Memory Systems New and Old/Chapter 3
MODERN MNEMONICAL SYSTEMS.
Dr. Grey.
ABOUT a hundred years ago the only work on memory A supposed to possess any great merit was the curious little work written by Dr. Grey, entitled, "Memoria Technica." The fact that it was published by a scholar occupying a high position, and that he applied his system to matters most difficult to recollect, caused it to have a large sale, and for many years it was the only work of the kind in existence. Previous works had dealt in generalities. Grey was most profuse in details, and with Latin scholars his book was for a time very popular. When the Rev. Richard Grey published his book in 1730, he was rector of Hinton, a village in Northamptonshire. He was afterwards a Prebend of St. Paul's, London, and died in 1771. The third edition was published in 1737.
Dr. Grey attempted, in his system, to grapple with the difficulty in learning history caused by the arbitrary character of numbers. Numbers convey no idea to the mind. The one good quality they possess, consecutiveness, often tends to confusion. We may desire to recollect numbers in connection with a certain fact, but owing to each number being inseparably associated with that preceding and following it, we generally have a difficulty in recollecting the one apart from the other. Dr. Grey changed numerals into letters, vowels, and diphthongs, but fell into the error of replacing arbitrary characters by others almost as arbitrary. His key was as follows:—
| a | e | i | o | u | au | oi | ei | ou | y |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 |
| b | d | t | f | l | s | p | k | n | z |
a and b stand for 1, c and d for 2, and so on, either of the two letters being used. This arrangement, he says, will enable one at pleasure to form a technical word to represent any number, or to change a word already formed into one expressing a number. To obviate the repetition of cyphers g was made to represent hundreds, th thousands, and m millions. This arrangement, the Doctor is very careful to impress on his reader, is to be perfectly learnt. The reader is then "to exercise himself in the formation and resolution of words in this manner:—10, az; 325, tel; 381, teib; 1921, aneb; 1012, bybe; 7967, pousoi;" &c. To this intricate system Grey added the abbreviation of words, apparently making confusion worse confounded. "Dorbterboid-aze-poul" represented the diameter of the orbit of the earth (D-iameter ORBitæ TERræ), 172,102,795 miles! "Crothf Deletok Abaneb Exafna Tembybe Cyruts," similarly expressed "The Creation, 4004 B.C.; Deluge, 2348; Call of of Abraham, 1921; Exodus of the Israelites, 1491; Foundation of Solomon's Temple, 1012; Cyrus, or end of the Captivity, 536." In a similar manner the system was used to learn historical dates, astronomical distances, the value of coins, and ancient weights and measures. Geography was taught by simple abbreviation. We are told that "SCOTLAND is divided into Two general Parts: North Scotland, or Highland, beyond the River Tay, containing 13 Counties, among which are Strathnavern, Caithness, Sutherland, Ross, Lochabar, Murray, Braidalbin, P-erth. South Scotland, on this Side the Tay, containing 22 Counties; some of which are Argyle, Fife, LOthien, Marche, Galloway." To learn this one had only to commit to memory the "memorial line":—SCOT=Strath-Caith, S-uthRos, Loch-Mur, Brai-P; Arg-Fi, Lo-March, Gal!"
The above is sufficient to show the complicated nature of this system. The principle upon which it was based was in itself good; but in riding his hobby Grey lost control over it, and his steed consequently bolted with him. Grey, however, was not alone in this respect. Others not only became infatuated with his system, but were at considerable pains to elaborate it, by applying it to matters not treated upon by Grey. Later editions contain an appendix, originally issued as a tract in 1737, by Solomon Lowe, a Hammersmith schoolmaster, under the title of "Lowe's Mnemonics," which gives further applications of the system to various numerical tables. The last edition was published in 1880, from stereotyped plates. In 1876 an adaptation from Grey, under the title of "Grey's Historical Lines, arranged for general use" had reached its ninth edition.
Grey's system forms the basis of one of "Weale's Rudimentary Series" (No. 105) now published by Crosby Lockwood & Co., London. The work is entitled "Geometry, Algebra, and Trigonometry in easy Mnemonical Lessons," the author being the Rev. T. P. Kirkman. The contents take the form of a series of conversations. Each lesson is compressed into from one to six memorial lines, rhythm and rhyme being used whenever possible. Mr. Kirkman condemns the system of Feinaigle as cumbrous, and extols that of Grey. He terms the latter an ingenious device, and adds,, "with this device he combines most skilfully cadence and contraction." These qualities, however, do not seem very apparent in the examples given. To recollect 3.141592653589793 the pupil has merely to retain in his memory the word "tafaloudsutuknoint!'
Lately, Grey's system has fallen into disrepute, other and better systems taking its place. As a curiosity the "Memoria Technica" is worth perusal. A copy of the third edition can generally be bought of a second-hand bookseller for about eighteenpence.
Feinaigle.
