and can
the various
Googk
Memoby
be gone
learn
may
in any
over
necessary
order.
43
In tMs
one
way
repeat several hundred
to
nected
discon-
ideas in any order after hearing
only once/' We do not consider it
words
them
Systems
or
to argue
in detail the fact that this
to a great
system is artificialand cumbersome
degree. While the idea of ** position'*
may
be employed to
advantage in grouping
some
several associated
together in the memory
facts,ideas,or words, stillthe idea of employing
a
such
process
as
the above
in the ordinary
and any
affairs of life is ridiculous,
it has a value only
based upon
or
curiosity,
Akin
a
to the
mental
above
tem
sysas
a
acrobatic feat
is the idea
**
underlying
**
ods""
secret methsystems,''and
in which words
the idea of Contiguity,
are
strung togetherby fanciful connecting
links. Feinagle describes this underlying
many
other
"The
follows:
lection
recolas
idea, or principle,
of them is assisted by associating
some
idea of relation between
the two; and
as
we
by experiencethat whatever is ludicrous
is calculated to make a strong impressionon
ridiculous the association
the mind, the more
find
Googk
44
MSMOBY
is the better/*
this idea may
The
be
systems
employed
founded
npon
repeat a long
^ords, and similar
stringsof disconnected
to
things^but have but little practicalvalue,
notwithstanding the high pricescharged for
thenu
or
They serve merely as curiosities,
of performing
methods
tricks" to amuse
one's friends. Dr. Kothe, a German
teacher,
about the middle of the nineteenth century
founded this last school of memory
training,
his ideas servingas the foundation for many
teachers of high-priced systems" or '^secret
methods"
since that time. The above description
of Feinagle gives the key to the principle
employed. The working of the principle
is accomplishedby the employment of "intermediates"
correlatives"
as
or
they are
called; for instance,the words
chimney"
'^
'^
**
**
and
**leaf" would
be
connected
as
follows:
' '
' '
Cfctmney" smoke "wood"
tree"Lea/.
based
Then there are systems or methods
the old principleof the
on
Figure Alphabet,"
is taught to remember
in which one
with letters or
dates by associatingthem
of the teachers of
words.
For instance,
one
**
Googk
Memory
this class of
remember
Systems
systems, wished
the year
45
his
pupils to
by the word
1480
**BiG
EaT,'* the capitalsrepresentingthe figures
in the date.
The
**
Comment
is nimecessary
student will find that nearly all the
systems"
**
or
very
^^
that
are
courses," often
ing
beat
provements
imhigh price,are merely variations,
upon,
three
'
secret methods'
offered for sale in
a
I
of
forms
abova
New
sounded
from
combinations
or
artificial methods
of the
named
changes are constantly being
worked on these old plans; new
tunes played
old instruments;new
chimes
the same
on
is
ever
the
old bells. And
same
the same,
in these
eases"
the
sult
re-
pointment
disap-
and
natural
which
disgust. There iare a few
systems on the market, nearly all of
contain information
that makes
them
worth
and
instruction
the price at which
they are sold. As for the others" well,judge
after purchasingthem, if you so
for yourself
desire.
Begarding these artificialand fanciful systems,
Kay says: **A11 such systems for the
belongto what
improvement of the memory
Googk
46
Memobt
have
we
of it
considered the firstor
They
are
for the most
lowest form
part based
on
lightor foolish associations which have little
fomidation in nature, and are hence of little
and they do not tend to improve
practical
utility;
the memory
or strengthen
as a whole."
Bacon
says
and
that these systems
' ^
are
'^
barren
' '
For immediatelyto
useless, adding:
words once
or
repeat a multitude of names
repeatedbefore,I esteem no more than ropedancing,antic postures,and feats of activity;
and, indeed,they are nearly the same things^
the one being the abuse of the bodilyas the
other of the mental powers; and though they
cause
admiration,they cannot be highly
may
esteemed"
another authorityhas
And
as
''The
said:
as
systems of mnemonics
useful to
taught,are no better than crutches,
those who cannot walk,but impediments and
hindrances to those who have the
use
of their
Ihnbs,and who only require;toexercise them
properly in order to have the full use of
them."
In this work, there shall be
teach any
attemtptto
of these ''trick systems" that the
no
Googk
Memory
47
Systems
of
perform for the amusement
there is only the desire
his friends. Instead,
pressions,
to aid in developingthe power to receive imto registerthem npon tiiememory,
rally
and readilyto reproduce them at wUl, natuand easily. The lines of natural mental
action will be followed throughout The idea
stadent may
of tillswork
is not to teach how
one
may
form;
per-
struct
to inbut,instead,
of
and practical
in the intelligent
use
in the affairs of every-daylife
the memory
**feats'' of memory;
and work.
Googk
y.
CHAPTER
8T7BOONBCIOUS
THE
The
old writers
consider
the memory
ithe mind,
the
on
BECOBD-FILE.
the
as
subjectwere
separate faculty of
a
this idea
but
advancing tide
of
disappeared before
New
The
as
which
knowledge
in the acceptance of the
known
phase
one
of which
mind,
region
is known
of
the subconscious
or
of
consideration
have
of
the
that the entire
performed
mind.
represented
or
to the
subconscious
or
tal
men-
the
work
region. An
is
region of the
record
field,and
results,does
impression
tainty
cer-
of the memory
the subconscious
conscious
tivities
ac-
careful
A
subject brings the
remembrance
idea
mind,
field of
their seat.
in this subconscious
Only when
vast
scious
subcon-
activities. In this field of mentation
of memory
new
a
the
the
as
now
This
Psychology.
of consciousness*'
sulted
re-
conception
conception recognizes the existence
**out
to
wont
emerge
the
from
is
lection
recolorized
mem-
the
understanding of
48
Googk
Memoby
50
**
There
is the
anism
workmg of a mechbeneath the consciousness which,when
of itself,
and which
set going, runs
once
on
is more
likelyto evolve the desired result
when the conscious activity
of the mind is exerted
in a direction altogetherdifferent."
This subconscious region of the mind is the
great record-file of everythingwe have ever
experienced,
thought or known.
Everything
ter says:
is recorded
there.
The
best authorities
generallyagree that there is no
now
such thing as
minute
the most
forgettingof even
impression,notwithstandingthe fact
that
may
an
absolute
we
be unable to recollect or
to its f aintness,or
it,owing
"
'^
indexing.
is to be
found
if
index-file,
we
place. Kay
says:
that every
has
once
been
ever
afterward
noay
never
lack of
sociated
as-
It is-held that thing
everyin that subconscious
only
can
ber
remem-
to find its
manage
**In like
manner
we
lieve
be-
impression or thought that
before
consciousness
remains
impressed upon the mind. It
ness,
again come
up before conscious-
but it will doubtless remain
in that vast
Tiltra-consQipus
regionof the mind, wxcon-
Googk
Subconscious Becobd File
61
quent
scionslymoulding and fashioningonr subsethoughtsand actions. It is onlya small
part of what
exists in the mind
conscious of.
always much
to be in the mind
known
consciouslyyand
We
may
when
must
we
Further,
tell him
that he
cannot
we
that exists in it un-
be stored away
wish
to do
where.
some-
that there is much
wish to do so," much
of its existence.
in his mind
recall when
that he
at
experience
one's
every
sciousness
con-
but
so;
is unconscious
always
are
that is
be able to recall it into
other times the mind
must
is
There
that
he
only
recover
can
niay
search,or that he may search
for in vain at the time,but which may
occur
when
to him afterwards
perhaps he is not
ably
thinkingabout it. Again, much that we probwould
be able to recall,or that
never
stances,
would not recur
to us under ordinarycircumafter
a
labored
we
mind
a
case
trace
we
remember
to have had
it is mentioned
when
In such
some
may
or
could
there must
to
us
in the
by others.
stillhave remained
scintilla of it in the mind
recognizeit
as
fore
be-
having been
there before.''
Googk
Memory
52
Morell
'*We
says:
believe that mental
forth
follows
have
when
power
in the fact of its
perpetuity.Every singleeffort of
creation
which
nonentity.
can
It may
of
again
been
have
will sometimes
to
on
us
its
own
a
an
that which
frequently contains
knowledge which, though
mind
faded
ours
may
may
in certain abnormal
**The
says:
systems of
our
normal
into absolute
they
occur
speak, of
so
whole
in
we
recollect,
to
may
Hamilton
accord.**
come
which
That
effort of
sudden, and, if I
have
**
endeavored
without
to
into the light of
Beattie says:
in vain
of
ding
at the bid-
is,ready
long forgotten,nay,
often
a
in the
heat slumber
of the darkness
out
is
depths
appropriate stimulus
some
consciousness.**
has
in the
slumber
but there it
mind
again into
go back
never
as lightaad
forgetfulness
coal seams,
called
once
the analogy of everything we
in the material universe
see
to
reason
every
state
oblivion,
states,as madness,
delirium,somnambulism, catalepsy,etc.,flash
out
consciousness.
into luminous
example, there
memory
are
of whole
cases
in which
languages were
.
.
.For
the extinct
suddenly re-
Googk
Subconscious
stored/*
are
the will
says:
that
multitiide of events
a
revive
can
nevertheless
be, so
vividness under
proof
who
to
who
when
no
and
which
effort of
no
that the statement
reminiscences,
may
speak, embedded
certain
of the
instances
woman
them,
tablished
fullyes-
now
in the
be reproduced with intense
physicalconditions/*
above, the
recorded
Coleridgerelates
old
**It is
calls up
and may
memory,
53
Lecky
of them
many
File
completelyforgottenthat
so
In
Ebcord
authorities
in scientific annals.
the well-known
could neither
in the delirium
give
of the
case
read
write,
nor
of fever
incessantly
recited in very pompous
tones long passages
from the Latin, Greek and Hebrew, with a
and
distinct enunciation
precise rendition.
Notes
of her ravings were
taken down
by
shorthand, and caused much
wonderment,
until it
youth
she had
the house
of
of
walking
aloud
afterwards
was
up
from
writers.
passages
a
been
found
employed
clergjnnanwho
and
down
his favorite
In his books
as
a
was
in his
in her
that
servant
in the habit
study reading
classical and
were
in
found
correspondingto the
ious
relig-
marked
notes
taken
Googk
Memoe?
5$
the girPs
from
stored
had
memory
she had
which
the
before
**
says:
early youth, but of
recollection in her normal
no
seemed
being
Every
to
rescued
incident
glance across
my
view
of my
drowning
former
life
recollection in
in
minute
every
a
a
outline,
mere
feature,thus forming
whole
sensations
from
of my
retrograde procession,not
but in a picturefilled with
collateral
of these
sounds
Beaufort, describing his
state.
just
up
in her
heard
passages
subconscious
ravings. Her
and
panoramic
existence/'
Kay truly observes:
**By adopting the
opinionthat every thoughtor impressionthat
had once
been consciouslybefore the mind is
afterwards
ever
retained,we obtain lighton
obscure mental phenomena; and especially
many
do
we
draw
it the conclusion of the
from
of the
perfectibility
unlimited
could
our
we
mental
extent.
penetrate
nature,we
We
to
memory
cannot
to the
lowest
almost
an
doubt
that,
depths of
should there find traces
impressionwe have received,
every
thought we have entertained,and every act
each one
have done through our past life,
we
of every
Googk
SuBCOKScious
Recobd
making its influence felt in the
our
every-day actions
the
mind, might it
iriostif not
when
be
not
all of them
wished
we
; and
in
guiding
if they persistin
possibleto recall
into consciousness
to do so, if
of recollection were
powers
55
ing
of build-
way
present knowledge, or
our
up
Files
memories
our
what
or
they should
be!''
As
have
said,this great subconscious
region of the mind"this
Memory regionbe thought of as a great record file,
with
may
intricate system of indexes, and
office
an
the
boys whose business it is to file away
we
records ; to index them
needed.
The
records record only what
impressed upon
of
depth
upon
bestowed
can
never
the memory
not
and
been
to find them
; and
the
upon
them
and
we
when
have
the degree
by the attention,
clearness
depending
tirely
en-
degree of attention which we
the originalimpression. We
expect to have
the office boys of
bring up anythingthat they have
given
cross-references
are
existingbetween
The
indexing,
sociation
suppliedby the as-
to file away.
more
The
the various
pressions.
im-
or ascross-references,
Googk
56
Memoby
sociations that
with
connected
are
thought or impression that
is filedaway
in the
the greater the chances of it being
memory,
found
readilywhen
wanted.
of attention
and
These
mentioned
tures
fea-
two
and
association,
parts they play in the phenomena of
are
idea,
an
in detail in other
the
memory,
chapters of
this book.
These
an
little oflSce boys of the memory
industrious and willinglot of little chaps,
but like all boys
kept
in
they do
them
and
the records
out of their
familiar with their work
and
soon
and
become
tendency
part, and when
they grow
to
less,
care-
their
under
But
almost
They
soon
become
when
exercised
erly,
prop-
very
expert.
They
remember,
accustomed
comes
own
is called for
to its
referringto
their trouble
their
on
certain record
a
find it without
at all.
cise
exer-
brains,and they
their tasks.
spring eagerly to
often
lack of
A littlefresh exercise and work
take the cobwebs
a
and
when
slothful and
to become
forgetfulof
charge.
have
their best work
practice. Idleness
cause
can
are
place,and
the indexes
from
illegible
records,caused by
faint
poor
Googk
CHAPTER
VI.
ATTENTION,
As
have
we
before
one
in the
seen
expect
can
thing, that thing
the records
upon
and
preceding chapters,
to recall
or
have
been
must
remember
a
impressed
tinctly
subconsciousness, dis-
of his
clearly. And
the main
of
factor
ithe recording of impressions is that quality
of the mind
that
leading authorities
recognize
and
of
on
teach
lihe cultivation
Tupper
call Attention,
we
and
the
subject of
that
Lowell
is made
Memory
:
of
power
Attention
Hall
is the
"In
says:
lies the
precious of the intellectual habits.*'
says
are
in
:
''When
taken
the
notice
memory,
the ideas
of,and,
stuff
is
Memory
fixing the attention
ory.
mem-
dom.
of wis-
mother
of, and
Genius.**
in
the daughter
''Memory,
* *
says
memory
of the
development
Attention, is the teeming
* '
the
of attention
the value
says:
All
cumulated
ac-
(the
most
Locke
that offer themselves
as
it were,
it is Attention.**
registered
Stewart
58
Googk
Attention
says:
^^The
which
anything
59
of the
permanence
leaves
the
on
impression
is
memory,
to the degree of attention which
proportionate
was
givento it
Thompson says :
originally
pressed
*^The
experiences most
permanently im' '
upon
which
the
wherewith
in
Beattie
those
are
upon
of attention has
greatest amount
fixed.'*
been
consciousness
force
*^The
says:
anything strikes the mind is generally
tion
proportionto the degree of atten-
bestowed
it. The great art of
upon
is attention.
.
.
.
have always bad memories.
ory
mem-
Inattentive people
' ^
Kay
says
:
^ '
It
is generallyheld by
some
of any
out
philosophersthat withdegree of attention no impression
duration could be made
the mind,
on
laid up in the memory.'* Hamilton
says:
**It is a law of the mind that the intensityof
or
the present consciousness
of the future
consciousness
are
each other.
Vivid
determines
memory
memory;
the vivacity
and
thus in the direct ratio of
ory;
consciousness,
long memfaint consciousness,
short memory;
no
An
act
consciousness,no memory.
that 19 an act of conaentrationf
of attention,
.
.
.
Googk
Memoby
60
thus
seems
as
consciousness,
exertion
to every
necessary
of
certain contraction of the
a
to every exertion of vision.
pupilis requisite
Attention,then,is to consciousness what the
contraction of the pupilis to sight,
to the
or
scope
eye of the mind what the microscopeor teleis to the bodilyeye. It constitutes the
better half of all intellectualpower.
quoted from the above authorities
considerable length,for the purpose
pressing
of im-
We
at
'*
have
upon
mind
your
the
this subjectof Attention.
regionsof
the mind
of the mental
importance
The
of
subconscious
the great storehouses
are
impressionsfrom
ing,
Its great systems of filwithin and without.
stitute
recordingand indexingthese records conthat which
any
must
may
we
of this work
first have
see
from
been
the
to the
If there
fore
be-
is
impressions
possible,
received.
And, as you
upon
the power
things making
has
been
there will be clear and
if there has been
But
call memory.
quotationsjustgiven,these
impressionsdepend
given
of
records
given but
of attention
the
sions.
impres-
tion,
given great attendeep impressions;
average
attention,
Googk
Attention
there
mil
be
but
61
impressions;if
there has been given but faint attention,
there
will be but faint impressions;if there has
been given no attention,
there will be no records.
One
average
of the most
common
attention is to be found
We
we
apt
are
thingsin which
because in that
interested,
have been most
degree of
have
a
interest there has been
it
poor
to the
comes
minute
he
details.
thingsin
a
man
What
high
may
things,
which
often remembers
attention is that form
his
the
is called involuntary
of attention that
desire"
or
interest,
curiosity,
specialeffort of the will being requiredin
follows
no
A
for many
memory
interest is involved
most
the
attention manifested.
very
but when
in the lack of interest.
to remember
outpouring of
of poor
causes
upon
it. What
form
is called
of attention
voluntaryattention
that is bestowed
is that
upon
jects
ob-
curious,or
necesarilyinteresting,
attractive" this requires the applicationof
ter.
the will,
and is a mark of a developed characnot
Every
person
has
more
while but few
attention,
or
tary
less involunpossess
devel-
Googk
Memobt
62
stinctive"th
oped voluntaryattention. The former is inlatter comes
only by practice
and training.
But there is this important point to be remembered,
that interest may be developed by
voluntary attention bestowed and held upon
lacking
an
object. Things that are originally
in sufficientinterest to attract the involuntary
attention may
develop a secondary
interest if the voluntary attention be placed
and held upon them.
As Halleck says
this point: *^When
it is said that tion
atten-
upon
on
will not take
thing,we
not shallow
a
firm hold
must
not
and fickle can
interestingin
minds
show
most
on
an
ing
uninterest-
forget that
soon
anyone
discover
thing
some-
objects. Here
tivated
cul-
their
superiority,
especial
for the attention which they are able to give
generallyends in findinga pearl in the most
ject
oban
uninterestinglookingoyster. When
necessarilyloses interest from one point
discover in it new
tributes.
atof view, such minds
of genius is to present
The essence
old thingin new
an
ways, whether it be some
force in nature or some
aspect of humanity."