In 1807, Gregor von Feinaigle, a native of Baden, visited Paris, and delivered lectures on his "New system of mnemonics and methodics." These lectures were very successful, and were followed by the public performance of remarkable mnemonic feats by his pupils. Feinaigle visited England in 1811, and lectured at the Royal Institution, London, and in the provinces. Feinaigle's course of instruction consisted of fifteen or sixteen lectures, for which he charged a fee of five guineas. His system differed in some respects from the methods that preceded it, and in its application embraced a wide range of subjects. So far as can be ascertained Feinaigle never published his system in any form; but in 1811 one of his pupils published particulars of it in German, and in 1812 another pupil published anonymously complete details of the system in a work entitled "The New Art of Memory, Founded upon the principles taught by M. Gregor Von Feinnigle," to which was added an account of previous mnemonical systems. This work is probably the most complete ever issued in the English language upon this subject. In 1810 a very exhaustive work on mnemonics had been issued in Germany by the Baron Aretin, and Feinaigle's pupil evidently aimed at publishing a work in English equal to it. The compiler was certainly an enthusiast, for he spared neither pains nor expense to make his book complete. The volume extends to nearly 500 pages, and is embellished with a portrait on steel of Feinaigle, and five other large plates in elucidation of the text. Two hundred pages are devoted to Feinaigle's system, the remainder being occupied with details of other systems. Feinaigle's compiler gives long extracts from the older works on memory, in some instances reprinting them in their entirety. In this respect the volume, like that of Aretin, has been a most valuable one to all later writers on mnemonics, and in compiling the present work the author has not hesitated to dip a little into its pages.
Grey in his "Memoria Technica" simply substituted letters for numerals, in a perfectly arbitrary manner, and as he used both vowels and consonants for this purpose the result was unintelligible, and could only be retained in the mind by constant repetition Feinaigle likewise substituted letters for numerals, but he adopted the more intelligent system, originated by Winckelmann [vide page 17] merely re-arranging the order of the consonants.
Feinaigle's key was as follows:—
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 |
| t | n | m | r | l | d | k g q & hard c |
b w v h |
p f | s x z & soft c |
To assist in readily learning this key, we are told that the letter t was selected to represent 1, on account of its being formed by one stroke; n for 2, being formed of two strokes; m for 3, being formed of three strokes; r for 4, being found in the word denoting four in most European languages, as the English four, the French quatre, and the German vier; l for 5, from the Roman numeral for fifty, or five tens; d for 6, the written d resembling a 6 reversed; k for 7, resembling two sevens joined together at top—g, q, and hard c also used as belonging to the guttural class of k; b for 8, from a certain amount of resemblance, w for the same reason, and v as the half of w; p for 9, from similarity, and also f, from being united with p in the word puff, which proceeds from a pipe shaped like figure 9; and s, x, or z denoted 0, because it resembles in its roundness a grindstone, which gives out a hissing noise like these letters. Some of the reasons given are not very logical, but they were no doubt useful in helping the student to fix the representative letters in the memory. All the letters of the alphabet not employed in representing figures were to be used in combination with the key-consonants to form intelligible words. The consonants being exclusively employed as number-symbols, all the vowels were at the service of the student to form words—a method that allows syllables and words signifying certain numbers to be formed without much difficulty. The number 12 can be readily expressed by the words tin, ton, tiny, eaten, oaten; 20 by nose, onyx, noose; 47 by rook, ark, rake; 547 by lark, lyric; and 1605 by tidy-seal. This system has been condemned, probably unjustly, as the most complicated of any. It has defects, of which more anon; but its chief merit was its tendency to stimulate the inventive faculties of the studeut in forming appropriate words to represent the numbers desired.
With this system Feinaigle combined the plan of dividing a room into fifty consecutive places, and indelibly associating a mental image or hieroglyphic with each compartment. In forming this chain, he appears to have lost sight of the possibility of using words which would immediately suggest the numbers represented. His chain of symbols is formed chiefly of striking objects, their consecutiveness being ensured by the position they were supposed to occupy in each room. Thus, the first compartment was supposed to contain an image of the Tower of Babel. To fix the date of the Norman Conquest, he formed a mental picture of a willow tree with a piece of dead laurel hanging on it, and associated it with the first space. The willow suggested William; laurel, the conqueror; being in the first space made it William I.; and the consonants in the word "dead" gave the number 66, which, with the thousand understood to be dropped, made 1066, the date of the Conquest. The main defects in the system were the difficulties caused by two or more consonants of the same character being employed to represent two numerals, and two or more others of opposite natures being used to denote one; while the combined ch, th, sh, and other double consonants, which are so largely used in the formation of English words, formed almost no part of the system. Thus, the explodent consonants t, d, and p, b, and the continuant consonants f, v, were each used to denote different numerals; and b, v, consonants of an opposite character, were employed to represent the same numeral, viz., 8, and similarly p, f, represented 9.
The system was applied to teaching chronology, geography, history, and language, rules being given for the committing to memory of prose and poetry, and arithmetic. Appended to the work is a section devoted to instances of remarkable memories, in which a good deal of interesting matter is given respecting Jedediah Buxton, Zerah Colburn, and other prodigies. This work is in the British Museum and a copy can occasionally be bought for about 5s.
Coglan.
What was designed to be an improvement on Feinaigle's system was published by Thomas Coglan, in 1813. Coglan was well known as a lecturer on memory, but his system was never very extensively used. His improvement consisted of a key, which allowed a greater selection of words to represent numerals, and the formation of a series of words, expressing 1 to 100. For the latter, Coglan chose the names of gods, goddesses, animals, and human beings. The list is a curiosity in its way, but of little use except to a classical scholar. The key was as follows:
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 |
| t | n | m | r | l | d | c | b | p | s |
| q | h | g | z | j | v | k | w | f | x |
To suggest the couples representing each numeral they were converted into the words—Quit, Noah, magi, raze, jail, dove, cook, bow, puff, and sex. The pupil had to be guided by the spelling, not by the sound. The system was applied on the locality plan to various branches of knowledge, including multiplication. The following objects pictured on the wall would give "Seven times"—Equery, Hat, Howe, Mule, Iron, Rope, Lady, Dog, Keys, Cake, Bear—representing 14, 21, 28, 35, &c. Coglan's book, Vol. I., was published at 9s., and is now scarce. The whole system was intended to be comprised in three volumes, but only the first one was published.