Googk
Attention
to teach another
difficult
It is very
largelyin the use
will,and by faithful practicesnd persistent
is the
application.The first requisite
thing consists
the whole
of the
determination
it out with
to
so
the will. You
use
yourself,until
that it is necessary
acquirethe
to
"you
must
doubt
mjore
person
This because
to cultivate the attention.
how
you
63
art of
convince
This
you
and
must
argue
become
desirable for
voluntary attention
yourselfbeyond
able
reason-
is the first step and
difficultthan it would
vinced
con-
seem
one
at firstsight.
The
in it lies in the fact
principaldifficulty
that to do the thingyou must do some
active
and the majority of people
earnest thinking,
too lazy to indulge in such mental
effort.
are
Having mastered this first step, you must
induce a strong burning desire to acquirethe
learn
art of voluntary attention" you must
this way
you induce a
condition of interest and attractiveness where
to want
it hard.
In
previouslylacking. Third and last,
ently
you must hold your will firmly and persistto the task,and practicefaithfully.
Begin by turningyour attention upon some
it
was
Googk
64
Memoby
Tminteresting
thing and studying its details
until you
are
iwillprove
very
able
stick to it. Do
take
first;
at
"will soon
a
to describe
them.
tiresome at firstbut you
not
rest
This
must
practicetoo long at a time
and try it again later. You
find that it
comes
easier,and
that
interest is
beginningto manifest itself
in the task. Examine
this book, as practice,
learn how
there are
in it; how
pages
many
in each
chapters; how many
many
pages
chapter; the details of type, printing and
binding" all the little things about it" so
that you could give another person
a full account
a
new
of the minor
details of the book.
This
and so it will be at
uninteresting"
first" but a littlepracticewill create a new
interest in the petty details,
and you will be
of little things that
surprisedat the number
on many
you will notice. This plan,practiced
things,in spare hours,will develop the power
of voluntary attention and perceptionin anyone,
may
seem
no
matter
been in these
else to
how
deficient he
things. If
you
can
get some
join in the game-task with
then each endeavor
may
you,
have
one
and
to excel the other in find-
Googk
66
Memoby
the color of his hair at
or
different,
three shades
lighter. This example
was
nose
least
shows
that another
be formulated:
can
careful attention to details. We
Pay
asked
the
rule
give a minute
to
exterior of
house
that
a
somewhat
have
we
the house.
part
Perhaps
of the material
We
axe
the
noted
used
suburban
reply in
We
size and
also have
we
haps
per-
descriptionof
latelyseen.
general terms, giving
are
color
an
of
idea of
in the exterior
struction.
con-
asked to be exact about the
shape of the door, porch,roof,chimneys and
are
windows; whether the windows
plain or
circular,whether
they have cornices,or
whether
the trimmings around
of
them; are
the
material
same
the rest of the house.
will be unable
friend,who
wishes
as
to know
the roof, and
with
to
see
the
A
house,
about the angles of
definitely
the way
reference
the windows
to them.
are
Unless
ranged
arwe
these
we
merely
questionsexactly,
tantalize our friends by telling
them we have
the house.
To see an objectmerely as
seen
of something in a
undiscriminated
an
mass
certain place,is to do no more
than a donkey
accomplishesas he trots along.
can
answer
'^
Googk
Attention
There
67
feree general rules that may
are
he
given in this matter of hestowing the volnntary attention in the direction of actually
seeing things,instead of mierelylooking at
The first is : Make
them.
yourself take an
interest in the thing. The second:
See it
if you were
as
taking note of it in order to
repeat its details to
friend"this
a
to **take notice.''
you
subconsciousness
your
take note of what
*^
!'' This
me
knack
*'
that
practice"it will
after
a
Give
command
lookingat"
axe
you
third:
mental
a
of this and
take note
it;*'Here,you
it for
The
will force
to
say to
ber
remem-
last consists of
can
a
liar
pecu-
be attained
**come
to
by a little
you*' suddenly
few trials.
Regarding this third rule whereby the
is made
Charles
As
has the
Leland
he
' *
uses
to
for
work
followingto
it to illustrate another
I understand
it,it is a kind
of
of will into the coming
projection
here
to
illustrate this with
a
physics. If the reader wished
to produce as much
so
as
you,
though
say, al-
point:
impulse or
work.
curious
to
consciousness
sub-
I may
fact in
bell
ring a door-
sound
as
pos-
Googk
68
Mbmoby
he would
sible,
probably pnllit
as
far back
could,and then let it go. But if he
would, in lettingit go, simply give it a tap
with his forefinger,
he fwoxddlactuallyredouble
the sound.
as
Or, to shoot an arrow
far as posible,
it is not enough to merely
as
he
draw
the bow
If, just as it
to its utmost
goes, you
span
tension.
or
will give Hie bow
a
the
quickpush, though the effort be trifling,
will flyahnost as far again as it woxdd
arrow
have done without it Or, if,as is well known
in wieldinga very sharp sabre,we make the
draw cut ; that is,if to the blow or chop, as
with an axe, we
also add a certain slight
cut through a
can
we
pull,simultaneously,
silk handkerchief
a
or
sheep. Forethought
(conmiand to the subconsciousness)is the
tap on the bell;the push on the bow; the
draw
on
the sabre.
It is the deliberate but
before
yet rapid action of the mind when
dismissingthought,we bid the mind
respond. It is
thinkingwhat we are
or
ordering the Self
willingif
more
to
sequently
con-
than merely
to do ; it is the
bidding
to fulfilla task before
Goo^k
Attention
69
Bemember
fore
last and always,fhat befirst,
yon must
you can remember, or recollect,
firstperceive;and that perceptionis possible
gree
only through attention,and responds in deto the later. Therefore,it has trulybeen
tention.'*
said that :
The great Art of Memory is At* ^
Googk
CHAPTER
Vn.
ASSOCIATION.
In
the
preceding chapters
that in order that
it mnst
clear
impression there
Ition of attention.
of
the
the mind
that in order
place; and
So
be
must
much
impressions.
But
are
for the
important
Association.
a
the aim
been
in
a
law
recording
we
pressions
the im-
the
plays
a
library; or
is to
ogous
part anal-
or
contained
in
is in the memory
brought again before
it is necessary
in
a
readily find something that has
'*In order that what
or
of
law
system in which
another
collection of similar things. As
or
other
an-
indexing and cross-indexingof
filed away,
recalled
to
come
to face with
of memory"
Association
to the
book;
brought face
a
manifesta-
a
when
in
to obtain
recalling,recollectingor remembering
we
seen
remembered,
impressed clearlyupon
be
the first
be
thing may
a
have
we
that it be
association
some
way
Kay
says
one
be
may
ness,
conscious-
regarded in
with
:
or
nection,
con-
more
70
Googk
Association
otiaerihiaogs
and
or ideas,
fbe nuiober
as
71
a
role the greater
of other
thingswith which it is
associated the greater the likelihood of its
rocaU
every
The
two
processes
act of memory.
and then
we
mnst
We
are
must
associate.
involved in
firstimpress,
Without
a
clear
impression being formed, that which is recalled
will be indistinct and inaccurate;
and
unless it is associated with something else in
the mind, it cannot be recalled. If we nmy
in the mind by itself,
suppose an idea existing
with any other idea, its recall
unconnected
would be impossible.''
All the best authorities recognize
and teach
in
(theimportance of this law of association,
connection
says:
with
the
memory.
Abercombie
'*Next to the effect of attention is the
produced upon memory
cording
by association.'' Carpenter says: '*The reof memory
mainly depends
power
give to the
upon the degree of attention we
The reproducing
idea to be remembered.
ture
depends upon the naagain altogether
power
of the associations by which the new
remarkable
influence
idea has been linked
on
to other ideas which
Googk
Memoby
72
have been
recorded.'*
previously
^^The most
Bibot says:
law which regulates
fundamental
ciation.
psychological
phenomena is the law of assoIn its comprehensive character it
is comparable to the law of attraction in the
physicalworld.'' Mill says: **That which
is to astronomy; that
the law of gravitation
sues
which the elementary properties of the tisthe law of association
to physiology;
are
of ideas is to psychology.'* Stewart
says:
* *
The connection between
of ideas is
been
supposed by
memory
strikingthat it
so
some
and the
that the whole
sociation
as-
has
of the
ciple.
phenomena might be resolved into this prinassociation of ideas connects
The
various
thoughts with
present them
other, so
each
to the mind
as
to
certain order ;
existence of those
in
a
the
it presupposes
thoughtsin the mind," in other words
but
our
it presupposes
edge
faculty of retainingthe knowlwhich we acquire. On the other hand,
principle,
evident that without the associating
thoughts,
the i)Ower of retainingour
a
it is
and
us,
of
recognizingthem when
would
have
been
they occur
to
for
the
of littleuse;
Googk
74
Memoey
is that of
contiguity,
by
and
ideas that have been
in dose
togetheror
together,or cohere
one
can
of which
means
afterward
in the mind
tend
succession,
to unite
in such
that the
a
way
recall the other.
The
that naturallysubsists between
or
sations
sen-
idea in the
mind,
and
nection
consation
sen-
a
that which
immediatelyprecededor followed it,is of the
The
strongest and most intimate nature.
two, strictly
speaking,are but one, forming
As Taine says: '*To
one
complete thought.''
there is no isolated or sepaspeak correctly,
rate
sensation.
A
sensation is
continuation
a
state which
of
preceding ones,
alid ends by losingitself in those following
it; it is by an arbitrarysevering,and for the
convenience of language,that we set it apart
do ; its beginningis the end of another,
as we
and its ending the beginning of another/'
begins as
As
a
Ribot says:
'*When
we
read
or
hear
a
sentence,for example, at the commencement
something of the fourth
stillremains. Association by contiguity
word
be separatedinto two sub-classes"conmay
in space.
In
tiguityin time ; and contiguity
of
the fifth word
Googk
Association
contiguityin tune there
tendency of the memory
in the
same
received"the
were
this way
the
alphabet,and
of
is manifested
to
order
the
recall the
pressions
im-
in which
they
first impressionsuggesting
the second,and
In
75
that the third,and
child learns
so
on.
repeat the
succeeding lines
the adult the
to
As
Priestlysays: *'In a poem,
the end of each preceding word
nected
being conwith the beginning of the succeeding
can
easilyrepeat them in that order,
one, we
but we are not able to repeat them backwards
tillthey have been frequentlynamed
in that
order. Memory of words, or groups of words,
ciation.
depends upon this form of contigiousassoSome persons are able to repeatlong
from beginning to end, with perfect
poems
ease, but are unable to repeat any particular
sentence,or verse, without worMng down to
it from the beginning. Contiguityin space is
a
poem.
manifested
the
in forms
of recollection or
Thus
ing
by rememberby ''position.''
things connected with the positionof
particularthing,we
the thing itself. As we
a
brance
remem-
are
enabled
have
seen
to recall
in
a
pre-
Googk
76
Mbmoby
ceding chapter,some
forms
have been based
recall
this law.
on
honse
some
of memory
or
tems
sys-
If yon will
in
room
which
have
been, you will find that yon will
remember
one
object after another, in the
order of the relative positions,
or
contiguity
in space, or position. Beginning with the
front hall,you may
travel in memory
from
each with the
to another,recalling
one
room
objectsit contains,according to the degree of
attention you bestowed upon them originally.
Kay says of association by contiguity:**It
is on this principleof contiguitythat mnemonical
constructed,as when
systems are
yon
what
we
the mind
ideas
with
a
certain
associated
when
each word
is associated
to remember
wish
the
objector locality,
will at
or
once
come
the
one
with
is recalled the other
of books
or
that when
comes
it,and thus long lists of
passages
up;
idea is associated with the
immediately preceding it,so
one
in
can
be
along
up
names
long
or
readilylearnt by
heart.*'
foregoing,it will
great importance that we
From
is of
the
be
seen
that it
correlate
our
Googk
77
Association
ing.
impressionswith those precedingand followThe more
closelyknitted togetherour
closelywill they
impressionsare, the more
of
cohere,and the greater will be the facility
We
remembering or
recollectingthem.
should endeavor to form our
impressionsof
things so that they will be associated with
other impressions,in time and space. Every
other thingthat is associated in the mind with
loose end*' of
a
as
a
given thing,serves
which if once
grasped and followed
memory,
desire to recall
up will lead us to the thing we
**
to mind.
is the linkingtoAssociation by similarity
gether
of
impressionsof a similar kind, irpresses
respectve of time and place. Carpenter exThe law of similarity
it as follows :
the general fact that any present
expresses
* *
tends
state of consciousness
states which
Eational
a
fact
or
or
similar to it.
are
some
.
vious
pre.
.
association is when
philosophical
statement
on
which
fixed is associated with
known,
to revive
to which
it has
subjectwhich
some
a
the attention is
fact
previously
relation,or with
it is calculated to illus-
Googk
Memory
78
And
trate/^
Kay
as
similars
*^The
says:
widely apart in space or in time,but
they are brought together and associated
other.
to each
through their resemblance
Thus, a circumstance of to-day may recall
be
may
circumstances
curred
of
similar nature
a
perhaps at
that
oc^
different
times,and
associated together in the
very
they will become
mind, so that afterwards the
presence
will tend to recall the others/'
of
one
Abercrombie
says of this phase of association: *^The habit
of
association" that
correct
is, connecting
lations,
accordingto their true rein which they tend
and to the manner
to illustrateeach other,is one of the principle
of improving the memory,
means
particularly
facts in the mind
that kind
qualityof
which
As
cultivated mind"
a
is founded
but
not upon
true and
on
Beattie says:
likenesses that
we
the
objects,
of
one
Kay
lead
says:
is
which
of memory
us
find
namely, that
incidental
tions,
connec-
or
relations
more
or
establish between
can
easilywill the view
to recollect the resf
*^In order
essential
important relations."
*^The
more
an
to fix
a
And
as
thing in the
Googk
Association
associate it with
must
we
memory,
in the mind
that which
already, and
we
wish
that with which
each
other, or
from
each
the
something
more
closely
to remember
resembles
the better is
it is associated,
it fixed in the memory,
is it recalled.
79
and
If the two
not
are
other,then the
strongest kind.
.
.
.
the
readily
more
strongly resemble
to be distinguished
association is of the
The
is able
memory
to retain and
replacea vastlygreater number
of ideas,
if they are associated or arranged on
of similarity,
than if they are
some
principle
presentedmerely as isolated facts. It is not
by the multitude of ideas,but the
them, that the
among
burdened
Amott
and
says:
its powers
**The
memory
*'
weakened.
ignorant
of
want
man
may
rangement
ar-
is
As
be
charged his hundred hooks of
with single
knowledge (to use a rude simile),
each
makes
while the informed man
objects,
hook support a long chain to which thousands
of kindred and useful things are
attached.''
said to have
We
ask
each
himself
working
student
with
features
the
of this book
to
general idea
of the
of the law
of association
quaint
ac-
as
Googk
Memory
80
given in this chapter
much
for
of the instruction to be
the
that
reason
given under
the
phases and classes of
is based upon an application
of the
memory
in connection with the law
Law of Association,
of Attention.
These fundamental
principles
should be clearlygrasped before one proceeds
to the details of practiceand exercise. One
should know not only **how*' to use the mind
and mem6ry in certain ways, but also *'why''
it is to be used in that particular
By
way.
is betof it,''
ter
one
understanding the reason
head
of the several
**
able to follow out the directions.
Googk
82
Memory
recollection of
while others
localities,
are
stantly
con-
losingthemselves. Others remember
dates,prices,numbers, and figuresgenerally,
while
deficient in other forms
Others
of recollection.
remember
anecdotes
tales,incidents,
etc.,while forgettingother things. And so
a memory
on, each person being apt to possess
good in some
phases, while deficient in
others.
The
phases of
memory
may
be divided into
general classes,namely (1) Memory of
Sense Impressions;and (2) Memory of Ideas.
two
This classificationis somewhat
the
that
reason
into ideas,and
sense
ideas
extent of
a
general
purpose,
way
which
are
sense
for
arbitrary,
impressionsdevelop
siderable
composed to a conbut in
impressions,
the classification serves
its
is the grouping together of
phases of the phenomena of memory.
cludes
inMemory of Sense Impressons of course
the impressionsreceived from all of
the five senses:
sight;hearing; taste;touch;
certain
and smell.
But when
examination
of
in the memory,
we
come
sense
we
down
to
a
tical
prac-
tained
impressionsre-
find that the
ina-
Googk
Phases
of
Memoby
83
those obtained
are
jorityof such impressions
of sight
through the two respectivesenses
and hearing.The impressionsreceived from
the
of
sense
taste,touch and
smell,respectively,
comparatively smialj,except in
the cases
of certain experts in speciallines,
whose occupationconsists in acquiringa very
delicate sense
of taste, smell or touch, and
of memory
a fine sense
correspondingly
along
these particularlines. For
instance,the
wine-taster and tea-tasters,
able to
who are
the various grades of
distinguishbetween
merchandise
handled by them, have developed
of taste and smell,
not only very fine senses
but also a remarkable memory
of the impressions
crimination
of dispreviouslyreceived,the power
the
depending as much
upon
the specialsense.
In the
as
memory
upon
are
same
way
the skilled surgeon
skilled mechanic
acquiresa
fine
as
well
sense
as
the
of touch
ory
correspondingly
highlydevelopedmemof touch impressions.
But, as we have said,the greater part of
in our
the sense
impressions stored away
those
memories
are
previously received
and
a
Googk
Memoby
84
through the
senses
The
stored away
received
with
more
or
of
spectively.
sightand hearing,remajority of sense
sions,
impres-
in the memory,
less
have
been
that
involuntarily,
is
the
of but a slightdegree of
application
attention.
less indistinct
or
They are more
and hazy,and are recalled with difficulty,
the
remembrance
of them generallycoming about
without conscious effort,
accordingto the law
of association.
That
is,they come
pally
princiwhen
we
are
thinkingabout something
which we
have given thought and
else upon
and with which they have been associated.
attention,
There
is quite a difference between
the remembrance
of sense
impressions
received
in this way,
and
record by the bestowal
and
of
those
which
interest
attention,
concentration.
The
sense
the most
impressions of sight are
numerous
We
are
in
our
by
subconscious
constantly exercising our
of
faintlyrecorded
far
house.
store-
sight,and receiving thousands
different sightimpressionsevery hour.