G. Jackson.
In 1817, Mr. G. Jackson published in London, "A New and Improved System of Mnemonics, or Two Hours Study in the Art of Memory," 4s. He used as a key ninety-nine symbols located in a Gothic window. The alphabet was as follows:—
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| B | D | G | J | L | M | P | R | T |
| C | F | H | K | N | Q | S | V | |
| Z |
The ninety-nine symbols were arranged so that the initials of each denoted the serial order, 1 to 10, being as follows:—1, Babel and Company; 2, Doctor Faust; 3, Greyhound; 4, King's Jester; 5, Elephant; 6, Magpie; 7, Penn, the Quaker; 8, Rich Sailor; 9, Tired Veteran; 10, Boy and Hoop. Any fresh ideas were associated by mental pictures and the symbols. The book was cheap, and the system, was at the time considered a good one.
Aimé Paris, Beniowski and Gouraud.
The publication of the details of Feinaigle's system resulted in the art of mnemonics being further perfected. Feinaigle was able by his alphabet to use intelligible words to denote numbers, but in the main he relied upon the locality method to assist the memory. M. Aimé Paris, the next eminent mnemonist, introduced a most important improvement by arranging the consonant alphabet on a phonetic basis, and thus removed the defects in Feinaigle's numerical key. Further, instead of pronouncing each consonant in the usual way he added the vowel e to each, M for 3 being termed "Me" instead of "em," and so with the rest. This method was found to greatly assist the student in the selection of suitable words to represent numerals. His alphabet was as follows:—
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 |
| Te | Ne | Me | Re | Le | Che | Ke | Xe | Pe | Se |
| De | Je | Gue | Ve | Be | Ze |
The fact or idea to be remembered was woven into a phrase, the final word of which expressed the date. To mnemonize the date of the death of Socrates, the sounds representing 400—re, se, ze, were used to suggest the word rassise, the phrase running—"La mort de Socrates précéda de peu de temps l'époque où la haine contre lui fut rassise." Aimé Paris applied his system to the usual range of subjects, and taught it with considerable success in France. The topical method, so much used by Feinaigle, was to a great extent discarded. M. Aimé Paris published his numerous works in the French language; his first book bears date 1823. Carl Otto, a Danish mnemonist, afterwards simplified the system of Paris, and taught it in Germany.
In 1832, Major Beniowski, a Polish refugee, became a pupil of Aimé Paris, and about 1840 established himself at 8, Bow Street, Covent Garden, London, as a teacher of mnemonics. Beniowski lectured at the Royal Adelaide Gallery, Lowther Arcade, Strand, and for a time had a great many pupils, but he gradually gave up lecturing and advertising, and at the time of his death he was doing but little in this way. Beniowski is said to have been able to speak eighteen languages. He published several small works, the chief one being entitled, "A Handbook of Phrenotypics for Teachers and Students," 1842, 4s. He adopted the system of Aimé Paris, with a slight modification of the alphabet, which was as follows:—
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | ||
| d | n | m | r | l | h | k | fv | b | c | ||
| t | sh ch | q | ph | p | s | ||||||
| th | J Tch | c | hard | w | z | ||||||
| g (soft) | g | ||||||||||
| x |
Beniowski claimed to have discovered the "principles of familiarity and proximity," as applied to memory; and his system was used to develop these principles. He divided all ideas into familiar and unfamiliar, and gave a series of rules to connect these ideas together in such a way as to impress, or "print" them on the brain. Two familiar ideas were associated without the intervention of a third, so that at the mention of one the other would spring up in the mind without effort. To connect a familiar idea with an unfamiliar one both were associated with a third, so that one would suggest the other two. The alphabet was used with vowels to form words to denote dates and numbers, the words being associated with the matter to be remembered. By what he termed the localization of ideas, which was simply the topical method used by Feinaigle, and others, he ensured the consecutive order of chronological and other matters. The principle of proximity was thus defined:—the shorter the distance or time between two given ideas the more rapidly and strongly will they be connected. The system was applied to the usual variety of subjects.
In 1845, a similar mnemonical system was published in America, by Francis Fauvel Gouraud. According to his own statement a study of Feinaigle's system suggested to his mind an improvement in the alphabet. While, however, on a visit to France, he attended a lecture given by Aimé Paris, and was surprised to find that he had been anticipated in his improvements. Gouraud afterwards delivered lectures on the subject in New York, and published a couple of works on mnemonics. One was entitled, "Phreno-mnemotechny, or the Art of Memory: a series of lectures," and the other, "The Phreno-mnemotechnic Dictionary, a Philosophical Classification of Homophonic Words." Both works were published by Wiley & Putnam, of New York, and, there being no English edition, the books are rather scarce in this country. By the publication of this work the system taught by Aimé Paris became widely known in America; and Beniowski's efforts had a similar result in England.
Gouraud adopted a method previously used by Aimé Paris, a series of adjectives and substantives respectively representing units and tens, the initial letter denoting the numerical order. They were as follows:—
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 |
| tight | new | merry | round | long | cheap | great | fair | pious | |
| tie | name | mount | roof | life | jewel | game | fire | weapon | sound |
By combining one of the adjectives with a substantive an equivalent word expressive of both would result, and this word would give the numerical order of a fact or idea with which it was connected. 49, for instance, would be represented by the words "round weapon," which would suggest "shield," and the latter word would be connected with a fact occupying the 49th position in a chronological list. In this way this system was applied to learning the succession of events, dates, &c.
The elder Fairchild is said to have been a pupil of Beniowski; and most of the professional mnemonists who have flourished since 1842 have been indebted to the work of the three men—Paris, Beniowski, and Gouraud—grouped together in this chapter. In 1844, one of Beniowski's pupils, Mr. T. F. Laws, published at Manchester, a work on "Phrenotypics" (demy 8vo, 72 pp). It professed to be "an expansion and improvement on Beniowski," and is more comprehensive than the work issued by the Major. At the present time half-a-dozen or more systems, in the main identical with Beniowski, are being taught under various names. Only one is published under the title of Phrenotypics; and is the work of one of Beniowski's pupils, Mr. F. C. Woollacott, Chesterfield Street, King's Cross, London. Mr. Woollacott has been teaching Beniowski's system for some time, but it was only in 1882 that he published details in a sixpenny pamphlet, entitled "Phrenotypics, or the Science of Memory." Mr. Woollacott has taught the art very successfully, and recently one of his pupils repeated before a public meeting from memory the head lines of each paragraph in a copy of the Globe newspaper a few hours after publication, a feat which he has frequently performed.
Gayton.
In 1824, Mr. I. R. Gayton lectured on memory in London, and in 1826 issued a work, entitled "Memoria Philosophica." The work appears to have been suggested by Feinaigle's volume, and in some respects resembles it. The key was as follows:—
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 |
| L | N | M | H | F | D | J | S | G | C |
| T | R | Z | K | V | B | X | Q | W | |
| P |
A table of 100 symbols was used locally, and further assistance was given by rhymes and maps. The latter were most ingenious, England and Wales, for example, being represented by a figure of John Bull riding a bull. The work was published at 10s., but a second-hand copy may occasionally be bought for three or four shillings.
Castilho.
Under the title of "Recueils de Souvenirs de Cours de Mnemotecknie," M. de Castilho published at Saint Milo in 1831 a very complete memory system. He published another work in French in 1835, and an edition in Portuguese in 1851. Castilho travelled in France teaching his system, among his pupils being the Abbé Moigno. Among the contents of his work is a very complete card memory, and also a system for learning the multiplication tables, &c.
Carl Otto Reventlow.
The publication of Carl Otto Reventlow's (better known as Carl Otto) work marked an epoch in the history of mnemonics. Dr. Pick derived the greater part of his knowledge from Carl Otto, and many other mnemonists are indebted to him for ideas. Reventlow's work was entitled "Mnemotechny after a New System," and was published at Stuttgart, in German, in 1843. The alphabet key was as follows:—
| 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| L | T | N | M | R | S | B | F | H | G |
| Z | D | Y | W | G | Sch | P | Pf | J | K |
| X | C soft | Ph | C hard |
The alphabet was used initially. He applied the system to the learning of the Latin nouns, mental calendars, and a great variety of other subjects, many of his methods being copied by latter-day professors. The following is Reventlow's rule for associating the name of a person with the individual:—
Pliny Miles.
Contemporary with Gouraud was another American mnemonist, named Pliny Miles, who lectured on the subject in the United States and Canada from 1844 to 1848. He termed his system "Mnemotechny," and published, in 1845, a couple of volumes on his art, one being a 40-paged pamphlet entitled "Elements of Mnemotechny," and the other a large volume under the title of "Mnemotechny." In 1849 he visited England and Ireland, and in the following year he issued an edition of his works in London, Miles appears to have studied the system of Aimé Paris, his alphabet being similar to that used by Beniowski. The only difference was that the latter used w and h to represent numerals, whereas Miles discarded these. The key was as follows:—
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | ||
| T | N | M | R | L | J | K | F | P | C | ||
| D | C | Q | V | B | S | ||||||
| Sh | G (hard) | ||||||||||
| Zh | Z | ||||||||||
Letters possessing similar sounds represented the same numeral. Sound alone was the guide. The numerical consonants, with the aid of vowels, and h, w and y, were used to form words to denote figures. To ensure uniformity in pronunciation, Miles adopted the plan of Paris in adding an e to each consonant, which was found to facilitate the work of translating words into numbers. Miles, instead of using the topical method, arranged what he termed "nomenclature tables," which consisted of a series of words, chiefly nouns, representing 1 to 100. These tables had to be thoroughly learnt, and as the name of each word instantly denoted its number, the student would have in his mind two hundred consecutive objects, each conveying a distinct idea; and with these could be associated facts or dates, or anything that it was desirable to learn in a certain order. These tables, under various names, have been used by all later mnemonists. Miles used his tables for learning the order of the reign of English and French sovereigns, the Presidents of America, prose and poetical extracts, &c. A valuable idea developed by Miles, and largely used by latter-day mnemonists, was what he termed "Homophonic Analogies," or the method of representing difficult or unknown words by terms that are more familiar. In the list of modern battles, the names, for example, of Fontenoy, the Nile, Corunna, Quatre Bras, and Warsaw, are suggested by the homophonic analogies of "Funny boy, a nail, a cow running, a quart of brass, and a war of sorrow." The latter terms being more easily remembered, rapidly suggested the proper name, and could be more readily associated with a word that would express the date of a battle. In this way the phrase "a funny boy admires a pretty girl" would suggest Fontenoy, 1745, the word "girl" expressing "745," the thousand omitted being understood. Miles applied this principle to a list of remarkable persons, giving the date of their death and age; and to latitudes and longitudes, populations, lengths of rivers, specific gravities, language of flowers, value of coins, &c., &c. A second part was devoted to a mnemotechnic dictionary, containing about 10,000 words and the numbers represented by them.