;the majority of these impressions are
sense
we
upon
the memory,
of
But
but
because
Googk
Phases
Memory
of
85
giveto them but littleattention or interest
But it is astonishing,at times,when
find
we
that when we recall some
important event or
incident we
faint sight impressions
also recall many
we
of which
record.
any
To
"
did not dream
we
realize the
important part
played by sightimpressionsin
of memory,
recall
in your
event
you
with
the
Second
in
felt
or
a
away
In
great number
some
cases
the
the
pared
com-
that
you
smelled.
number, however,
consequently
or
more
many
things
received through the
and
phenomena
remembered,
of
number
heard, or tasted,or
how
see
are
scm
the
particulartime
some
life,and
things that
had
we
are
sense
the
ing,
of hear-
memory
of sound
pressions
im-
stores
impressions.
impressions of sight and
joinedtogether,as for instance in
of words,in which not only the sound
the case
but the shape of the letters composing the
word, or rather the word-shape itself,are
stored away
together,and consequently are
recollected
far more
or
readily remembered
but one
than things of which
sense
sion
impressound
are
is recorded.
Teachers
of memory
use
Googk
86
Memoey
this fact
helpingtheir students
words
to memorize
by speaking them aloud,
and then writing them down.
Many persons
in this way, the impression
memorize
names
of the written word
pression
being added to the imof the sound, thus
doubling the
record. The more
impressions that you can
make
regarding a thing,the greater are the
wise
it. Likechances of your easilyrecollecting
it is very important to attach an impression
of
as
weaker
a
one, in order
and
attach
a
ear
poor
be
may
have
memory,
ized.
memor-
good
a
eye
it is well to
the
sight
if you
poor
eye
good
a
you
stronger
a
impressions to
And
impressions.
and
to that of
that the former
sound
your
memory,
sense,
instance,if
For
memory,
of
means
a
ear
have
memory
a
it is
tant
impor-
to attach your
sound
we
sightimpressionsto your
vantage
impressions. In this way you take adof which
of the law of association,
have
Under
are
told you.
the
the
found
known
as
sub-class
smaller
memory
; memory
of
of form
of
sight impressions,
divisions
of memory
locality;
memory
; memory
of
of figures
color;and
Googk
Phases
of written
memory
Memory
of
printedwords*
or
the sub-class of sound
the
of
memory
of memory,
The
of
general class of
ideas,"includes the
of
etc.,and
is regarded
iihan the memory
not
average
a
more
names
;
music,
etc.
memory,"
memory
of
of
reasoning,
higher in the scale
though
sense
impressions, al-
as
of
This
useful to the
nor
necessary
person.
form
of memory
of
lectual
accompanies the higher lines of inteland constitutes
effort and activities,
large part
of what
is known
which
that is education
as
tion,
true educa-
teaches
think instead of to merely memorize
thingstaught in
The
as
specialattention to these forms
in succeedingchapters.
lines
facts, events, thoughts^
course
of
second
memory
found
known
; memory
stories;memory
shall pay
We
of memory
of spoken words
memory
Under
impressions are
divisions
smaller
87
books
well-rounded
or
man,
has developed his memory
one
to
certain
lectures.
mentally,is he
on
all
who
sides,rather
developedbut one special
phase of the faculty. It is true that a
tend
man's
interest and occupationcertainly
ttian the
one
who
has
Googk
Memoky
88
according to his daily
develophis memory
needs and requirements,but it is well that
he should give to the other parts of his memory
in order that he may
field some
exercise,
to
not
one-sided.
grow
''Many
due
to
kinds
sight;but
have
we
of memory
We
is
approach
sound.
We
has
a
hands
has
certain touch
smell.
to decide
over
a
resonance.
the melon,
melon.
water-
the fruit
whether
it
judge by the
that
remember
certain
our
open
the vine where
in order
must
To
senses.
a
tap the rind and
ripe,we
mainly
different
many
poorest idea of the
the
is growing, and
is
have
said:
has
long greenishbody,
important quality.Sight
is
watermelon
gives
as
we
as
but this is its least
alone
Halleck
think that memory
persons
sight,the
As
melon
ripewaterBy passing
learn
we
characteristics.
that it
We
cut
it
qualitiesof taste and
ferent
All this knowledge afforded by the difinto a perfected
enter
must
senses
and
memory
learn
image.
complex processes
thing. Napoleon
hearing a
name.
the
Hence
go
was
He
to form
not
wrote
that many
see
we
an
content
idea of
with
a
only
it down, and hav-
Googk
CHAPTEB
IX.
TBAINING
Before
the memory
before
impressions"
or
remember
be
used
We
such
under
the
but
sense
can
be stored
the
mind
reality we
the eye
of
registering
clear
the
upon
look
We
must
attention.
look
we
few
but
see
sight
recollect
can
things when
in
of them
with
of the
direction
see
we
mind.
EYE.
impressions"
the
thipk that
them,
THE
at
things, in
pressions
distinct im-
and
tablets
at them
of the subconscious
than
rather
them.
see
Halleck
seeing'' idea:
retina
to
seen
cows
of you
be
may
sight without
imaged
insuring perception.
things which
many
a
:
know
A
senses.
our
of
pupils
body
**
man
large school,
whether
below, behind,
or
the
in
a
front
all of
ears
of
sents
pre-
said to the-
once
cow's
the
There
world
her
had
whom
like to find out how
*I should
on
the attention
effort to concentrate
an
the
upon
"A
without
be
must
regarding this
says
are
many
above,
horns.
I
90
^Goog
Digitized
le
Tbaininq
Eye
the
91
only those pupilsto raise tiieirhands
who are sure
about the position
and who will
promise to give a dollar to charityif they answer
raised.
wrong.' Only two hands were
wast
Their
had
owners
to do that had been
attention upon
were
and descend
them.
head
cats
tail first,
the
or
the cats descended
to do.
shape
Any
their
who
one
of the daws
unanimity of
was
went
up
the cats
heads
first.
down
came
majoritywere sure that
they were never known
had
ever
noticed the
of any beast of prey
could
questionwithout seeing
actual descent. Farmers*
an
boys who have
and horses lie down and rise,
often seen cows
have
are
answered
as
cats climb trees
seen
There
whether
asked
in order
forced to concentrate
they had
opinion that the
When
and
cows
tiie animials. Fifteen pupils
that
sure
drawn
seldom
the
whether
sure
with their fore
or
hind feet
the
animals
or
first,
rise
whether
the habit of the horse agrees with that of the
in this respect. The elm tree has about
cow
which all ought to notice
peculiarity
the firsttime they see it,and yet only about
itsleaf
five per
a
cent of
in
a
a
porate
certain school could incor-
although
drawing this peculiarity,
Googk
92
Memoey
it is
to
easilyoutlined on paper. Perception,
achieve satisfactory
must sununon
results,
so
the will to its aid to concentrate
the attention.
Only the smallest part of what falls upon our
at any time is actuallyperceived.''
senses
The
to train the mind
way
and
sight-impressions,
thOTi in the memory
to receive clear
therefore
to
retain
is
simply to concentrate
the will and attention upon
objectsof sight,
ly,
endeavoringto see them plainlyand distinctand then to practicerecalling
the details
of the objectsome
time afterward. It is astonishing
how
rapidly one may
improve in
this respect by a little practice.And it is
amazing how great a degree of proficiency
attain in a short
in this practiceone
may
time.
of
You
have
Houdin, the
his memory
a
doubtless heard the old story
French
of
vated
conjurer,who cultilowing
sightimpressionsby fol-
simple plan. He
by observingthe
number
started in to practice
of small
objects
he could see and
shop windows
in one
remember
quick glance as he rapidly
He followed the
walked past the window.
plan of noting down on paper the things that
in the Paris
he
saw
and
remembered.
At
first he could
Googk
Training
but
remember
window.
of
Then
and
more,
two
or
perception and
able to
was
see
small article in
but
found
a
one
this plan
and remember
see
day adding to
his power
until
finallyhe
and remember
nearly every
stowing
large shop window, after beglance upon it. Others have
an
memory,
excellent one, and have
veloped
de-
their power
of perception greatly,
at the same
time cultivated an amazingly
and
retentive memory
all
93
three articles in the
he began to
on, each
so
Eye
the
a
matter
of
of Houdin
It is
objectsthus seen.
and practice.The experiuse
ment
with
be varied infinitely,
may
of
excellent results.
The
Hindus
train their children along these
lines,by playing
ithem.
This
game
**
sight game'' with
is played by exposing to
the
of small
sightof. the children a number
and which
at which ihejgaze intently,
objects,
from
their sight. The
then withdrawn
are
the
children then endeavor
to excel each other in
writing down the names
The
they have seen.
small to begin with,but
objectswhich
of objectsis
number
is increased each day,
until
an
of the
astonishingnumber
are
perceived
pnd remembered.
Googk
Mbmoey
94
Eudyard Eaplingin
gives an instance of
his great book, * * Kim,
' '
this game,
played by
**Kim*' and a trained native youth. Lurgan
Sahib exposes to the sightof the two boys a
tray filled with jewels and gems, allowing
them
to gave
upon
is withdrawn
from
begins,as
that
it a few moments
sight
follows:
five blue
paper
**
Then
*
the competition
There
stones,
before it
one
are
under
big, one
in all
small,*said Kim
haste. There are four green stones,and one
with a hole in it; there is one
yellow stone
that I can see through, and one like a pipe
There are two red stones,and" and"
stem.
give me time.' '* But Kim had reached the
three
smaller, and
Then
limit of his powers.
the native boy. ** 'Hear my
came
the turn
of
count,*cried the
native child. First are two flawed sapphires,
of two ruttes and one of four,as I should
one
judge. The four rutte sapphireis chippedat
the edge. There is one
Turkestan
turquoise,
scribed"one
plain with green veins,and there are two in*
with
and
the other
came
out of
have
now
an
the
name
of Gk)d in
gilt,
being cracked across, for it
old ring,I cannot read. We
the five blue
stones; four flamed
Googk
Tbaining
Eye
the
95
there are, but one is drilled in two
*
Their
places,and one is a little carven.*
emeralds
weight!' said Lurgan
*
Three"
Sahib, impassively.
four ruttees,
as I judge
five" five and
pieceof old greenishamber,
and a cheap cut topaz from Europe, There
is one
ruby of Burma, one of two ruttees,
there is a ballas ruby,
without a flaw. And
flawed,of two ruttees. There is a carved
ivory from China,representinga rat sucking
it
an
of
is
There
and
egg;
one
there is last" Ah"
crystalas big as
Kim
times
over,
worth
The
bean
at his bad
is mortified
the secret.
a
is :
answer
till it is done
ha I"
a
ball
gold leaf.' ''
beating,and asks
set in
By doingit many
perfectly,for it is
* *
doing.''
teachers have
Many
to that
just related.
A
followed
plans similar
number
of small articles
exposed, and the pupilsare trained
and remember
them, the process being
are
to
see
graduallymade
well
known
more
American
and
more
teacher
difficult. A
was
in
the
rapidlymaking a number of dots on
the blackboard,and then erasing them before
the pupilscould count them in the ordinary
habit of
way.
The
children then endeavored
to count
Googk
Memoby
96
their
mental
impressions, and
they could correctlyname
with
before
the nmnber
long
up
to
They said they could
the case may
**see six,*'
as
or **see ten,*'
be,
automatically and apparently without the
labor of consciouslycountingthem.
It is related
in works
dealingwith the detection of
crime, that in the celebrated *Hhieves
schools'' in Europe, the young
thieves are
ten
or
more,
trained
similar way, the old scoundrels
of small
teachers exposing a number
in
actingas
ease.
a
articles to the young
ones, and
requiringthem
Then
exactlywhat they had seen.
follows a higher course
in which the young
thieves are requiredto memorize
the objects
in a room
; the plan of houses,etc. They are
sent forth to **spy out the land'' for future
robberies,in the guise of beggars soliciting
alms, and thus getting a rapid peep into
It is said that in
and stores.
houses,offices,
a singleglancethey will perceivethe location
of all of the doors,windows, locks,bolts,etc.
in which
Many nations have boys' games
the youngsters are
member
required to see and reThe Italians
after taking a peep.
have a game called''Morro" in which one boy
to repeat
Googk
Memoby
98
terward.
It is the
old
story of attenticm
and memory
followingthe interest,
following
the attention. An expert whist player will
and remember
see
every card played in the
and just who played it. A chess or
game,
checker player will Bee
and remember
the
in the game, if he be expert,
previousmoves
and
relate them
can
afterward.
A
woman
shopping and will see and remember
thousands of thingsthat a man
would never
will go
have
seen, much
less remembered.
As
Hou-
din said:
**Thus, for instance,I can safely
assert that a lady seeing another pass at full
speed in a carriagewill have had time to anar
lyzeher toilettefrom her bonnet to her shoes,
and be able to describe not only the fashion
but also say if the
and qualityof the stuffs,
I have
lace be real or only machine made.
known
ladies to do this.*'
this" for it is
important:
Whatever
be done in this direction by
can
of attention,
means
inspiredby interest,
may
be duplicatedby attention directed hy will.
In other words, the desire to accomplishthe
But, remember
task
adds
and
creates
an
artificialinterest
justas effectiveas the natural feeling.And,
Googk
Tbaiiriko
as
progress,
(task wHl add new
yon
tHs
Eye
99
the interest in Qie game-
interest,and
yon
will be
of the feats mentioned
able to
dnplicateany
above.
It is all a matter
of attention,
interest
induced) and practice. Begin
with a set of dominoes,if you like,and try to
remember
the spots on one of them rapidly
creasing
glanced at" then two" then three. By inthe number
tain
gradually,you will atof perceptionand a memory
of
a power
almost
that will appear
sight-impressions
marvelous.
'And not only will you begin to
remember
dominoes,but you will also be
able to perceiveand remember
thousands of
littledetails of interest,
that
in everything,
have heretofore escaped your notice. The
principleis very simple,but the results that
wonderful.
are
may be obtained by practice
(natural or
The
trouble with most
have been
not
been
of you
is
tha^ou
seeing" gaziri^Put
lookingwithout
observing. The objectsaround
out of your
mental
focus.
you
If you
have
will
of
change your mental focus,by means
will and attention,
you will be able to cure
yourselfof the careless methods of seeing
and observingthat have been hindrances to
but
Googk
Memoby
100
yonr
snccess.
yonr
memory,
How
Yon
have
been
blaming it on
bnt the fanlt is with yonr perception.
the memory
can
remember,
iwhen it is not
given anything in the way of
dear" impressions
? Yon have been like yonng
infants in thismatter" now
it is time for you
sitnp and take notice, no matter
to beginto
how old yon may
be. The whole thing in a
* *
^ *
nnt-shell is this: In order to remember
the
that pass before yonr sight,
ithings
you must
begin to see mtjii your mind, instead of with
your retina. Let the impressionget beyond
If you will
retina and into your mind.
will **do
do this,
you will find that memory
your
the rest.**
Googk
X.
CHAPTER
TBiUNIKG
sense
of
hearing
senses
or
channels
The
of the
impressions
it ranks
In
the
is
a
THE
as
high
whereby
and
substance
the object sensed, while
of
sense
air
(in the
of
case
(in the
sense
of
taste, smell
and
touch
brought into
Hie
nerves
sacs
which
which
the
direct
contain
the
of
there
cipient
re-
particles of
of
sight
a
the
in
in
waves
in the
with
the
in
in
are
the terminal
seeing and hearing
peculiar and
fluidic substance
this
faculty to
waves
objects sensed
impression is conveyed
of
ceived
re-
hearing.) Moreover
contact
terminate
Loss
proper.
sight
smell
sense
sight), or
apparatus, while
nerve
fact,
hearing the impression is
through the medium
ether
In
sensitive
the
in the
receive
of
sense
the
highest
we
world.
the
as
between
contact
nerve
the
of the
one
of taste,tonch, and
senses
direct
and
is
the outside
from
almost
EAB.
delicate
through
to the
fluidic substance
receive
nerve
stroys
de-
impressions, and
101
Googk
Memoby
102
deafness
or
blindness
lAs Foster
ensues.
ditory
fallingupon the auever;
itselfproduces no effect whatnerve
of the
it is only when, by the medium
endolymph, they are brought to bear on the
eeUs which
delicate and peculiarepithelium
constitute the peripheralterminations of ithe
**
says:
Waves
of sound
nerve, that sensations of sound arise."
Just
as
it is true that it is the ndnd
and not
the eye that reallysees; so is it true that it is
the mind and not the ear that really"fiears.
tered
Many sounds reach the ear that are not regisby the mind. We pass along a crowded
sounds reachingthe
of many
the waves
street,
of the ear, and yet the ntiind accepts
nerves
the sounds of but few things,particularly
the noveltyof the sounds has passed
when
It is
away.
in this case,
As Halleck
window
in the
of interest and
matter
a
as
well
says
:
country
as
in the
**If
on
a
we
case
sit by
summer
tion
atten-
of hearing.
an
open
day, we
stimuli knocking at the gate
have many
of a clock,the sound
of attention: the ticking
may
wind, the cacklingof fowl,the quacking
of ducks, the barking of dogs, the lowing of
cows, the cries of children at play, the rustof the
Googk
Tbainikg
the
Eab
103
the rambling
lingof leaves,the songs of birds,
of wagons,
any
ete.
If attention is centered upon
of these,that for the time
one
the
throne of
importance of
our
mental
a
king
quires
being ac-
upon
the
world.*'
complain of not being able
to remember
sounds,or thingsreachingthe
mind through the sense
of hearing,and attribute
Many
persons
the trouble to
of
hearing. But
real cause
in
some
defect in the organs
overlook the
doingithey
for it is a scientific
of the trouble,
so
fact that many
of such persons are found to
have hearing apparatus perfectlydeveloped
and in the best
working order" their trouble
arisingfrom a lack of trainingof the mental
faculty of hearing. In other words the
trouble is in their mind
instead of in the
gans
or-
hearing. To acquirethe facultyof
of things
and correct memory
correct hearing,
heard,the mental facultyof hearingmust be
exercised,trained and developed. "l^iven a
of people whose hearing apparatus
number
are
equallyperfect,we will find that some
''hear" much
better than others;and some
hear certain thingsbetter than they do certain
other things;and that there is a great
of
Googk
Memoby
104
difference in the grades and degreesof
of
''Great
the
things heard
As
differences exist among
Kay
ory
mem-
says:
individnals
with
regard to the acnteness of this sense
(hearing)and some possess it in greaterperfection
in certain directions than
in others.
One whose hearingis good for sound
in eral
genfor musical
yet have but littleear
tones ; and, on the other hand,one with a good
for music may yet be deficient as regards
ear
hearingin general.'*The secret of this is to
be found in the degree of interest and attention
bestowed
the particularthing
upon
may
givingforth the sound.