Kothe.
Dr. Hermann Kothe, a German mnemonist, has issued several works on the subject in German, the most notable being one entitled "Lehrbuch der Mnemonif oder Gedachtni Kunst," Hamburg, 1848. This work is an excellent treatise on mnemonics, and contains the earliest examples of what has recently been termed "correlations"—the association of two disconnected words by other words common to each other. In this way the words "Wine—Jacob" were connected thus:—"Wine—cellar—staircase—ladder—Jacob." This is identical with the method used by Pick, and more recently by Loisette. The system was applied to the usual subjects, including an ingenious chess memory. In 1853 Kothe published other mnemonical works dealing with Greek, Latin, and the Scriptures.
William Day
A curious little work on mnemonics was issued in 1849 under the title of "The New Mnemonical Chart and Guide to the Art of Memory." The author was William Day, and it was published by him at Beverley, and in London by Charles Gilpin, 5, Bishopsgate Street Without. The author adopted Beniowski's key, and elaborated the topical method to the extent of locating one thousand consecutive objects in ten rooms. The ten rooms were named respectively—the Index Room, Dame's Room, Nurse's Room, Model Room, Riding Room, Library, Chapel, Conservatory, Waiting Room, and Portrait Room. The initials of each room represented the numerals 0 to 9. Each room had ten divisions, and ten objects were located in each division, the principle of allowing the initials to denote the number being followed throughout. The first room, for instance, would have ten divisions, under the titles of Dame, Nurse, Music, Rosebush, Lamp, Gentleman, King, Fireplace, Painting (representing 10 to 90); and each of these would be associated with ten other objects, having some connection with them. 40 to 49 would thus be represented by Snowdrop, Daisy, Narcissus, Mignonette, Redbreast, Lily, Hyacinth, Grass, Violet, and Primrose. The other rooms were similarly used to represent 100 consecutive ideas. Two hundred woodcut illustrations are given, and with the aid of these the author assures his readers that the series can be quickly learnt and easily retained. The book is one of the curiosities of mnemonics, and is somewhat scarce.
Rev. T. Brayshaw.
In the same year (1849) was published another work which, although superior to many on the subject, is now but little known. This was the system elaborated by the Rev. T. Brayshaw, who was for some time head master at Keighley Grammar School. Before his appointment Feinaigle's system had been partially used at the school, and Mr. Brayshaw applied himself to the task of improving upon the German's system. He entered upon the work with enthusiasm, and being a facile rhymester he produced a work under the title of "Metrical Mnemonics," that in its way is unique. Discarding Feinaigle's key as arbitrary, he adopted that used by Jackson in 1817, in which the consonants are used in their alphabetical order to represent the numerals, and used them in conjunction with the vowels to form words. The key was as follows:—
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 |
| B | D | G | J | L | M | P | R | T | W |
| C | F | H | K | N | Q | V | X | ||
| S | Z |
St represented two cyphers.
He then wrote a series of rhymes embodying 2,300 facts and dates in connection with chronology, history, geography, astronomy, &c. In most of his verses the second, or the second and third, words expressed the date or number. The following is a good example of this system:—
SOVEREIGNS OF ENGLAND.