It is a fact that the mind
est
will hear the faint-
thingsin which is centered
while at the same
time
interest and attention,
ignoringthingsin which there is no interest
sounds
from
and to which
the attention is not turned.
A
sleepingmother will awaken at the sligh^test
whimper from her babe, while the rumbling
the
the street,or even
of a heavy wagon
on
dischargeof a gun in the neighborhoodmay
tect
not be noticed by her. An engineerwill dedifference in the whir or
the slightest
hum
of his engine,while failingto notice a
Googk
Memoby
106
the message;
and^ in
cases^ the mood
some
or
temper of the person
men
it. Traintransmitting
and steamboat
ences
men
recognizethe differbetween every engine or boat on their
line,or river,as the case may be. A skilled
ing
physicianwill detect the faint sounds denottrouble or a
heart murmur
a respiratory
in the patients. And
yet these very
ences
peoplewho are able to detect the faint differin sound, above mentioned,are often
known
as
*'poor hearers'* in other things.
Why?
Simply because they hear only that in
which they are interested,
and to which their
**
'^
attention
whole
secret
is all
seen
poor
the
been
a
matter
of interest and
use
is the
attention" the
upon
these
of the will in the direction of voluntary
some
that many
are
That
principles.
view of the facts just stated,
it will be
'*
and
that the remedy for "poor hearing,
of thingsheard is to be found in
memory
depend
attention and
that
directed.
secret,and in it is also to be found the
of trainingof the ear-perception.
It
details
In
has
interest.
authorities go
cases
of
so
So true is this
far
as
to claim
supposed slightdeafness
reallybut the result
of lack of attention
Googk
Training
concentration
and
so
troubled.
Kay
the
Eab
107
the part of the person
on
says: **W]iat is
commonly
is not
called deafness
infrequentlyto be atthe sounds beingheard
itxibutedto this canse"
but not being interpretedor
recognized.
sounds may be distinctly
heard when
itheattention is directed toward them, that in
ordinary circumstances would be imperceptible;
and people often fail to hear what is
said to them because they are not paying attention.
Harvey says : That one-half of the
.
.
.
* '
* *
that exists is the result of inatten^-
deafness
tion cannot
be doubted/*
have
who
persons
listeningto
some
heard
but
not had
words
Kirkes
the
are
but few
experienceof
bore,whose words were
the meaning of which
entirelylost because
interest
There
tinctly
diswas
of inattention and lack of
sums
the matter
up
in these
two
hearingwe must distinguish
different points"the audible sensation as it is
ence,
developed without any intellectual interferform
in
and the conception which we
:
**In
consequence
The
reason
of that sensation.**
that many
persons
thingsthat they have heard
because
theyhave
not
do not
member
re-
is
simply
listened properly.Poor
Googk
108
Memoby
is
listening
far
more
at first. A
suppose
will reveal to you
into the bad
listen to
be
than
common
would
one
little self-examination
the fact that you
have fallen
habit of inattention. One
everything,of
advisable.
But
it would
course"
should
one
cannot
habit of either reallylisteningor
not
acquire the
ing
else refus-
to listen at all. The
less
compromise of carelisteningbrings about deplorableresults,
is rfeally
the reason
why so many people
and
**
*t remember*'
can
is all
memories
poor
**
to
they have heard. It
of habit
matter
a
what
of
Persons
who
have
should begin
ear-impressions
listen** in earnest
In order
to
acquire
re-
their lost habit of proper
listening,
exercise voluntary attention and
must
they
develop interest
followingsuggestions
be useful in that direction.
may
to memorize
Try
words
in conversation"
you
one, at
made
a
that
spoken to
few sentences,
or even
thing when
or
concentration
a
of the
you
lecturer.
are
are
will find that the effort
to fasten the sentence
the words
actor
You
time.
a
will result in
on
The
on
your
memory
of the attention
speaker. Do the same
listeningto a preacher,
Pick out the first sentence
Googk
Training
for
your
and
memoriziiigy
memory
and
ears
endeavor
if you
as
up
109
mind
your
that
pression
to receive the im-
wax
steel to retain it. Listen to
the stray scraps
to your
make
will be
as
Eab
the
while
of conversation
that
come
and
walking on the street,
to memorize
a
sentence
two,
or
as
repeat it later in the day.
flections
Study the various tones, expressionsand inin the voices of persons speaking to
you"
were
you
will find this most
You
helpfuL
to
will be
and
interesting
surprisedat the details
analysiswill reveal.
footstepsof different persons
them"
between
to distinguish
Get some
to
one
peculiarities.
two of poetry or prose to you,
that such
to remember
it. A
Listen to the
and
endeavor
each
read
and
has
a
its
line
then
or
deavor
en-
littlepracticeof
of
this kind will greatly develop the power
voluntary attention to" sounds and spoken
words.
But
above
everything else,practice
repeatingthe words and sounds that you have
memorized, so far as is possible"for by so
doing you will get the mind into the habit of
takingan interest in sound impressions. In
of
this way
you not only improve the sense
but also the facultyof remembering.
"hearing,
Googk
Memoby
110
If you will analyze,
and boil down the above
remarks and directions,
you will find that the
gistof the whole matter is that one should
actuallyuse, employ and exercise the mental
facultyof hearing,activelyand intelligently.
Nature has a way
of putting to sleep,or
atrophying any facultythat is not used or
exercised;and also of encouraging,developing
and strengtheningany facultythat is
properly employed and exercised. In this
you have the secret.
well,you
that which
will hear
you
Use it. If you will listen
well and remember
well
have heard.
Googk
XL
CHAPTEE
HOW
The
BEMEMBEB,
TO
of
phase
remembrance
recollection
or
than
of the
are
On
subject
are
to recall the
name
of
undoubtedly
and
professional
and,
on
the
struggle
a
are
this
phase
a
more
number
than
the
business
persons;
many
many
* *
:
The
passing
who
that there
seem
deficient
in any
other.
of
memory
most
in the
persons
of persons
than
which
of persons
with
It would
of memory
subject with
of persons
names
of
aided
has
said
they feel
hand, the ability to recall
success.
has
found
escaped them.
the
success
greater number
Holbrook
a
for
whom
has
name
interferes
other
readily
names
phases
to be
are
one
remember
to
of
majority
by their failure
some
whose
but
failure
This
all hands
fiie
ably
prob-
names
associated
of the
embarassed
people who
they know,
of
to the
interest
any
with
comieoted
memory
is of greater
persons
NAMES.
names
must
persons
.
or
As
is
have
.The
interest.
never
in
.
rarely forget
111
Googk
112
a
Memoby
is
name
exceedinglysmall,the number
those who
have
a
large. The
very
poor
by effort.
a
be increased
may
ter
matcome
over-
satisfied myself
by experienceand observation
names
be
it may
case
.1 have
.
.
is
for this is partly a de-
reason
of habit. In either
for
for them
memory
development and partly a
feet of mental
of
that
not
a
memory
only two, but
hundredfold/'
You
men
names
will find that the
have
been
an
successful
able to recall the faces
of those with
and it is
!tact,
majorityof
and
in conthey came
interestingsubjectfor speculation
whom
just how much of their success
due to this faculty. Socrates is said to
was
have easilyremembered
of all of
the names
sands
thouhis students,and his classes numbered
of a year.
in the course
Xenophon is
as
to
said to have known
the
name
of every
one
of
his soldiers,which
shared by
faculty was
Washington and Napoleon, also. Trajan is
said to have
known
the
names
torian
of all the Prae-
cles
Guards, numbering about 12,000.Periknew
the face
and
name
of the citizens of Athens.
have
known
the
names
of every
Cineas
one
is said to
of all the citizens of
Googk
114
Memoby
in
qualities
is believed to be the
names
obstacle and
Fuller
difficulty.
^^A proper
matter:
noun,
or
pal
princiof this
says
when
name,
sidered
con-
independentlyof accidental features
of coincidence with something that is familiar,
doesn't mean
anything; for this reason
mental
a
picture of it is not easilyformed,
which accounts
for the fact that the primitive,
tedious way
of rote, or
repetition,is that
ordinarily employed to impress a proper
noun
the memory,
on
while
a
common
noun,
being represented by some
object having
in the physicalor mental
shape, or appearance,
can
perception,
in other
formed
words
and
the
a
thus be
mental
name
through associatingit
We
seen
or
image
imagined:
of it
can
be
identified afterwards,
with
think that the
case
this mental
is
age/'
im-
fullystated
in this
quotation.
But in spiteof this difficulty,
persons have
of
and
can
greatly improve their memory
cient
names.
originally
Many who were
very defiin this respect have not only improved
the faculty far beyond its former
condition,
also developed exceptionalability
but have
that they
so
in this special
phase of memory
Googk
To Remember
became
of the
for their
noted
JTames
unfailingrecollection
of those with whom
names
llS
in
they came
contact.
Perhaps
the best way
the various methods
impress npon
that may
be used
be to relate to you
would
purpose
to
experience of
for this
the actual
gentleman employed
a
you
in
a
largecities of this country,
who
made
close study of the subject and
a
developed himself far beyond the ordinary.
for
Startingwith a remarkably poor memory
bank
in
he is
names,
**the
of the
one
who
man
never
gentleman first took
*^
in secret
to his associates
known
now
methods"
forgetsa
a
of
number
of
name.'*
*^
as
This
courses'*
developing the
ory;
mem-
but after thus
he
spendingmuch money
expressed his disgustwith the whole idea of
artificial memory
training. He then started
in to study the subjectfrom the point-of-view
of The New
Psychology, puttinginto effect
and improving
all of the tested principles,
upon
of conversations
number
and have
many
of their details. We
some
of
found
our
own
have
had
a
with this
gentleman,
that his experienceconfirms
ideas and theories,
and the
fact that he has demonstrated
the correctness
Googk
116
Mbmoey
of the
to
principles
renders
the
'*
his
case
one
direction
method"
of
who
degree
wish
to
develop
names.
gentleman, whom
X.," decided that
remarkable
a
worthy of being stated in
affording a guide and
others
for
their memory
The
of
such
shall call **Mr.
we
the first thing for him
to do
develophis facultyof receivingclear
and distinct sound impressions.In doing this
he followed the plan outlined by us in our
He persechapter on
Training the Ear."
vered
and practicedalong these lines until
his
hearing" became very acute. He made
until he could classify
them
a study of voices,
and analyze their characteristics. Then
he
to
was
**
*'
found
that he could %ear
in
names
a
manner
impossibleto him. That is,instead of
sound
of a name,
merely catching a vague
he would hear it so clearlyand distinctly
that
would be obtained on the
a firm registration
before
records
of his memory.
his life
names
him.
He
paid
the first time in
For
began
to
mean
attention
to
heard,justas he did
would
He
repeat a
hearing it,and would
to every
name
thus
something
every
name
to
he
note he handled.
himself, after
strengthenthe imto
Googk
To
If
pression.
he would
Eemembeb
he
Names
across
came
write
it down
117
unusual
an
several
times,
at the first opportunity,thus obtaining the
benefit of a double sense
impression,adding
impression. All this,
eye impression to ear
of course, aroused his inteerst in the subject
name,
of
in
names
step in his
Mr.
general,which
led him
to the next
progress.
their
began to study n^mes,
their differences,
origin,their peculiarities,
pointsof resemblances,etc. He made a hobby
of names, and evinced all the joy of a collector
when he was
able to stick the pin of attention
and unfamiliar
through the specimen of a new
He
species of name.
began to collect
just as others collect beetles,stamps,
names,
lection
coins,etc.,and took quite a pride in his coland in his knowledge of the subject.
from the libraries,
He read books on names,
giving their origin,etc. He had the Dickens*
delightin ** queer'*names, and would amuse
his friends by relatingthe funny names
he
had
X.
seen
then
on
signs,and otherwise.
small
City Directory home
would
run
looking up
over
new
He
took
a
with
him, and
in the evening,
the pages
and classifyingold
names,
Googk
Memoby
118
into groups.
ones
He
found that
some
names
derived from
animals,and put these into
class by themselves"
the Lyons, Wolfs,
a
Foxes, Lambs, Hares, etc. Others were
put
were
into the color group"
Blacks,Greens,Whites,
Others
belonged to the
Greys, Blues, etc.
bird family" Crows, Hawks, Birds, Drakes,
Cranes, Doves, Jays, etc. Others belonged
sters,
to trades" Millers,Smiths, Coopers, Malters
Carpenters,Bakers, Painters,etc Othtrees" Chestnuts,Oakleys,Walnuts,
were
Hills
Pines, etc. Then there were
Cherrysi,
and
Dales ; Fields and
Some
Brooks.
Gay; others
so
what
that
came
near
Strong;
Savage; others
were
were
It would
on.
take
found
man
Mountains
whole
a
out
; Lanes
others
But
for
results,
to
an
very
names,
He
at
for
And
to tell you
He
names.
*'
crank"
becoming a
his hobby began to
were
Noble.
book
about
and
on
the subject.
manifest
his interest had been
cellent
ex-
ened
awak-
ing
degree,and he was becomproficientin his recollection of
they now meant something to him.
unusual
easilyrecalled all the regular customers
his bank," quite a number
by the way for
the bank
was
a
largeone"
and many
occasion-
Googk
To
al
Remember
by
he
would
by
name
to
times
until he had
never
escaped him.
X. would
Mr.
it
case
it
sionally
Occathat
name
a
he would
write
himself,and
friend.
our
with
meet
balked him, in which
over
selves
them-
delighted to have
depositorswere
called
119
Names
repeat it
of
number
a
it" after that it
mastered
always repeat a
when
name
time
spoken, and would at the same
look intentlyat the person
bearing it,thus
seeming to fix the two together in his mind
time" when he wanted
them they
at the same
was
would
be found
He
in each other's company.
also
the name
acquiredthe habit of visualizing
"that is,he would see its letters in his mind's
a
picture. This he regarded as a
eye, as
most
important point, and we
thoroughly
agree with him.
He
used the Law
in the direction of
with
name.
a
associatinga
well-remembered
A
Mr.
new
be associated with
an
of
man
new
man
the
same
Schmidtzenberger would
of the
old customer
would
the
name"
when
he
would
think
of the old one,
would
flash into his mind.
whole
of Association
see
new
and
To
method, however, it may
sum
same
he
man,
the
name
up
the
be said that
Googk
Memoey
120
gistof the thingwas in takingan interest
in names
in general. In this way an uninteresting
made
subjectwas
interesting"and a
for the things
inan always has a good memory
the
in which
The
he is interested.
of Mr.
case
X. is
the results obtained
if you
But
book, you
degree
of
may
start
have
them.
no
beyond
will take
work
a
trouble in
This
extreme
were
obtain the
that you
names"
an
a
and
the
nary.
ordi-
leaf from
same
collection" and
developing a
his
results in the
for it. Make
is the whole
one"
a
you
memory
thingin
a
study
will
for
nut-shell.
Googk
MemoeY
122
.
sons, but in
varyingdegrees. Those in whom
it is well developed seem
to recognize the
faces of persons whom
they have met years
cumstances
before,and to associate them with the cirin which they last met them, even
where
the
name
the memory.
escapes
Others
it passes
forget a face the moment
view, and fail to recognizethe same persons
to
seem
from
whom
they met
only a
in contact
with
few hours
before,
much
to their mortification and chagrin.
and others
Detectives,
reporters,
newspaper
who
ally
people,usuhave this facultylargelydeveloped,for it
becomes
their
a necessityof their work, and
come
interest
and
is
attention
thereby. Public men
largelydevelopedby
many
rendered
often have
this
forgot the
and
met
facultyrendered
life.
In
Clay,who
with
him
a
very
this respect he
was
noted
a
on
an
few hours
to
a
This
popular in political
resembled
Henry
for his memory
once
small town
tour.
electioneering
he had
few moments.
It is related of Clay that he
of
G. Blaine
whom
face of anyone
conversed
faculty
of the necessities
reason
of their life. It is said that James
never
active
in
Amidst
of faces.
paid a visit
Mississippi,
the throng
Googk
To
Eemembee
Faces
123
surroundinghim was an old man, with one eye
missing. The old fellow pressed forward crying
out that he was
that Henry Clay
sure
would remember
him. Clay took a sharp look
said: **I met you in Kentucky
at him and
Yes, replied
years ago, did I not ?
many
"
the
**Did
man.
then?*'
lose
you
* *
* *
your
eye
asked
Clay. **Yes,
after,''replied the old man.
face side-ways,so that I can see
several
since
years
**Turn
your
' '
profile,
Then
Clay
your
said
did so.
Clay. The man
smiled,triumphantly,saying:**I've got you
weren't you on that jury in the Innes
now"
at Frankfort, that I tried in the United
case
States Court over
Yes
twenty years ago ?
"
**
siree!"
that
know
And
**I knowed
said the man,
me, 'n I told 'em you would."
crowd
was
gave
a
whoop,
and
safe in that town
Clay
and
knew
ye
the
that he
county.
is
Vidocq,the celebrated French detective,
inal
said to have never
forgottena face of a crimhe had
whom
once
of this power
the
case
over
on
of Delafranche
from
for
seen.
A celebrated instance
his part is that of
the forger who
caped
es-
prison and dwelt in foreignlands
twenty years.
After that time he
re-
Googk
124
Memoey
turned to Paris feelingsecure
detection,
from
ing
having become bald,losingan eye, and havhis nose
guised
badly mutilated. Moreover he dishimself and wore
to
a beard, in order
stillfurther evade detection. One day Vidocq
and recognized
him at
met him on the street,
ing.
once, his arrest and return to prison followInstances
of this kind
could
be multiplied
but the student will have
indeJBnitely,
had
suflScient acquaintancewith persons
a
who possess this facultydeveloped to a large
degree,so that further illustration is scarcely
necessary.
The
develop this phase of memory
is aJdn to that urged in the development of
and
other phases" the cultivation of interest,
to
way
the bestowal
of attention.
Faces
as
a
whole
It is only by
interesting.
them that the study
analyzingand classifying
The study
begins to grow of interest to us.
not
are
apt
to prove
good elementary work on physiognomy
is recommended
to those wishing to develop
the facultyof remembering faces,for in such
of
a
a
work
the student
kinds
of noses,
ent
is led to notice the differheads,
chins,foreand recognitiontend-
ears,
etc.,such notice
eyes,
Googk
Kemembeb
To
ing
to induce
features.
Faces
interest in the
an
A
rudimentary course
in
drawing faces, particularly
also tend to make
a
nose,
apt to
The
over
his
on
**take notice'* and will
requiredto
are
draw
of interest is vital. If you
were
told that the next time you
recognized him he would hand you
a
and
man
and
met
subjectof
of study in
profile,will
from memory,
particularly
you will be
give to it your interested attention.
matter
shown
one
interest. If you
awaken
125
$500, you would be very apt to study
and to recognizehim later
face carefully,
; whereas
as
a
and
the
**Mr.
the
same
man
if introduced
ally
casu-
terest
inno
Jones,''would arouse
chances of recognitionwould
be slim.
Halleck
street
car
says:
see
we
Every
time
we
enter
a
different types of people,
great deal to be noticed about
shows
countenance
each type. Every human
how to look.
its past historyto one who knows
Successful gamblers often become
so
change of an
expert in noticingthe slightest
opponent's facial expressionthat they will
voluntary
estunate the strength of his hand by the inand there is
.
.
a
.
signswhich
appear
in the face and
Googk
126
which
Memory
frequentlychecked the instant they
are
appear/'
Of all classes,
perhaps artists are
to form
a
clear cut
image
more
of the features
apt
of
whom
theymeet"particularlyif they
are
portraitpainters. There are instances of
celebrated portrait
able to
painterswho were
execute
a
good portraitafter having once
their
carefullystudied the face of the sitter,
tures
enabling them to visualize the feamemory
persons
at will.
Some
celebrated
teachers
of
drawing have instructed their scholars to take
a sharp hasty glance at a nose, an
eye, an ear,
visualize it that
or chin,and then to so clearly
ter
they could draw it perfectly.It is all a matof interest,
attention,and practice. Sir
Francis
Galton cites the instance of
teacher who
trained his
a
French
pupilsso thoroughly
in this direction that after
a
few
months'
in summoning
practicethey had no difficulty
images at will ; in holding them steady; and in
ulty
drawing them correctly.He says of the facof visualization thus used: **A faculty
tic
that is of importance in all technical and artisto our
occupations,that gives accuracy
perceptions,and justiceto our generaliza-
Googk
To
Faces
Eemembbb
127
tions,is starred by lazy disuse,instead
of being
judiciouslyin such a way as
I
will,on the whole, bring the best return.
believe that a serious study of the best means
of developing and utilizing
out
withthis faculty,
prejudice to the practice of abstract
thought in symbols, is one of the many pressing
science
desiderata
in the yet unformed
cultivated
of education/*
Fuller relates the method
painter,which
by
He
and
has been
celebrated
since
taught
relates
it
follows:
as
**The
ory.
mem-
brated
cele-
painterLeonardo da Vinci invented a
ingenious method for identifyingfaces,
by it is said to have been able to reproduce
from
memory
any
carefullyscrutinized.
forms
ears
a
teachers of both drawing and
many
most
method
of
face that he had
He
drew
once
all the possible
of the nose,
mouth, chin, eyes,
them 1, 2, 3, 4,
and forehead,numbered
ory;
etc.,and committed them thoroughlyto memhe saw
face that
a
then, whenever
wished
to draw
or
noted in his mind
nose
5,ears
might
be"
6," or
and
paint from
that it was
whatever
memory,
chin 4, eyes
he
he
2,
the combinations
by retainingthe analysisin
Googk
128
Memoby
his memory
lie oonld reconstruct the face at
could scarcelyask the student
any time.'' We
attempt so complicated a system, and
to
yet
a
That
modification
is,if you
of it would
would
of several
begin to
kind
usefuL
prove
form
of noses,
a
say
fication
classiabout
the well-known
cian,
Boman, Jewish, Grenection
giving you the general classes,in conwith straight,
crooked, pug and all
the other varieties,
soon
recognize
you would
seven,
noses
when
mouths,
the
a
you
few
majorityof
them.
saw
classes
And
being found
same
to
with
cover
of all the features,
But
cases.
the
the eye is the most
and the one
expressive,
noticed.
most easilyremembered, when clearly
Detectives rely much upon the expressionof
tUe eye. If you ever
fullycatch the eoopression of a person's eye, you will be very apt to
trate
concenrecognizeit thereafter. Therefore
on
eyes in studying faces.
A good plan in developing this facultyis to
of persons you have met
velop
during the day, in the evening. Try to devisualize the faces
the facultyof visualizingthe features
of those whom
off
right.
you
Draw
know"
them
this will start you
in
your
mind"
see
Googk
CHAPTER
HOW
There
TO
is
of
degrees
EEMEMBEB
miad,
of
degree
has
that
been
the
**
of
where
on
a
ability to
desire
to
of
define
the
**
find them.'*
to have
place
or
places,
found,
"mixed
almost
an
and
the
have
in whom
Persons
to
and
of
of objects;
to be
are
zance
Cogni-
looks
the location
ideas
see.
faculty is developed
lost
and
page
in question.
position generally; the geographical
the
seem
follows:
the
which
use
faculty
recollection
scenery,
upon
phrenology
on
locality as
place;
places, roads,
and
the
upon
authorities
faculty
of
depends
of
faculty
or
attention, interest, and
The
ences
differ-
directlyto the degree
in turn
bestowed
of locality''
these
particular phase
which
various
sense
But
persons.
be traced
of
in the
of **the
development
may
of the
PLACES.
great difference
a
in different
memory
Xm.
ulty;
facthe
this
highest degree
intuitive
idea
position. They
up'' regarding
of
never
direction
rection,
di-
get
or
130
Googk
Eemembeb
To
place. They remember
Places
the places they visit
their relation in space
and
Their
minds
are
131
like maps
to
each
npon
other.
which
are
jects
engraved the varions roads, streets and obof sightin every direction. When
these
people think of China, Labrador, Terra del
Fuego,Norway, Cape of Good Hope, Thibet,
to think of it in
or any other place,they seem
^^thisdirection
or
that direction'' rather than
placesituated in a vague direction.
Their minds
think
north, south, east or
west'' as the case may be when they consider
a given place. Shading down
by degreeswe
find people at the other pole of the faculty
who seem
to find it impossibleto remember
relation in space.
or locality
or
any direction,
Such people are constantlylosingthemselves
in their own
selves
towns, and fear to trust themin a strange place. They have no sense
of direction,
or place,and fail to recognizea
which they have visited restreet or scene
cently,
eled
not to speak of those which they travin time past. Between
these two
over
poles or degrees there is a vast differenxje,
as
a
vague
**
and
it is difScult to realize that it is all a matter
of use, interest and
attention.
That
it is
Googk
Memoby
132
but this may
be proven by anyone who will
take the trouble and pains to develop ihe
of locality
within his
facultyand memory
mind.
Many have done this,and anyone else
may
do likewise if the proper methods
be
ployed.
em-
The secret of the
developmentof the faculty
of place and locality
and memory
is akin to
that mentioned
in the precedingchapter,in
connection with the development of the memory
is
for names.
The first thing necessary
to develop an interest in the subject. One
should begin to **take notice" of the direction
of the streets or roads over which he travels;
the landmarks; the turns of the road; the
natural objectsalong the way.
He should
study maps, until he awakens a new interest
in them, just as did the man
who used the
directoryin order to take an interest in
He should procure a small geography
names.
and studydirection,
distances,
location,
shape
and form of countries,
not as a mere
chanical
meetc.,
thingbut as a live subjectof interest.
If there were
of money
a large sum
awaiting
your coming in certain sections of the globe,
you
would
manifest
a
decided interest in the
Googk
Eemembeb
To
Plages
133
of those places,
and position
direction,
locality
and the best way to reach them.
Before long
you
wonld
be
those
sweetheart
place, yon
were
veritable reference
a
specialplaces. Or, if
waiting for yon in some
wonld
do
likewise.
thinglies in the degree of
the matter.
book
**want
Desire awakens
The
garding
re-
yonr
snch
whole
regarding
terest
interest;into'*
attention
employs attention; and
fore
Therebringsnse, developmentand memory.
ulty
you must first wcmt to develop the fac**hard
of
want
to
Locality" and
matter of detail.
enough. The rest is a mere
One of the firstthingsto do, after arousing
is to carefully
note the landmarks
an
interest,
of the streets or roads
and relative positions
which you travel. So many
over
peopletravel
road in an
absentstreet or
along a new
minded
taking no notice of the lay
manner,
of the land as they proceed. This is fatal to
place-memory. You must take notice of ttie
thoroughfares and the thingsalong the way.
Pause at the cross roads,or the street-comers
and note the landmarks, and the general
until they
directions and relative positions,
are
firmlyimprintedon your nund. Begin to
' '
Googk
134
Mbmoby
how
see
things you
many
even
when
you
trip in
little exercise
a
have
your
returned
mind, and
direction and how
and
endeavor
how
over
go
to make
a
you
pencil,
out your
of your
map
the
of the
much
of the landmarks
Take
garding
re-
And
walk.
home,
see
many
able to remember.
are
remember
can
route,
and noting the
givingthe general directions,
and principalobjectsof interest.
street names,
Fix the idea of
**
North''
in your
mind
starting,and keep your bearings by it
during your whole trip,and in your map
making. You will be surprised how much
interest you will soon
develop in this mapmaking. It will get to be quite a game, and
ing
you will experiencepleasure in your increaswhen
in it. When
proficiency
walk, go in a round-about
you
go out for
a
taking as
in order
turns and twists as possible,
many
and direction"but
to exercise your facultyof locality
always note carefullydirection and
general course, so that you may reproduceit
correctlyon your map when you return. If
it with your
compare
you have a citymap,
own
in
littlemap,
and
way,
also re-trace your
the
on
imagination,
map.
With
a
route,
citymap.
Googk
To
Eemembeb
135
Places
road-map,you may get lots of amusement
neys.
by re-travelingthe route of your littlejouror
Always
note
the
of
names
the
various
which you travel,
as well as those
which you cross duringyour walk.
Note them
down
upon your map, and you will find that
streets
you
over
will
develop a rapidly improving
in this direction" because
interest and
a
pride in
your
bestowed
map
ory
mem-
awakyou have ened
attention. Take
making.
If you
have
a
companion, endeavor to beat each other at
this game"
both traveling
the same
route
over
member
together,and then seeingwhich one can rethe greatest number
of details of the
journey.
Akin
this,and
supplementary to it,is
the plan of selectinga route to be traveled,
on
city map,
endeavoring to fix in
your
the general directions,names
mind
your
of
streets, turns, return
journey, etc.,
before you start
Begin by mapping out a
short trip in this way, and then increase it
every day. After mapping out a trip,lay
to
aside your
you
map
and
travel it in person.
like,take along the
map
and
If
puzzle out
Googk
136
Memoby
from
variations,
Get the map
possiblevariation and form,
iime to time.
habit in every
but do not depend upon the map
exdusively;
but instead,endeavor to correlate the printed
map
with the mental
in your
If you
map
ing
build-
are
brain.
are
about
to take
strangeplace,studyyour
you
that you
go, and
journey to a
fore
carefullybe-
a
maps
exercise your
memory
in
reproducingthem with a pencil. Then as you
travel along,compare
placeswith your map,
and
you
new
will find that you
interest in the
will take
an
tirely
en-
trip"it will begin
by meaning something to you. If about to
of it before
visit a strange city,procure
a map
and beginby noting the cardinal
starting,
the
points of the compass,
study the map"
directions of the principalstreets and the
relative positions
of the principalpoints of
etc. In this way
buildings,
interest,
you not
of places, aad
only develop your memory
render yourselfproof againstbeing lost,
but
of new
and great
you also provide a source
interest in your visit.
The above suggestionsare
capable of the
greatest expansionand variation
on
the
part
Googk
Memoby
138
she
forced to **wake up and take notice.'*
was
She
compelled to
was
travel for
a
couple of
in order
years,
matters
to close up certain business
for she was
of her husband's"
a good
business
in
woman
spiteof her
lack of development
along this one line" and in order
forced to take
to get around safely,she was
interest in where she was
an
going. Before
the two years' travels were
as
over, she was
good a traveler as her husband had ever been,
and was
frequentlycalled upon as a guide by
others in whose
company
she chanced
to be.
She
explained it by saying **Why, I don't
know
justhow I did it" I justhad to,that's
all" I just did it." Another
example of a
What this good
's * * because,' ' you see.
woman
lady **justdid," was
accomplished by an
instinctive following of the plan which we
She **justhad to"
have suggested to you.
use
maps
whole
and
to **take notice."
That
is the
story.
So true
the
principles
underlyingthis
method of developingtiieplace-memory, that
deficient in it,providinghe will arouse
one
velop
deintense interest and will stick to it,may
the faculty to such an extent that he
are
-
Googk
To
may
Bemembeb
Places
almost rival the cat which
**
139
always
came
back,''or the dog which **you conldn't lose.''
The Indians,Arabs, Gypsies and other people
of the
plain,forest,
desert,and mountains,
have this facultyso highlydeveloped that it
seems
ahnost
this matter
like
an
extra
sense.
It is all
takingnotice" sharpened by
continnons need, nse
and exercise,
to a high
degree. The mind will respond to the need
if the person like thp lady,**jnst9ia$ to."
The
laws
of
**
of Attention and
will
activelycalled into play
by Interest or need,followed by exercise and
There is no magic in the process" just
nse.
**want to" and "keep at it,"that's all. Do
termination
to hard enough" have you the deyou want
to keep at itt
work
wonders
Association
when
Googk
CHAPTER
HOW
The
of
XIV.
BEMEMBEB
TO
NUMBEBS.
faxjnltyof Number"
kaowing,
in
each
abstract
differs
other,
ease,
while
attraction
not
are
To
best
the
by
memorizing
of
is the
difficult
most
But
memory.
been
of
faculty
almost
and
of
ferent
dif-
among
and
remembered
possess
terest,
in-
no
consequently
It is generally
of
any
that
all agree
that
and
the
the
developed
;
and
started
with
developing
faculty
to
a
instances
an
an
of
may
There
this
having
persons
other
etc.,
phases
interest.
of
mind
the
the
instances
then
to
dates, figures, numbers,
incredible
having
ures
fig-
relation
authorities
developed by practice
have
they
apt to be remembered.
admitted
be
and
affinity,and
or
faculty
figures
some,
others
to
their
materially
very
apprehended
are
is the
remembering
in
and
individuals.
with
and
recognizing
the
numbers
that
aversion
interest
degree
of persons
to
ures
fig-
which
140
Googk
Remember
To
Numbebs
141
resulted in their
of
acquiringa remarkable
proficiency
along these lines.
gree
de-
of the celebrated mathematicians
Many
and
memories
developed wonderful
figures. Herschel is said to have been
astronomers
for
all the details of intricate
able to remember
his
in
calculations
to the
even
It is said that he
was
astronomical
figures of
able to
tions,
computa-
the
fractions.
perform
the most
intricate calculations mentally, without
of pen
use
or
pencil,and
then dictated
the
to his
assistant the entire details of the process,
the final results.
Tycho Brahe,
cluding
inthe
astronomer,also possesseda
similar memory.
It is said that he rebelled at
being compelled
to refer to the
square
and
to memorize
cube
printed tables of
roots,and set to work
the entire set of
task he
tables,which
accomplished in a
required the memorizmg
and
and
memorized
to
day"
being
became
unable
them.
to refer to his
It is said that he
from
Euler
blind in his old
one
to
one
tables,
was
repeat from recollection the firstsix
of all the numbers
this
ures,
75,000 fig-
over
their relations to each other.
the mathematician
age,
of
ible
incred-
almost
half
roots
able
powers
hundred.
Googk
Memoby
142
Wallis
the matliematician
in this respect. He
was
a
prodigy
reportedto have been
is
able to
mentallyextract the square root of a
number
to forty decimal places,and on one
occasion mentally extracted the cube root of
a number
consistingof thirtyfigures. Dase
is said to have mentally multiplied
two numbers
of one
hundred
figureseach. A youth
named
able to perform the
Mangiamele was
remarkable
most
The
feats in mental
reports show that
before
a
celebrated test
of the French
members
Sciences he
upon
arithmetic.
Academy
of
able to extract the cube root
was
3,796,416in thirtyseconds ; and the tenth
in three minutes.
He also
root of 282,475,289
solved the followingquestionput
inunediately
has the
number
to him by Arago: **What
followingproportion: That if five times the
the cube
be subtracted from
number
plus
five times the square of the number, and nine
of
of the number
times
the square
from
that result,the remainder
The
answer,
**5''
putting down
board.
It is related that
was
able to
will be Of
given immediately,
figure on paper or
was
without
bank
be subtracted
a
a
cashier of
a
cago
Chi-
mentally restore the
Googk
To
accounts
Bemembek
of the
Numbebs
bank, which
143
had
stroyed
de-
been
in the great fire in that city,and his
account
the
which
was
was
depositors,
accepted by the
found
to agree
perfectly
with
the other memoranda
work
performed by him being solelythe
of his memory.
Bidder was
and
bank
in the case,
able to tell instantly
the
the
work
ber
num-
of
of "868,42s,121d.
farthingsin the sum
Buxton
of
mentally calculated the number
cubical eighths of an inch there were
in a
23,145,789yards long,2,quadrangularmass
ness.
642,732yards wide and 54,965yards in thickHe
also figured out mentally, the
dimensions of an irregularestate of about a
thousand acres, giving the contents in acres
and perches, then reducing them
to square
breadths,
inches,and then reducingthem to square hairestimating2,304to the square inch,
48 to each side. The mathematical
prodigy,
Zerah Colburn,was
able
perhaps the most remarkof these
of any
remarkable
people.
When
a mere
child,he began to develop,the
of mind regarding figmost amazing qualities
ures.
He was
able to instantly
make the mental
calculation of the exact number
of seconds
Googk
Memory
144
or
minutes
occasion
and
there
was
in
he calculated
a
given time. On
the number
one
of minutes
in
forty-eight
years,
the answer:
25,228,800minutes, and 1,513,taneously.
728,000seconds,'*being given almost instanHe could instantlymultiplyany
number
of one
to three figures,
by another
of
number
number
consistingof the same
consisting
figures;the factors of any number
of six or seven
figures; the square, and cube
of any numbers
roots,and the prime numbers
given him. He mentally raised the number
8, progressively,to its sixteenth power, the
result being 281,474,976,710,656;
and gave
the square root of 106,929,which was
5. He
mentally extracted the cube root of 268,336,and 1,224,125 ; and the squares of 244,999,755
998,755. In five seconds he calculated the
the
cube root of 413,993,348,677.He found
factors of 4,294,967,297,
which had previously
He
been considered to be a prime number.
of 999,999,
mentally calculated the square
which is 999,998,000,001
and then miltiplied
that number
by 49, and the product by the
same
number, and the whole by 25" "iielatter
seconds
contained
*'
^s extra measure?