| 1066 | By men, near Hastings, William gains the crown: |
| 1087 | A rap in Forest New brings Rufus down. |
| 1100 | Gaul's coast first Henry hates, whose son is drowned; |
| 1135 | Like beagle, Stephen fights with Maud renown'd. |
| 1154 | A cloak, at Becket's tomb, sec'nd Henry wears: |
| 1189 | And brave first Richard oft Saladin dares. |
| 1199 | John's act at Runnymede England pleased avows: |
| 1216 | His face, in Parliament, weak third Henry shows. |
| 1272 | How duped is Wales by Edward first so tall; |
| 1307 | Edward, go weep thy fate in Berkley's hall. |
| 1327 | With head up, Edward third to Cressy hies: |
| 1377 | And happy Pomfret hears second Richard's cries. |
| 1399 | Lollardian agitate fourth Henry's hours; |
| 1413 | Gallia such glory on fifth Henry showers. |
| 1422 | Mourns jaded Henry sixth his Norman lands: |
| 1461 | Printing so nice, fourth Edward's thanks demands. |
| 1483 | But sore, ah, yes, fifth Edward's fate was sore; |
| 1483 | Like surge, third Richard Bosworth's field rush'd o'er. |
| 1485 | Now, surely, Henry seventh the Roses twines: |
| 1509 | And low, to Henry eighth, bow Rome's divines. |
| 1547 | Next lisp we young sixth Edward's holy deeds; |
| 1553 | Martyrs allege 'gainst Mary's rage their creeds. |
| 1558 | Elizabeth, all our Scots for Mary sigh; |
| 1603 | And now go men, and James's Bible buy. |
| 1625 | Fair model did first Charles, when martyred, give, |
| 1649 | How misty men like Cromwell ought to live. |
| 1660 | With moan, we Charles sec'nd's plague and fire bewail; |
| 1685 | But in real truth James second's absence hail. |
| 1689 | By merit, William third the crown obtained; |
| 1702 | And pawed proud steeds, when Anne fam'd Blenheim gained. |
| 1714 | Scots quick revolt in our first George's day; |
| 1727 | But paid up sec'nd George at Culloden's fray. |
| 1760 | Oh, pay now well third George: for Brussel's plains. |
| 1820 | Louis refix, through gay fourth George's pains. |
| 1830 | Now rage we much, urged on by William's Bill: |
| 1837 | Lastly, our hope rests on Victoria's will. |
The geographical extent of England—364 miles north to south, and 282 miles east to west—the 57,960 square miles it contains, and its population in 1841—15,925,626—were expressed in the couplet:—
| Homes fired and families undone | |
| Lo! quit now | bloated London. |
Throughout the geographical lessons similar couplets were used—the first two words denoting the measurement north and south and east and west; the first portion of the second line giving the area in square miles, and the last portion the approximate population. The name of the capital of each country formed part of the couplet.
Mr. Brayshaw's work is now out of print, and a copy is rarely to be met with.
Fairchild, Stokes, and Pick.
The efforts of Messrs. Fairchild, Stokes, and Pick have done not a little to popularize mnemonics in England. Fairchild, I believe, taught mnemonics as early as 1833. He was, I am informed, a pupil of Beniowski, but until recently no particulars of his system were published. In 1874 his son issued a little handbook, on "The way to improve the memory," in which the key was as follows:—
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 |
| T | L | H | M | R | N | K | G | P | S |
| B | W | O | D | Y | V | C | F | X | Z |
| J |
This key, however, bears evidence of hasty construction, and in use would be found confusing. The elder Fairchild, I am inclined to believe, used Beniowski's alphabet, and the fact that Fairchild's pupils use Beniowski's system strengthens this belief. Fairchild applied the system to the acquisition of languages, and the usual subjects, and only imparted it under a pledge of secrecy. His fee for lessons in mnemonics was six guineas, and an additional fee of six guineas for twelve practical lessons in French.
William Stokes has, for above thirty years, been one of the hardest workers in the cause of mnemonics. Lessons are given only on condition that they are not to be divulged, a fee of five guineas being the ordinary charge. He is a man of wonderful energy, is a ready speaker, a facile rhymester, and has a genuine love for his work. He lectured in the famous Colosseum from 1861 to 1863, afterwards at the Polytechnic till it was closed a few years ago, and thereafter at the Westminster Aquarium. At the Polytechnic, Stokes and his "wonderful boys" were always a most attractive feature, and Stokes's career as a mnemonist has been singularly successful. Among his pupils have been Sir Stafford Northcote, George Cruikshank, Dr. Lees, and others, including Charles Marvin, who, a few years ago, when a Government writer, made himself famous by stealing, by a feat of memory, an important dispatch which he afterwards communicated to the press.
Mr. Stokes has published numerous works on memory, the most popular being that known as "Stokes on Memory, a shilling book of which over 80,000 copies have been sold. "Stokes on Memory," however, dwells more on Stokes than on memory. The book is a tremendous advertisement of the five-guinea course of lessons, and other Stokesian specialities; and as may be supposed does not enlighten the reader with details of the system. Stokes, as I have said, is a ready rhymster, and when to this qualification is added that of a disreputable punster, some idea may be formed of his rhyming productions. Most of his notions are, however, spiced with a good deal of common sense, and many of his little works deserve to be more widely known. His "Pictorial Alphabet," "Rapid Reading," "Rapid Writing," "Rapid Arithmetic," "Rapid Music," "The French Genders in five minutes," "German Genders Simplified," the "Mnemonical Globe," and other cheap labor-saving mnemonical ideas are all excellent in their way, and go to show that apart from teaching mnemonics privately, Mr. Stokes has done not a little to render the pathway to knowledge more easy and pleasant.
His system of mnemonics is similar to that of Pliny Miles; the figure alphabet or key being identical. The system of nomenclature tables, used by Miles, is adopted by Stokes, as is also the idea of homophonic analogies. In using the latter, however, Stokes's rhyming and punning abilities enable him to form happier phrases. Added to this is a system of linking the key words with a series of intermediate words. This idea is an elaboration of the principle taught by Beniowski, in linking three or more words together. Stokes terms this system the "Post and Chain Method." A similar system is taught by a later mnemonist, under another name. Stokes applies his system to almost every branch of knowledge.