Googk
146
Memoby
nranber
of
but you
may
the
a
certain store
or
house
the
easily remember
words
is 3948,
sound
of
**
thirty-nine
forty-eight,''
or the form of **3948'' as it appeared to your
sighton the door of the place. In the latter
spoken
case, you
and
when
associate the number
you
with
visualize the door
the door
ize
visual-
you
the number.
the reor
production
Kay, speaking of visualization,
of mental images of thingsto be
Those
who have been
remembered, says:
distinguishedfor their power to carry out
lation
long and intricate processes of mental calcu**
owe
**
Children
it to the
same
accustomed
cause.
to
Taine
calculate
heads write mentally with chalk
board
' '
on
an
says
:
in their
ary
imagin-
the figuresin question,then
all
partialoperations,then the final smn, so
the different lines of
that they see internally
white figureswith which they are concerned.
been at school
Young Colburn,who had never
how to read or write,said
and did not know
that,when making his calculations *he saw
them clearly
before him.' Another said that he
he was
the numbers
saw
working with as if
Bidder
they had been written on a slate.'
their
*
"
Googk
To
said
* *
If I
Eemembeb
Numbebs
147
it always
mentally,
deed,
proceeds in a visible form in my mind; inI can
conceive of no other way possible
of doing mental arithmetic.'*
We have koown
officeboys who could never
:
remember
perform a
the number
sum
of
address
an
until it
distinctlyrepeated to them several
times" then they memorized
and
the sound
never
forgetit. Others forget the sounds, or
failed to registerthem in the mind, but after
the door of an
on
once
seeing the number
office or store,could repeat it at a moments
notice,saying that they mentally could see
the figureson the door.'^ You will find by a
littlequestioningthat the majority of people
remember
figuresor numbers in thisVay,and
were
**
that very
few
can
remember
them
abstract
as
things. For that matter it is difficultfor the
ber,
majority of persons to even think of a numabstractly.Try it yourself,and
whether
ber
as
mental
either
image
you
a
do not remember
sound
or
of words, or
visualization
tain
ascer-
the
else
of the
nmnas
the
form of
figures. And, by the way, which ever it
happens to be, sightor sound, that particular
the
kind
of remembrance
is your
best way
of
Googk
148
Mi^oBT
remembering nranbers, and consequently
gives yon the lines upon which you should
proceed to developthis phase of memory.
The
law of Association may
in
we
the number
second
be used
memorizing numbers;
know
of
a
person
who
186,000 (the number
tageously
advanfor
stance
in-
remembered
of miles per
in the ether)
by light-waves
of his
by associatingit with the number
traveled
father's
former
Another
remembered
of
business, **186/'
his telephone number
place
tion
the date of the Declaraby recalling
of Independence. Another, the number
of States in the Union, by associating
it with
of his place
the last two figuresof the number
of business.
But by far the better way
to
connected
memorize
dates, specialnumbers
with events,etc.,
it to visualize the pictureof
the event with the pictureof the date or number,
thus combining the two things into a
mental picture,
the association of which will
the pictureis recalled.
be preserved when
dred
Verse of doggerel,such as **In fourteen hunsailed the
and ninety-two,Columbus
and
ocean
blue;*'or *^In eighteenhundred
sixty-one,our country's Civil war
begun,"
^^876''
Googk
To BeMEMBER
have their placesand uses.
etc.,
better to cultivate the ^' sight or
number, than to depend upon
associative methods
and
149
NuMBEBg
based
But
it is far
sound"
of
a
cumbersome
artificiallinks
on
pegs.
Finally,as we have said in the preceding
before one can develop a good memory
chapters,
of a subject,
he must first cultivate an interest
in that subject. Therefore,if you will
keep your interest in figuresalive by working
in a
out a few problems in mathematics, once
while,you will find that figureswill begin to
have
A
interest for you.
used with
arithmetic,
a
new
to start you
Kemember
Numbers
more
will do
interest,
the road
on
'*
than
tary
littleelemen-
a
to **How
dozen
to
text books
the
the three rules
subject. In memory,
**
are:
Interest,Attention and Exercise""
out
and the last is the most important,for withit the others fail. You will be surprised
to see how many
interesting
thingsthere are
in figures,
as you
proceed. The task of going
on
.
the elementary arithmetic
over
nearly so **dry" as
will
You
uncover
when
all sorts of
in relation to numbers.
let
us
call your
you
will not
were
a
be
child.
**
queer" things
Just as a *' sample"
attention to
a
few:
Googk
150
Memoby
the figure**1'' and placebehind it a
Take
number
of
^'
naughts,'^thus: 1,000,000,000,000," as many
naughts'* or ciphersas you
wish. Then divide the number
by the figure
**7/' You will find that the result is always
this ^^142,857''then another
and
142,857,''
if you wish to carry the calto infinity,
culation
so on
that far. These six figureswill be
ply
repeated over and over again. Then multithis ^^42,857" by. the figure^^7," and
product will be all nines. Then take
your
any number, and set it down, placingbeneath
^^
*'
it
a
reversal
from
the
of itself and
former, thus
subtract
the latter
:
117,761,909
90,916,771
26,845,138
and
reduce
9.
more
sum
will find that the result will
you
nine, and
to
Take
any
number
and
figures,
a
a
composed of
subtract
from
two
or
it the added
and the
separatefigures,
multipleof 9, thus:
of its
always
is always
always
multiple of
result is
Googk
To
Bemembeb
Numbebs
151
184
1+8+4=
13
171-^9=19
We
mention
to remind
in
pose.
them,
these familiar examples merely
you
mere
If you
then you
that there is much
more
figuresthan
many
would
your
interest in
can
arouse
will be well started
terest
of in-
on
sup*
the
road to the
Let figmemorizing of numbers.
ures
and numbers
**mean something''
to you,
and the rest will be merely a matter of detail.
Googk
CHAPTER
HOW
Like
XV.
all of the other
that of music
music
grasped, while
effort
by great
others
difference
music, while
the
soul
others
is manifested
ear,
but
comes
to
playing by
correctly in
retain
a
the memory
heard.
combines
It
is
within
conception of
Then
phases
Others
note.
a
treme
ex-
soul
there
the
of
it
inefficient when
manner,
of music
indeed
recognize
play correctly by
and
meclumical
matter
the very
be.
may
a
some
except in
no
Some
clumsy
are
have
different
the
of music.
knowledge
fail to
to be
of music
To
inharmony
seem
some
acquired only
the two
between
varying
To
labor.
others
Some
cases.
what
it is
much
and
repulsion, while
the
in
instinctively
ahnost
is natural, and
harmony
of
to
mind,
of the
individuals.
be
to
seems
faculties
is manifested
tune
or
degrees by different
of
MUSIC.
REMEMBEB
TO
which
play
but
very
fail to
they have
who
good musician
him-self,or
herself,both
of
153
Googk
154
Memoby
which
in
of
intricacy
of execution
ahnost
are
and
difficulty
unexampled, as each
movement
compositionsis written in the most
abstruse styleof counterpoint.
member
Mozart, at four years of age, could reof these
*'
for note, elaborate solos in
note
which
minuet
short
certos
con-
he had
heard; he could learn a
an
hour, and even
composed
that earlyage. At six he was
in half
piecesat
ment,
able to compose
without the aid of an instruand continued to advance
rapidly in
musical memory
and knowledge. When
years old he went
to Eome
the Sistine
At
teen
four-
Holy Week.
performed each
in
Chapel was
day, Allegri'sMiserere,'the score of whidi
Mozart wished to obtain,but he learned that
He
allowed to be made.
no
copies were
listened attentively
to the performance, at
*
the conclusion
score
an
from
of which
memory
he wrote
without
an
the whole
error.
other
An-
time,Mozart was engaged to contribute
to be performed by a
original
comj)osition
noted
violinist and himself at Vienna
before
Emperor Joseph. On arrivingatjthe
appointed place Mozart discovered that he
had forgotten to bring his part. Nothing
the
Googk
Eemembeb
To
Music
155
dismayed, he pla"3eda blank sheet of paper
before him, and played his part through from
memory
without
of *Don
Giovanni'
mistake.
a
the opera
first performed there
was
the
time to copy
When
for the
harpsichord,
but Mozart
was
equal to the occasion;
he conducted
the entire opera and played the
harpischord accompaniment to the songs and
was
no
choruses
are
without
a
grand
Overture
was
the
the
musical memory.
in
concert
There
*
London,
He
once
at which
his
Night's Dream'
only one copy of
produced. There was
full score, which was
taken charge of by
fortunately
organistof St. Paul's Cathedral,who unleft itin a hackney coach" whereupon
to
Midsummer
Mendelssohn
from
before him.
note
a
sohn's
well-attested instances of Mendels-
many
remarkable
gave
score
without
memory,
time,when
wrote
about
an
out
another
error.
to direct
score
At another
publicperformance
Passion Music,'he found on
of Bach's
stead
mounting the conductor's platform that ina
*
of the
score
of the
that of another
work
to be
formed,
per-
compositionhad been
Without
hesitation
brought by mistake.
Mendelssohn
conducted this oomsuccessfully
Googk
Memoby
156
from
plicatedwork
turning over
automatically
memory,
leaf after leaf of the
score
fore
be-
progressed,so
that no feelingof uneasiness might enter the
minds of the orchestra and singers. Gottseral
sevchalk,it is said,could play from memory
thousand
compositions,
includingmany
The noted conductor,
of the works of Bach.
Vianesi,rarelyhas the score before him in
conductingan opera, knowing every note of
operas from memory.'*
many
It will be seen
that two phases of memory
must
enter into the **memory of music' '"
him
the performance
as
the memory
The
notes.
of tune
and
memory
of tune
of the
the memory
of
falls
course
and what
ear-impressions,
has been said regarding them is also applicable
into the class of
to this
case.
The memory
of notes falls
and
eye-impressions,
of memory
appliesin
into the classificationof
the rules of this class
this
case.
As
to the cultivation of the
of tune, the
principleadvice
is that the student take
an
to be
ory
mem-
given
active interest in
pertainsto the sound of music, and
also takes every opportunityfor listeningto
good music, and endeavoringto reproduce it
all that
Googk
Eemembeb
To
Music
157
in the
Endeavor
to
imaginationor memory.
comes
enter into the spiritof the music until it benot content
a part of yourself. Best
with merely hearingit,but lend yourselfto a
the music
feelingof its meaning. The more
to you,'* the more
means
easilywill you
remember
it. The plan followed by many
dents,
stuthose of vocal music,is to
particularly
have a few bars of a piece played over
to
them several times,until they are able to hum
**
it
correctly;then
then
a
few
must
be
which
was
a
few
and
more
reviewed
more
so
added; and
are
Eadi
on.
in connection
addition
with
that
before,so that the chain of
association may be kept unbroken.
The principle
is the same
the child learninghis
as
A-B-C"
learned
he
remembers
'*A.''
**
By
**B''
because
this constant
it follows
addition
of
quent
just a littlebit more,''accompanied by frereviews,long and difficultpiecesmay
be memorized.
The
the
of notes
memory
method
above
learninga
few
few
and
as
named"
be
developedby
the
method
of
well,and then adding
a
frequentlyreviewing as far
have learned,forgingthe links of as-
more,
you
bars
may
Googk
158
Memory
sociation
along,by frequentpractice.
The method
being entirelythat of
eye-impressionand subjectto its rules,you
must
as
you
go
the idea of visualization" that
observe
is learningeach bax until you
mind's
see
can
it **in
proceed. But in
this,as in many other eye-impressions,
you
will find that you will be greatly aided by
of the sound of the notes, in
your memory
addition to their appearance.
ciate
Try to assothe two as much
that
as
so
possible,
when you see a note,you will hear the sound
of it,and when you Viear a note sounded,you
your
will
see
it
eye'' as
as
you
it appears
on
the
score.
This
combining of the impressions of both sight
and sound will give you the benefit of the
double sense
impression,which results in
In addition
doubling your memory
efficiency.
the notes themselves,the
to visualizing
student
various
should
the appearance
of the
symbols denotingthe key, the time,
the movement,
may
hum
add
expression,etc,
the air from
so
that he
the visualized notes,
tion.
expressionand with correct interpretaChanges of key, time or movement
should be carefullynoted in the memoriza-
with
Googk
To
Eemembbb
tion of the notes.
And
Music
159
above
everythingelse,
memorize the feelingof that particular
tion
porof the score, that you may
not only see
and hear, but also feelthat which you are recalling.
We
would
advise
the student
memorizing simple songs
reasons.
One
of these
at
to
practice
for various
first,
reasons
is that these
readilyto memorizing,
and the chain of easy association is usually
maintained
throughout.
In this phase of memory,
as in all others,
bestow
add the advice to: Take interest;
we
Attention;and Practice and Exercise as often
as
possible. You may have tired of these
words"
but they constitute the main principles
of the development of a retentive memory.
Things must be impressed upon the
be recalled. This
before they may
memory,
songs
lend themselves
should be remembered
in every
consideration
of the^subject.
Googk
CHAPTEB
HOW
The
TO
XVL
BEMEMBEB
phase of
0G0UBBEH0E8.
the recording of and
details
and
far
The
thought.
of
his
of
occurrences
or
to
him
during
how
to prove
really remembered,
this
book,
mind
of
let him
the
will
what
same
be
very
his
happened
let each
with
prised
sur-
that
he
pens
hapIn
how
day
Then
the
lay
is
down
quieting his
then
the incidents
preceding
see
recollecting.
experiment
student
to recall
that
fessional
pro-
little of this kind
of the
on
the
hours.
waking
very
to
him
to
little of what
very
endeavor
day
the
well
is apt to be
place, and
surprised
of
$"une
at this
at first
every-day business,
but
really remembers
life is
is under
remembers
it suggested
in
rences
occur-
appear
person
social life,and
have
to
of the
every-day
one's
average
impression that he
manifests
recollection
important than would
more
order
which
memory
week.
very
he
is
let him
occurrences
He
little of
really
pable
ca-
try the
of yes-
Googk
Memoby
162
"
It is not advisable to expend much
mental
fasteningeach importaat detail of
the day upon the mind, as it occurs
; but there
is an easier way that will accomplishthe purpose,
effort in
if
one
will but take
that direction. We
a
littletrouble in
to the
practiceof
of each day, after
reviewingjtheoccurrences
If you
the active work of the day is over.
of each day a
will give to the occurrences
mental review in the evening,you will find
that the act of reviewingwill employ the attention
to such an extent as to registerthe
that they will
happenings in such a manner
be available if
refer
needed
ever
thereafter.
It is
akin to the
filingof the business papers of
the day, for possiblefuture reference.
Be-sides this advantage,these reviews will serve
of many
littlethings
you well as a reminder
of immediate
importancewhich have escaped
of something that
your recollection by reason
followed
You
them
in the field of attention.
will find that
you
to review
a
littlepracticewill
the events
of the
short space of time, with a
of detail. It
degree of accuracy
very
the mind
will
readilyrespond
able
en-
day, in
a
surprising
seems
that
to this demand
Googk
To
Occubbenoes
Eemembeb
it. The process
upon
mental
or
digestion^
appears
rather
similar to that of the
the cud'*
a
to be akm
mental
to
a
tion,
ruminait * * chews
when
cow
163
that it has
previouslygathered.
The thing is largelya
knack'*
quired
easilyacby a littlepractice. It will pay you
for the littletrouble and time that you expend
have said,not only do you
upon it. As we
these
gain the advantage of storing away
records of the day for future use, but you
**
also have
your
attention
details that have
escaped
will find that many
ideas of
will come
to you in your moments
rumination.'*
evening,when
Let this work
you
you,
and
importance
you
**
portant
im-
called to many
of leisure
be done
feel at ease"but
in the
do not do
it after you retire. The bed is made for sleep,
consciousness
not for thinking. You will find that the subwill awaken
to the fact that it
called upon later for the records of
the day, and will,accordingly,**take notice'*
will be
of what
happens, in
faithful
manner.
to
mamier,
what
is
a
a
The
call made
when
it
far
diligentand
more
subconsciousness
ing
astonish-
upon
it in
once
understands
required of it. You
an
will
sponds
re-
see
just
that
Googk
164
Memoby
mucli of the virtue oi the
plan recommended
consists in the fact that in the review
is
an
employment of the attention in
there
a
num-
impossibleduring the haste and rush of
The faint impressionsare
the day's work.
tion
brought out for examination,and the attenof the examination
and review greatly
deepen the impressionin each case, so that
it may
be reproduced thereafter. In a sentence:
it is the deepening of the faintimpressions of the day.
Thurlow
of
Weed, a well-known
politician
of
the last century, testifies to the eflScacy
oirs.'*
the above mentioned
method, in his Memdifferent from
His plan was
slightly
that mentioned by us, but you will at once
see
that it involves the same
the same
principles"
psychology. Mr. Weed says: **Some of my
ner
**
friends used to think that I
a
but
politician,
My
memory
I
saw
was
at
a
*cut out* for
was
once
a
sieve.
ness.
fatal weak-
I could
member
re-
ments,
appointnothing. Dates, names,
I said
faces "everything escaped me.
make a
to my
wife,* Catherine,I shall never
for I cannot remember,
successful politician,
and
that is
a
prime necessityof politicians.
Googk
A
who
politician
him
I must
home
Occuerences
Remembeb
To
sees
a
forever/
should
once
man
My wife
told
So when
train my memory.
that night I sat down
165
that
me
I
alone and
member
re-
came
spent
fifteen minutes
accuracy
to recall with
tryingsilently
the principalevents of the day.
I could remember
remember
had
but little at first" now
I
that I could not then recall what
for breakfast.
I found
back to
After
I could
a
recall
few
more.
I
days* practice
Events
rately,
accuminutely,more
and more
vividlythan at first. After
Catherine said *why
a fortnight
or
so of this,
don't you relate to me
the events of the day
instead of recallingthem to yourself! It
would be interesting
and my
interest in it
would be a stimulus to you.' Having great
wife's opinion,I began a
respect for my
habit of oral confession,
as it were, which was
continued
for almost fiftyyears^
Every
I toldher
night,the last thingbefore retiring,
that had hapeverythingI could remember
pened
to me, or about me, during the day. I
generallyrecalled the very dishes I had for
breakfast,dinner and tea; the people I had
seen, and what they had said; the editorials
came
me
more
Googk
166
Memoby
I had written for my
paper,
givingHer
abstract of them; I mentioned
I had
walked
bad
a
brief
all the letters
guage
received,and the very lanused,as nearlyas possible
; when I had
I told her everythingthat
or ridden"
seen
come
and
within
that I could say my
my
observation.
I found
lessons better and better
year, and instead of the
practicegrowing
irksome,it became a pleasureto go over
again the events of the day. I am indebted
to this discipline
for a memory
of unusual
and I recommend
to all
the practice
tenacity,
who wish to store up facts,
or expect to have
much to do with influencing
men/'
The careful student,after reading these
words
of Thurlow
Weed, will see that in
them he has not only given a method
of recalling
the particularclass of occurrences
mentioned in this lesson,
but has also pointed
out a way whereby the entire field of memory
be trained and developed. The habit of
may
the thingsthat one
reviewingand
telling'*
perceives,does and thinks during the day,
servation,
of future obnaturallysharpens the powers
attention and perception.If you
are
witnessinga thing which you know that
every
"
Googk
Eemembeb
To
you
167
Occurrences
will be called upon
to describe to another
will
tention
apply your atinstinctively
to it. The knowledge that you will be
called upon for a description
of a thingwill
give the zest of interest or necessityto it,
which may
be lackingotherwise. If you will
sense*' thingswith the knowledge that you
person,
you
**
will be called upon to tell of them later on,
you will give the interest and attention that
sharp,clear and deep impressions
In this case the seeing and
the memory.
on
hearinghas **a meaning'*to you, and a purpose.
the work of review
In addition to this,
go to make
establishes
don't
care
a
desirable habit of miud.
to relate the
occurrences
yourselfin the
evening. Play the part yourself.There is a
person"
valuable
learn to tell them
If you
to another
secret of memory
chapter"if
you
are
wise
to
imbedded
enough
to
in this
apply
it.
Googk
CHAPTEE
HOW
In
the
TO
XVn.
BEMEMBEB
speaking of this phase of
word
the
store
of
of
sense
Memory
away
and
bearing
consideration.
of
**
and
that
"facts
that
animal
of
of
seen,
we
even
difficult,
though
clear.
We
mation
of infor-
items
our
heard
experience
or
are
read,
find
the
to
garding
re-
that
continually
quiring
ac-
regarding
all
wish
to
yet when
often
The
wish
we
question and
subjects,and
quite
that
information
collect them
nnder
regarding the horse,
in
it.
concerns
items
kinds
various
have
we
abilityto
of knowledge
**facts"
the
this
ject
considering the sub-
acquired during
the
which
the
knowledge
have
we
are
we
in
In
particular thing
Horse/'
are
tained
ascer-
than
etc
items
recollect
If
to remember
rather
is the
Facts
of
some
upon
of **an
happening/'
"a
use
we
memory
sense
knowledge/'
the
sense
in the
**fact**
item
were
FACTS.
the
we
task
rather
original impressions
is largely
difficulty
due
168
Googk
Memoby
170
is not
so
mnch
to know
' '
the law, as
to know
* *
ciations
findit. Kay says : Over the assoformed by contiguity
in time or space
have but little control. They are in a
we
manner
accidental^
depending upon the order
in which the objectspresent themselves
to
On the other hand, association by
the mind.
is largelyput in our own
similarity
power;
for we, in a measure, select those objectsthat
to be associated,
and bringthem together
are
in the mind.
We must be careful,however,
only to associate togethersuch thingsas we
wish to be associated togetherand to recall
each other; and the associations we
form
and essential,
should be based on fundamental
and not upon mere
casual reor
semblances.
superficial
When
thingsare associated by
and not by their essential
their accidental,
and not by
qualities,"
by their superficial,
tiieirfundamental
they will not be
relations,
available when wanted, and will be of little
where
real
to
use.
When
we
associate what
is
new
nearly resembles it in the
mind already,we give it its proper place in
of association
fabric of thought By means
our
tie up our ideas,as it
we
by similarity,
with
what
most
Googk
To
Eemember
"were, in separate
Facts
171
bundles,and it is of the
most
ut-
importancethat all the ideas that most
nearlyresemble each other be in one bundle/'
The best way
tions,
to acquire correct associaand many
of them, for a separate fact
that you wish to store away
recollected when needed"
information
or
that **may
come
so
some
that it may
useful
be
bit of
bit of knowledge,
interesting
in handy'* later on"
is to
analyseit and its relations. This may be done
by asking yourselfquestionsabout it-^each
swers
thing that you associate it with in your andex''
cross-inbeing just one additional
whereby you may find it readilywhen
you want it. As Kay says: **The principle
of asking questionsand obtaininganswers
lectual
to them, may be said to characterize all inteleffort"
This is the method
by which
Socrates and Plato drew out the knowledge
in the gaps and attachof their pupils,filling
ing
facts to those alreadyknown.
When
new
you wish to so consider a fact,ask yourself
the followingquestionsabout it:
from or originate
I. Where did it come
t
**
n.
What
caused
itt
in.
What
historyor record has itt
Googk
Memoby
172
rV. What
and
its attributes,
qualities
are
characteristics?
Y. What
I most
thingscan
is it
What
VI.
used"
what
What
its natural
are
happens
it?
duced
be de-
can
it?
from
Vni.
it be
may
I do with
can
does it prove"
What
Vn.
how
for"
good
what
is it like!
What
with it?
ciate
readilyasso-
results" what
of it?
because
is its future ; and its natural
IX. What
probable end
or
finish?
or
it,on the whole"
general impressions
do I think of
X. What
what
are
my
regarding it?
What
XI.
of
Xn.
What
do I know
**facf
it,in the
way
general information?
have
whom,
If you
about
I heard
it,and
from
when?
and
will take
about
the trouble
to
put any
through the above rigidexamination,
venient
only attach it to hundreds of conand familiar other facts,so that you
it readilyupon occasion,but
remember
you will not
will
you
will also create
a
new
subjectof general
informatiojiin your mijid of which this par-
Googk
Eemembeb
To
Facts
173
ticnlar fact will be the central
lar
thought. Simisystems of analysishave been published
and sold by various teachers,at high prices"
and
have
men
many
considered
that the
the expenditure. So
justified
it by lightly.
pass
do
sults
re-
not
other facts that you manage
to
associate with any one
fact,the more
pegs
the
will you have to hang your facts upon"
The
more
*4oose ends** will you have whereby to
pullthat fact into the field of consciousness
more
"the
you
need
to
a
indexes will you have whereby
the fact when you
**run down**
cross
more
may
it. The
fact,the
for you,
have
more
more
and
**
associations you attach
meaning**does that fact
the
more
interest will be
over,
Moreregarding it in your mind.
by so doing,you make very probable
automatic** or involuntaryrecollection
the
of that fact when you are
thinkingof some
of its associated subjects; that is,it will come
into your mind naturallyin connection with
something else" in a **that reminds me**
created
**
fashion.
And
the oftener that you
are
untarily
invol-
it,the clearer and
deeperdoes iU impressionbecome Qn th^
"reminded**
of
Googk
Memoby
174
The oftener you
of your memory.
fact,the easier does it become to recall
records
use
a
needed.
it when
The
favorite pen of
in a remembered
always at his hand
tion,while the less used
is
thing has
upon
a
or
man
posisimilar
for, often without
associations that you
fact,the oftener is it likelyto
the
And
success.
bestow
to be searched
eraser
a
more
be used.
is that the
pointto be remembered
future association of a fact depends very
facts.
much upon your system of filing
away
If you will think of this when
endeavoring
to store away
a fact for future reference,
you
will be very apt to find the best mental pigeonhole
for it. File it away with the thingit most
resembles,or to which ithas the most familiar
tarily"it
relationship.The child does this,involunFor instance,
is nature 's own
way.
that animal
the child sees a zebra,it files away
as
a giraffe
as **a donkey with stripes;*'
**
horse
a
long-neckedhorse;" a camel as a
with long,crooked legs,long neck and humps
its back.'* The child always attaches its
on
familiar
new
knowledge or fact on to some
fact or bit of knowledge" sometimes the reAnother
**
Googk
To
Eemember
175
Facts
suit is
but the child remembers
startling,
means
of it nevertheless.
The
grown
will do well to build similar
links of memory.
old familiar
some
once
Attach
the
new
up
of it
The
dren
chil-
connecting
thing to
thing. It is easy when
have the knack
by
you
table of questions
given a littlefarther back will bring to
mind many
connectinglinks. Use them.
If you need any proof of the importanceof
association by relation,
and of the laws governing
its action,
you have but to recall the
ages^*
chain of imordinary train of thought^*or
in the mind, of which we become conscious
when we are day-dreaming or indulging
in reverie,
in general thoughtreor
even
garding
any subject. You will see that every
mental image or idea,or recollection is associated
with and connected
to the preceding
it. It is a chain
thoughtand the one following
that is endless,until something breaks into
the subjectfrom outside. A fact flashes into
out
your mind, apparently from space and withany reference to anything else. In such
**
cases
you
**
will find that it
had
previouslyset
mentalityat work upon
you
either because
occurs
your
some
scious
subcon-
prob-
Googk
Memoby
176
and the flash was
leniyor bit of recollection,
the bolated and delayed result;or else that
the fact
into your mind
association with some
other
turn
came
from
came
You
hear
think of
because
fact,which
precedentone,
a
of its
and
so
distant railroad whistle and
a
in
on.
you
train;then of a journey;then of
in that
distant place; then of some
one
some
a
then
place;
of
person;
then of
another
person;
of
then
his
event
some
a
similar event in the life of
then
her
or
in the life of that
of that other person;
brother; then
of
that
brother's last business venture; then of that
business ; then of
it; then
of
other business
some
bling
resem-
people in that other
dealingswith a man
some
business ; then of their
you know; then of the fact that another
of
similar
a
name
to the last
man
owes
man
you
then of your determination to
then you make
dum
a memoranget that money;
yer
to place the claim in the hands of a lawsome
money;
to
see
whether
although the
year"
from
man
it cannot
was
**
be collected now,
execution
distant locomotive
proof
last
whistle to the
possiblecollection of the account. And yet,
will say that he
the man
the links forgotten,
Googk
CHAPTEE
HOW
In
BEMEMBEB
TO
of
their
fall far
this respect;
the
exist
were
when
and
manuscripts
the
common
their
of
the
it
a
to
and
Even
are
be
the
to
not
feats
as
day
taught
to
monplace
com-
unknown
was
valuable, it
the
people
sacred
recite
to
the
sacred
learn
of
books
in this way,
the
among
the
books
faithful
commit
was
teachings
Prophets entirely from
this
of
ordinary. Among
thing
to
does
and
common
able
in
the
for
transmitted
were
was
Hebrews
Moses
various
andents
there
respective religions. The
the Hindus
and
of
custom
of this kind.
the
printing
scarce
sentences,
accepted
once
out of the
not
people,
**by heart*'
behind
veloped
de-
highly
words,
necessity
present
and
ancient
had
probably because
which
memory
of
number
a
gave
is full of instances
modems
The
we
who
persons
memory
History
etc.
ETC.
WOBDS,
preceding chapter
a
instances
of
XVm.
of
ory.
mem-
medans
Moham-
the
entire
178
Googk
To Eemembeb
Koran
And
to memory.
identical process
"the
has
prose
therefore
may
recalled
shall
we
be
committed
sentences,or verses
must
a system which
and
at the
of
is
devote
whereby
to memory
this
poems
and
memorizing words,
royal road. It is
mastered by steady
faithful review.
beginningand
One
must
start
his way up. But
will astonish anyone
work
it. It is the very same
medans,
that the Hindus, Hebrews, Moham-
familiar
method
no
be
the result of such work
not
the
readily.
This natural method
work
used
of
chapter solelyto this method
or
been
committing these sacred
and recalling
them at will
to memory,
natural method, instead of an artificial
And
one.
179
reveals,
investigation
there
always,that
books
Wobds, Etc.
with
and
the rest of the races,
of verses
their thousands
and
Norsemen,
memorized
chaptersof the sacred books of
their people. It is the method of the successful
not to
actor,and the popular elocutionist,
mention those speakerswho carefullycommit
addresses and
their impromptu
to memory
extemporaneous*^ speeches.
This natural system of memorizing is based
hundreds
of
**
^^
**
Googk
Memory
180
the
principlewhich has already been
alluded to in this book, and by which every
child learns its alphabet and its multiplication
that
table,as well as the little Apiece'*
upon
*
it recites for the entertainment
of its fond
parents and the bored friends of the family.
That principle
consists of the learningof one
line at a time, and reviewing that line ; then
learninga second line and reviewing that;
and
then
and
so
reviewing the
addition
each
on,
two
lines together;
being reviewed
connection with those that went
child learns the sound
The
before.
of **A;**then it learns
**B;'* then it associates the sounds
of **A,
B'* in its first review; the **C*' is added
the review
until ^^Z"
to review
is reached
its ''twice 1
on,
a
And
so
and
on
the child is able
**A
to
clusive.
Z,'*in-
table beginswith
multiplication
is 2,'*then ''twice 2 is 4,'*and
littleat
finished and
a
time until the "twos**
are
This cess
proaddition and constant
the "threes'* begun.
is
the
and
the entire list from
The
so
**A, B, C'
runs:
in
kept up, by constant
review,until "12 twelves** finishes up
list,and the child is able to repeat the
"tables**
from
first to last from
memory.
Googk
To
But
Eemember
there is
Words, Etc.
181
it,in the case of the
child,than merely learning to repeat the
table" there is
alphabet or the multiplication
also the strengtheningof the memory
as
a
result of its exercise and use.
Memory, like
every facultyof the mind, or every muscle of
the body, improves and develops by intelligent
and
only
more
reasonable
to
use
and
this exercise and
does
exercise.
use
Not
develop the
ulty
along the particularline of the facused, but also along every line and
velops
faculty. This is so because the exercise deof concentration,
and the
the power
of the voluntary attention.
use
We
suggest that the student who wishes
for words, sento acquire a good memory
tences,
orite
favsome
begin at once, selecting
etc.,
memory
for the purpose
poem
Then
let him
of the demonstration.
memorize
one
verse
of
four to six lines to
begin with. Let
him learn this verse
perfectly,line by line,
until he is able to repeat it without a mistake.
Let him be sure
to be ** letter perfect'^
in that verse"
so
perfectthat he will **see"
the capitalletters and the punctuation
even
not
over
marks
when
he recites it. Then
let him
stop
Googk
182
Memory
for the
day. The
day let him repeat the
learned the day before, and then let
verse
him memorize
and
next
second
a
in the
verse
just as perfectly.Then
the first and
second
to weld
way,
let him
review
together. This
verses
addition of the second
same
to the firstserves
verse
the two
and
togetherby association,
each review of them togetherserves
to add
littlebit to the weld, until they become
a
joinedin the mind as are **A,B, C.** The
third day let him learn a third verse, in the
and
then review
same
way
verse
this for say
each day and
month, adding
adding it to the
constantlyreview
a
preceding it. But
from
beginning to end.
them
too often.
He
tinue
Con-
the three.
cannot
new
a
verses
them
review
will be able to have them
He
flow along like the letters of the alphabet,
**
from
A*' to "Z^*
if he reviews properly and
often
enough.
Then, if he can
spare
gin
the time,let him be-
the second month
by learningtwo verses
each day, and adding to those that precede
them, with constant and faithful reviews. He
will find that he
the second
can
memorize
two verses,
month, as easilyas he did the
in
ona
Googk
To Bemembeb
Wobds, Etc.
in the first montlu
verse
His
trained to this extent.
been
proceed
extra
from
month
183
has
memory
And
so, he may
io month, adding
an
able
dailytask,nntil he is unthe time for all the work, or
to his
verse
to spare
what he has
nntil he feels satisfied with
Let him
moderation
use
complished.
ac-
and
try to become a phenomenon. Let him
avoid overstraining.After he has memorized
not
the
let him
entire poem,
but not
one,
forget to revive
to add
the necessary
of other
reason
not fail to
and
the
prose
up
him
of
ai
one
impossible
new
his review work.
review
new
verses,
occupation,etc.,let him
is
addition of
mere
Let
keep
number
a
the old
If he finds it
frequent intervals.
by
start with
so
more
many
The
important
new
ercise
ex-
than
verses.
the verses, or poems
with
selections. He will find the verses
of
vary
the Bible very
"
well
cise,
adapted for such exeras
they lend themselves easilyto registration
in the memory.
Shakespeare may be
used to advantage in this work.
The
Eubaiyaf of Omar Khayyam; or the **Lady of the
Lake'* by Scott; or the "Song CelestiaP* or
'^Lightof Asia'' both by Edwin Arnold,will
* *
Googk
184
Memory
'
be found
of
to be well
memorizing, the
adapted
system
eadi being apt to
each poem
being
of
verses
to this
memory," and
sufficiently
long to satisfythe requirements
''stick in the
of
even
the
at
ambitious
the most
complete
it would
would
one
(any
poem
seem
almost
of
those
tioned)
men-
impossiblethat
and
be able to memorize
ever
look
To
student
cite
re-
it from
beginning to end, letter perfect.
But on the principleof the continual dripping
of water
the stone; or the
wearing away
snowball increasing
at each roll ; this practice
of a littlebeing associated to what he already
has will
soon
allow him
large
poems,
song
store
of
which
informs
one
to what
just a littlebit
a
memorized
etc. It is an
recitations,
of the catchy words
little bit,added
After
to accumulate
verses,
onstration
actual demof the popular
that:
youVe
derfully
won-
''Every
got, makes
more."
he has
ment
acquiredquitea large assortof memorized
he will find it
selections,
impossibleto review them all at one time.
But
he should
intervals,no
elapsebetween
be
sure
matter
to review
how
many
them
all at
days
may
each review.
Googk
CHAPTER
HOW
BEMEMBEB
TO
In
BOOKS,
for
principal forms
still other
while
be
may
under
suggestions
given
stories
thought
to
a
consideration
that
of
have
these
been
special
be
may
tion
memoriza-
the
read, the
you
so
have
we
chapter
one
phases
various
*'left out'*
of the
chapters.
Many
of
us
fail to remember
things in the books
mortified
by
our
failed
read, and
we
of
popular novels, which
have
the
important
often
are
ignorance regarding the
of the works
we
there
devote
to
of
worthy
And
etc.
it advisable
of memory
other
as
of the books
hear,
you
are
which
of memory,
regarding
of the contents
the
there
But
instance
For
of
general classification
the
still considered
consideration.
given
development
forms
or
have
we
of memory.
phases
coming
the
ETC.