Dr. Edward Pick, who was a pupil of Dr. Carl Otto, taught the latter's system in Germany in 1853, and thereafter lectured on the subject in London, preceding Stokes in his mnemonical entertainments at the Polytechnic. In 1848, Dr. Pick published a work in German, entitled
"Mnemonics and its application to the Study of History," and in 1863 he published his English work on "Memory and the Rational means of Improving it." The most valuable portion was that devoted to the principles of memory. In associating ideas he contended that the first impression was always the strongest, and to ensure strong impressions he gives as a rule that no more than two ideas should be placed before the mind at the same time. Attention being given to two ideas alone the mind would then make its own natural association, by comparison. This natural association would always be found to be the strongest, and consequently would be the easier to recall.
Pick defined the laws of association as follows:—1.—Analogy: similar ideas reproduce each other, as tree and branch, bookseller and paper. 2.—Opposition: opposite ideas recall each other, as light and darkness, fast and slow, &c. 3.—Co-existence: ideas that have previously existed in the mind together will recall each other, as Cain and Abel, Epps and cocoa, &c. 4.—Succession: ideas that have previously succeeded each other in the mind will recall each other, as Plague—Fire of London. Analogous or opposite facts or ideas were remembered by comparison, noticing where they agree or differ, taking care to compare two only at a time. The words "England, navigation, steam, railway, telegraph, electricity, thunder, storm, &c.," were presented to the mind in couples, as "England—navigation; navigation—steam; steam—railway; railway—telegraph," &c. Ideas that were neither analogous nor opposite were associated with an intermediate idea. This rule is best explained by Pick's method of associating the following disconnected words:—"Garden, hair, watchman, philosophy, copper, cloth, workman, apple, eclipse, dream, coal, balloon." These words were to be compared in the mind as follows:—"Garden—plant—hair of plant—hair; hair—bonnet—watchman; watchman—wake—study—philosophy; philosophy—chemistry—copper; copper—cover—cloth; cloth—tailor—workman; workman—gardener—garden—apple; apple—earth or moon—eclipse; eclipse—dark—night—dream; dream—nightmare—suffocation—coal; coal—gas—balloon." Pick's method, based on Dr. Carl Otto's system, is a thoroughly practicable one, and is now largely used. Loisette, rather curiously, is the only mnemonist who condemns Pick by name name, and yet adopts Pick's methods of association.
Rev. J. H. Bacon.
In 1861, the Rev. J. H. Bacon, of St. Bees College, Cumberland (now of Great Gonerby, Grantham), a pupil of Dr. Pick, published a small work on the "Science of Memory." In many respects it resembles the volume issued by Pick, but Mr. Bacon discarded a large amount of the padding which predominated in that work, and otherwise made better use of his space. After a short historical sketch of mnemonics, Mr. Bacon gives a logical and intelligent resumé of the principles of memory. He emphasizes the fact that a solitary idea cannot remain in the mind—it will either associate with some other idea or disappear; ideas associate themselves by the natural law of mental affinity, and the strength of the association depends entirely upon the vividness of the first impression. He repeats the rule of Dr. Pick that no more than two ideas should be placed before the mind at once. Rules are thereafter given for the association of familiar and unfamiliar ideas in a manner similar to the method advocated by Beniowski. Mr. Bacon applied his system to the study of languages, a large portion of the book being devoted to rules for rapidly acquiring a knowledge of Latin and French. For remembering dates, &c., Mr. Bacon used an alphabet differing but slightly from Beniowski's, and a system of places and prompters so much used by other mnemonists. His alphabet was as follows:—
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 |
| T | N | M | R | L | P | F | H | Q | S |
| D | Ng | B | V | Sh | K | Z | |||
| Th | W | Ch | G | ||||||
| J |
Mr. Bacon's book has long been out of print, but I understand that it is probable that a revised edition may shortly be issued.
Lyon Williams
Mr. B. Lyon Williams in 1866 published a volume entitled "The Science of Memory fully expounded" (London: Nisbet & Co.). The subject was treated in a scholarly manner, and the work was in many respects superior to other books on this subject that were issued about this time. The rules for associating ideas resembled those given by Pick, special stress being laid upon the importance of associating only two ideas at a time. His key for the conversion of figures into words (termed "arithmologues") was as follows:
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 | |
| B | D | F | M | L | N | R | G | G | C | |
| P | T | V | J | C | S | |||||
| St | W | Ch | K | Z | ||||||
| Th | Sh |
One hundred prompters were arranged on the topical plan, each prompter expressing its numerical order. A vocabulary formed an appendix. Some useful hints were given to public speakers, and the work also contained a few hints on the method of remembering the contents of a book in one reading. The latter were very similar to the intructions given by Mr. Loisette for the same object. Lyon Williams' rule is as follows:—
T. Maclaren
"Systematic Memory," by T. Maclaren, published by F. Pitman in 1866, was the first shilling book on memory which gave in a condensed form the instructions embodied in the various five-guinea series of lectures. Maclaren claimed the credit of originating his system, but it bears a strong family resemblance to the other systems then in vogue. The alphabet was very similar to Bacon's, the only alterations being t and d instead of f and v for 7; f and v instead of l for 5 and l instead of t and d for 1. A nomenclature table of 100 words similar to that used by Miles and Stokes was termed a "memory table," the words serving as pegs on which to hang facts. A third edition, enlarged and improved, was issued in 1869.