TALES^
PLATS^
preceding chapters
the
suggestions
you
XIX.
to
leading authors,
although
impress
upon
we
have
tents
con-
or
of
read,
the records
l186
Googk
of
our
Of
memory.
reminding
Books, Etc,
Eemembeb
To
beginby
present necessity
must
we
cannot
ever
attention"
of interest and
vre
course
of the
you
187
escape
The
principlesof the memory.
trouble with the majority of people is that
they read books **to kill time,*^as a sort of
instead of for
mental narcotic or anaesthetic,
of obtainingsomething of interest
the purpose
from them.
not only
we
By this course
lose all that may
be of importance or value
in the book,but also acquirethe habit of careless
readingand inattention. The prevalence
of the habit of reading many
newspapers
and trashynovels is responsible
for the apparent
ligently
to intelinabilityof many
persons
from
these
absorb and remember
book "worth
the contents
of
while'* when
they do happen
the
to take up such a one.
even
But, still,
careless reader may
most
improve himself
a
and
cure
the habit of inattention and careless
reading.
Noah
Porter
author tillwe
it may
says
have
be,as he
saw
:
"We
seen
it.' *
have not read
an
his object,whatever
Also
* *
:
Bead
with
This is the rule that takes dence
preceof all others. It stands instead of a
attention.
Googk
Memory
188
directions.
of minor
score
them
.
.
to be
never
and
,all,
is the
should
be read
The page
.
seen
second
a
should be fixed
eye
be
a
a
few
passages
to be treasured
thing to
its
up
word
follow the
* *
It is not
to
for word.
be remembered
meaning" what
grasp
attempt to
a book, excepting,perhaps,
that may
seem
worthy
the text of
memorize
other
no
impressions should
is it advisable
nor
rale.
the mental
should
and sharply received.
distinctly
necessary,
prehends
com-
if it were
as
were
memory
vise ; the
it
golden
time;
if there
as
objectto think of; the
the facts like
Indeed
The
about
it is about.
a
cipal
prinis
book
Then
may
general outline,and the details
of
story,essay, treatise or whatever it may
be. The question that should be asked oneself,
after the book is completed, or after the
the
completion of some
book, is: **What
of
particularpart
was
the
the
idea"
writer's
sajV^ Get the idea of
the writer.
By taking this mental attitude
place yourself in the place
you practically
what
of the
did he wish
to
writer,and
thus
take part in the idea
You
thus
view
of the book.
rather
than
from
the
it from
side,
the in-
outside.
You
Googk
Eemembeb
To
Books, Etc.
place yonrselfat the
stead
thing,in-
of the
centre
189
its circumference.
of upon
If the book
be
biography,
history,biography, autotion,
narrative,or story of fact or fic-
occurrences
to form
of the
*4n
mind's
play
event
just
that you
have
that you
a
of
semblance
will
you
will make
trashy
they
see
you
connection
this way
with
the
build
you
the
are
seen,
only
of
scenes
witnessed,or
impart
your
you
you.
naturalness
a
you
will obtain
reading.
read
tales will
do not
is endowed
one
realityto
of the story and
from
as
have
until each
a
that
an
a
actual
less distinct
should you endeavor
Particularly
acter,
clear mental picture of each char-
course.
to form
faint mental
i",
ture
pic-
pictures,which will be
mind, and which will
your
remembered
That
eye,''or imagination.
In
series of mental
upon
a
related,so
reading.
impressed
of
at least
imaginationin
your
a
be
story unfolds.
events
your
mechanical
up
the
as
endeavor
Use
to visualize its
will find it of value
you
them
a
more
cease
contain
with
at least
By doing this
to the events
a
pleasure
this plan
new
Of course,
slowly,and
many
to interest you,
the real elements
for
of in-
Googk
190
Memoby
terest" but this is
no
gain for
the end
At
you.
take the time to
loss,but is
of each
reading,
mentallyreview the
of the story" let the characters
pass
before your mental
picture. And when
completed,review it
decided
a
vision
progress
and
scenes
in
as
the book
ing
mov-
a
is
finally
whole.
ing
By followthis course, you will not only acquirethe
habit of easilyremembering the tales and
books that you have read,but will also obtain
much pleasure by re-readingfavorite stories
in your imagination,
years after. You will
find that your
on
a
new
a
favorite characters
realityfor
old friends in whose
yourselfat
as
any
will take
you, and
will become
company
you
time,and whom
enjoy
may
you
as
may
miss
dis-
they tire you, without offense.
of scientifictreatises,
In the case
essays,
ing
etc.,you may follow a similar plan by dividthe work into small sections and mentally
reviewing the thought--{not the words) of
when
each section until you
may
work.
it your
own;
sections to your
graduallyabsorb and master
then by adding
you
make
new
review,
the
All this requirestime, work
but
patience,
you will be
repaidfor
and
your
tire
en-
and
ex-
Googk
penditure.You
soon
render
on
191
will find that this
plan will
you
impatient at books
and
consequence,
books
Books, Etc.
Bbmembeb
To
will drive you
to the best
given subject.You
any
of little
will begin
and hesitate
begrudge your time and attention,
about bestowingthem upon any but the
But in this you gain.
very best books.
In order to fullyacquaintyourselfwith a
book,before reading it you should familiarize
yourself with its general character. To do
this you should pay attention to the full title,
if there be any; the name
and the sub-titie,
to
of the author
and the list of other books
that
he has written,if
they are noted on the title
the one
or
preceding it,according to'
page,
the usual custom.
You should read the preface
and study carefullythe table of contents,
know
the field or general subject
that you may
covered by the book" in other words endeavor
to get the general outline of the book,
into which
you
may
afterwards
fillin the details.
reading a book of serious import,you
the
it a point to fully grasp
should make
meaning of eadi paragraph before passing
Let nothing pass you that
to the next one.
on
In
Googk
[IiIemoby
192
you
way.
do not understand, at least in
Consult
familiar
the
to you,
so
full idea intended
end
of each
you
are
dictionaryfor
a
general
words
that you may
grasp
to be expressed. At
not
tiie
the
chapter, section and part, you
should review that which you have read,until
able to form
a
mental
pictureof the
general ideas contained therein.
To
those who
wish
to remember
matic
the dra-
productionsthat they have attended,
would
above mentioned
we
say that the principles
be appliedto this form of memory
may
of books.
well as to the memory
as
By
takingan interest in each character as it appears
; by studyingcarefullyeach action and
tervals
scene, and then reviewing each act in the inbetween the acts; and by finally
viewing
rethe entire play after your
return
home; you will fasten the whole play as a
complete mental picture,on the records of
If you have acquaintedyouryour memory.
self
with what we
have just said regarding
the recollection of the contents of books, you
will be able to modify and adapt them to the
of recollecting
plays and dramatic
purpose
productions. Tou will find that the oftener
Googk
194
Memoby
exercise it frequentlyby
reviews
of
courses,
dis-
gree
surprisedat the deof the work
it will perform for you.
Not only will you remember
better,but you
will ^ar better and more
The
intelligently.
subconsciousness,knowing that it will be
called upon later on to recollect what is being
said,will urge you to bestow the attention
to supply it with the proper
terial.
manecessary
and
To
will be
you
those who
have
trouble in
had
discourses,we
urge
that
bering
remem-
they should
begin to attend lectures and other forms of
oping
discourse,with the distinct purpose of develthat form
that
mentality the positivecommand
it shall attend to what is being said,and
shall record the
review
you
be
same
You
in such
a
way
the discourse afterward
presentedwith
of it
Give to the subconscious
of memory.
should
the words
being to
a
that when
you
good synopsisor syllabus
avoid any attempt to
of the discourse" your
absorb
will
orize
mem-
pose
pur-
and record the ideas and
tion"
general thought expressed. Interest" AttenPractice"
Review"
pointsin
these
are
tiie important
memory.
Googk
To
Ebmbmbeb
Books, Etc.
195
remember
stories,anecdotes,fables,
ployed.
etc, the principles
given above are to be emThe main thing in memorizing an
anecdote is to be able to catch the fundamental
idea underlyingit,and the epigrammatic
sentence,or central phrase which forms
the **poinf of the story. Be sure
that you
catch these perfectly,
and then commit
the
If necessary
make
a
point**to memory.
memorandum
of the point, until you have
opportunityto review the storyin your mind.
review it mentally,letting
the
Then carefully
mental
image of the idea pass before you
in review,and then repeatingit to yourself
in your own
words.
viewing
By rehearsingand reTo
**
the story,you
will be
make
it your
own
and
able to relate it afterward
just as
something that you had actually
you would
that
experienced. So true is this principle,
the story with
when carried too far it endows
of actuality"who has not known
a false sense
who told a story so often that they came
men
Do
not
actually to believe it themselves?
but use
carry the principleto this extreme
it in moderation.
is that
The
they attempt
trouble with many
to
repeat
a
men
tale,long
Googk
Memoby
196
they have heard it,without reviewing
quently
Conseor
rehearsing in the meantime.
they omit many
important points,
because
they have failed to impress the
In
story as a whole upon the memory.
order to know
anecdote properly,one
an
after
should
be
able
to
see
and
its characters
incidents,just as he does when he sees
If
illustrated joke in a comic paper.
an
make
dote,
a mental
pictureof an anecyou can
you
ease.
The
will be
apt to remember
noted story tellers review
it with
and
hearse
re-
their
to
jokes,and have been known
try them on their unsuspectingfriends in
order to get the benefit of practicebefore
relating them in public" ithis practicehas
been called by flippantpeople: ^Hrying it on
vantages.
the dog.'' But it has its good points,and ad-
It at least
of
saves
being compelled to
one
tion
the mortifica-
finish up
a
long-
by an : * * Er" well,um-m-m"
I'm afraid I've forgottenjusthow that story
ended" but it was
a good one!"
drawn
out tale
Googk
XX.
CHAPTEE
GENEBAIi
INSTETJCTIONS.
"
this chapter
In
certain
to
in the
of
pnrpose
mind,
your
to think
the
of
mentioned
we
general principles already
preceding chapters,
further
and
This
chapter may
of
general review
POINT
to
I.
Give
memorize,
trated
We
attention
have
as
memory.
fundamental
of the work.
body
thing that yow
to the
degree
a
of
for
reason
attention
concert-
this
The
bestowed
and
The
and
stored
vice
ad-
degree
upon
consideration, determines
strength, clearness
wish
possible.
places in the book.
of concentrated
received
in the
able
in the nature
of certain
explained the
in many
object under
special phases of
great
as
be
independent
be considered
principlesmentioned
upon
may
them
to consider
of the details of the
a
that you
the
for
them
impressing
in order
of and
attention
shall call your
the
the
depth of the impression
in the
away
character
of
these
sciousness.
subcon-
stored
197
Googk
Memoby
198
away
impressionsdetermines ithe degree of
and
in remembrance
ease
POINT
In
n.
consideringan objectto be
memorized, endeavor
sions
through cts
possible.
as
The
as
to
many
obtain
if you
the impres-
and
facilities
for this advice
reason
to you,
the
recollection.
have
senses
should
be parent
apcarefully read
ceived
preceding chapters. An impression rethroughboth sound and sightis doubly
strong as one received through but one of
these channels.
You
may
remember
a
name,
word, either by having seen it in writing
else by reason
of having heard
or print;or
it;but if you have both seen and heard it
you have a double impression,and possess
of reviving the imprestwo possibleways
sion.
or
You
are
able to remember
an
orange
it,smelt it,felt it
and tasted it,and having heard its name
pronounced. Endeavor to know a thingfrom
sense
as
impressionsas possible"use
many
and the
the eye to assist ear-impressions;
to assist in eye-impressions.See the
ear
thing from as many
angles as possible.
be
m.
POINT
Sense impressions may
by
reason
of
having
seen
Googk
General
Instetjctions
199
etrengthened by exercisingthe particular
facultythrough which the weak impressions
are
received.
You
will find that either your
is better than your ear
The remedy lies in
memory,
eye memory
or
vice
versa.
exercisingthe weaker
faculty,so as to bring it up to the standard
of the stronger. The chapters of eye and
ear
trainingwill help you along these lines.
The same
rule appliesto the several phases
of memory"
develop the weak ones, aod the
strong ones will take care of themselves. The
only way to develop a sense or facultyis to
train,exercise and use it. Use,
intelligently
miracles in
exercise and practicewill work
this direction.
POINT
IV.
'Make
your
firstimpression
strong and
basis
as
a
firm enough to serve
for subsequent ones.
Get into the habit of fixinga clear,strong
impressionof a thing to be considered,from
the first. Otherwise you are trying to build
foundation.
a poor
up a large structure upon
time you
revive an
Each
impression you
deepen it,but if you have only a dim impression
to begin with, the deepened impressions
Googk
Memoby
200
It is like taking a
good sharp negative
ward.
picturethat you intend to enlarge afterThe details lacking in the small picture
will not appear in the enlargement; but
one.
of
in the first
include details omitted
will not
a
those that do appear
in the small one, will be
enlarged with the picture.
V.
POINT
and
You
it
a
you
Revive
thus
will know
few
quently
impressions fre-
them.
deepen
pictureby seeing
day for a week, than
of
more
minutes
would
your
every
by spending
a
hours
several
before
time.
By
recallingan
you fix it indeliblyin
times,
it at
So it is with the memory.
of
impression a number
one
Such
needed.
tools
they
which
which
are
not
apt
need
*
used.
Agoing over**
to remember.
If you
a
are
found
a
when
like favorite
little while"
every
to be mislaid
but seldom
are
in
readily
impressions are
you
in such
mind
be
it may
that
way
your
Use
as
are
your
those
nation
imagi-
thing that you wish
studying a thing,
Agoingover*' in your
closing
imaginationwill help you materiallyin disthe things that you have riot remembered
about it
By thus recognizingyour
you
will find that this
^
Memoby
202
recognizethe value of this point
Association is memory's method of indexing
and cross-indexing.
Each association renders
it easier to remember
recollect the thing.
or
Each association givesyou another stringto
will
you
mental
your
to associate
Endeavor
bow.
a
bit of
knowledge with somethingalready
known by, and familiar to you.
In this way
lated
to avoid the danger of having the thing isoand alone in your mind"
without a label,
new
or
index
object
and
number
name,
connect
your
with
thought to be remembered
other objectsor thoughts,by the association
of contiguity
in space and time,and by relationship
of kind, resemblance
or
oppositeSometimes
the latter is very useful,as
ness.
in the
or
of the
case
reminds
me
J'
a
so
You
man
who
said that
of Brown"
much
he's
**
Smith
so
ferent
dif-
will often be able to remember
thing by remembering something
place,or about the
time" these things give you the
loose
same
ends'' of recpllection
wind
whereby you may unhappened
at the
else that
same
**
one
the ball of memory.
In the
is often able to recollect names
running
over
the
same
way,
by slowly
alphabet, with a pencil,
Googk
203
Instbxjctions
General
until the
sightof the capitalfirstletter of the
of those following
name
brings the memory
has
it" this,however, only when
the name
by sight In the
previouslybeen memorized
same
way
the first few
selection will enable
whole
notes
a
musical
the
to remember
you
air; or the first words
the entire speech
of
of
sentence,
a
selection following it.
or
In trying to remember
a
has
thing which
caped
es-
will find it
helpful to think
of something associated with that thing,even
remotely. A littlepractice will enable you
you,
you
to recollect the
thing along the lines of the
faintest association
adept memory
The
**
loose end*' in memory
ends.
have
your
men
is all the
associations
An
fact to remember
if you
Some
are
detectives,
followingthis plan.
requires. Any
loose
clue.
or
some
memory,
furnish
interestingand
these
important
in this connection
one
expert
is that
thing that tends
you
to
counteract
may
cape
es-
the
by noting the associated things that
have previouslyserved to bring it into mind
with you.
The associated thing once
noted,
trouble
may
which
thereafter be used
to unwind
as
a
loose end
the elusive fact
or
with
impres-
Googk
Memobt
204
idea of association is
This
sion.
when
begin to employ
you
exercises and
memory
little methods
always
natural
use
of
with
the
using it.
avoid
to tie your
red-tape
will
you
and
association,
temptation of endeavoring
up
it in your
And
work.
find many
cinating
quite fas-
of
But
the
ory
mem-
artificial
the
systems.
POINT
This
very
of
is but
impressions.
but is
of association,
form
a
important. If
knowledge
you
Group
VIII.
and
your
can
you
fact
your
arrange
into
will
bits
logicalgroups,
of your
subject
always be master
associatingyour knowledge with
other
By
knowledge along the same
general lines,both
and by opposites,you will
by resemblances
be able to find what you need just when
you
need
mind
it. Napoleon Bonaparte had
a
trained along these lines. He said that his
like a largecase
of small drawers
was
memory
and pigeon-holes,in which
formation
he filed his inaccording to its kind. In order to
do this he used
book
of
the methods
mentioned
in this
the
thing with
the old
comparing
ones, and
then
new
which
group
it
largelya
matter
of
deciding into
naturallyfitted.
This
is
Googk
Genebal
Insteuctioits
205
practiceand knack, but it may be acquiredby
little thought and care, aided by practice.
a
And
in
it will repay
acquiring it.
found
useful
with
The
for the trouble
following table
will be
in
classifyingobjects,ideas,
as
to correlate
facts,etc.,so
them
well
one
qther facts of
table is to be used
associate
like kind.
The
in the line of
dressed
questionsadregardingthe thing under
to oneself
consideration.
a
and
It
somewhat
resembles
the
questionsgiven in Chapter XVII, of
book, but has the advantage of brevity.
table of
this
Memorize
this table and
use
it
You
will be
after you have caught
delightedat the results,
the knack of applying it.
TABLE.
Ask yourself the folQUERY
lowing
questionsregarding
consideration.
informationand
the
thing under
It will draw out many
bits of
associated knowledge in your
mind:
(1)
(5) HOW?
(6) WHY?
(7) WHITHEE?
WHAT?
(2) WHENCE?
(3) WHEEE?
(4) WHEN?
While
you
as
Seven
the above
a
means
of
Queries
are
acquiring clear
given
impres-
Googk
206
Memoby
associations,
they will also serve
as
a
Magic Key to Knowledge, if you use
them intelligently.
If you can answer
these
questionsregardinganything,you will know
a great deal about that particular
thing.And
them fully,there
after you have answered
will be but littleunexpressed knowledge regarding
that thingleft in your memory.
Try
them on some
stand
one
thing" you cannot underthem otherwise,
unless you have a very
good imagination.
sions and
FIKIB.
Googk