Thomas A. Sayer
Messrs. Virtue & Co., London, published in 1867 a work entitled "Aids to Memory," by Thomas A. Sayer (principal of the Mnemonic Institute, Ramsgate). The work is divided into ten sections, and deals with the association of ideas, an alphabet for figures, and the topical system, the whole being arranged in a series of exercises. The key is that used by Beniowski. The locality system consists of ten places, with ten objects in each, arbitrarily arranged, the tenth object being a substantive supposed to suggest the number of the locality. A tree represented the first locality because its initial represented 1; a boat the second from its having two oars; a parlor table third because it has three feet; a horse with four legs represented four; a student with five fingers denoted five; a church with six windows, six; a piano with seven notes, seven; a loaf denoted eight because it was made to be ate; ninepins denoted nine; and an arrow in a target represented ten. This arrangement appears to be a mixture of Herdson's old system with Stokes's Pictorial Multiplication Table. The locality system was used by Sayer for the purpose of association; the ordinary figure-alphabet being retained for learning history dates and numerical tables.
Sayer's work is out of print, and is now but little heard of.
Rev. Alex. Mackay.
With the exception of that of Brayshaw the various systems published from the time of Aimé Paris to that of Maclaren showed little originality. In 1869, however, the Rev. Alex. Mackay, of Edinburgh, published a work differing somewhat from the other works on memory in its method of treatment. The volume was entitled "Facts and Dates," and was intended to simplify the study of chronology. Mr. Mackay was to some extent a copier of Brayshaw. He used the same key or alphabet, but instead of forming words with it in conjunction with vowels to represent numerals, in the manner adopted by Brayshaw, he simply used the key initially after the method of Mrs. Slater in her Chronology. To denote the date of an event he formed a phrase that would suggest the event, the initials of the words expressing the date. "C-ourageous R-aglan L-amented L-ies," would in this way denote the date of Lord Raglan's death—the intials C, R, L, L, representing 1855. A great many of these mnemonical phrases were particularly happy, and, therefore, easily remembered; but others were too vague and arbitrary to be of any value. The volume dealt with the leading events in sacred and profane history, facts in chemistry, astronomy, zoology, &c.
George Crowther.
Under the title of "Crowther's Mnemonics," Mr. Geo. Crowther, of Carlisle, published, in 1870, a work devoted to English History. "Crowther's Mnemonics" appears to have been suggested by Mr. Mackay's similar work, on "Facts and Dates," the method adopted in using the key being the same. Mr. Crowther, however, considerably improved on Mackay by choosing a key that would allow a wider selection of phrases. The key is as follows:—
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | |
| A | B | C | D | F | G | H | I J | K P | |
| 10 | 11 | 0 | |||||||
| T | E | LMNR |
The key is remarkably easy to learn, and is used by forming phrases, the initials of which denote a date. The fact to be remembered is always embodied in the phrase. The system, viewed educationally, is an excellent one. Most of the phrases consist of at most three or four easily remembered words, and those given by the author are exceedingly appropriate, not only readily recalling the date, but by including some suggestive word bringing vividly to the minds the facts to be remembered. For instance, the sentence "G-ather H-errick's D-affodils," not only, by the initials, gives the date when Robert Herrick, the poet, was gathered to his fathers, but reminds the student that Herrick was the author of the lyric addressed to "Daffodils." In a similar way the phrases "Hope, Hohenlinden, Hope," "Hornbook's Farmer poet," "Heber's Indian Coral," "Here's Irish Moore," and "Faerie, Faerie comes" give respectively the dates of the birth of Campbell, Burns, Heber, Moore and Spenser.
Mr. Crowther has also issued a sixpenny pamphlet, giving details of his system, and recently a series of twopenny leaflets for the use of schools. He has likewise applied the system to a biographical dictionary of literary celebrities, an exceedingly useful work to literary men and students.
F. Appleby
In 1880 Mr. F. Appleby, C.E., Rusholme, Manchester, published a little book on memory that has been singularly successful, the tenth edition appearing this year (1887). The book, although small—being designed for the waistcoat pocket—is handy and compact, and contains a mass of mnemonic information useful alike to the student and man of business. The key, which was at one time made popular by the teaching of Mr. Courtley, is as follows:—
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 |
| T | H | M | Y | V | R | C | W | P | S |
| D | N | R | L | J | K | F | G | Z | |
| Sh | Ch | Q | |||||||
| Ck |
In the latest edition, Mr. Appleby has added a table of logarithms—1 to 99—and other fresh matter. The mode of using his system is shown in the following portion of his memorization of logarithms:— of using his system is shown in the following portion of his memorization of logarithms:—
| No. | Symbol. | Log. | Prompter. |
| 1 | Day | 0.000000 | sissy is easy I see |
| 2 | Ann He | 0.301030 | is amused same as I |
| 3 | Ma | 0.477121 | is our cook dainty |
| 4 | Ray | 0.602060 | is by sun I say boys |
| 5 | Ale | 0.698970 | So boys quaff quick |
| 6 | Boy | 0.778151 | is a cheeky witty lad |
| 7 | Oak | 0.845100 | so freely do use |
| 8 | Fee | 0.903091 | I suppose I may so get |
| 9 | Pie | 0.954243 | is apple you hear me |
| 10 | Days | 1.000000 | Do so easy use us |
| 11 | Toad | 1.041393 | Desire it may go ma |
| 12 | The Dane | 1.079181 | Dies a cheap defeat |
| 13 | Adam | 1.113943 | Did Adam pray ma |
| 14 | Dear | 1.146129 | I do adore a boy to hug |
| 15 | Tool | 1.176091 | Do take each boy a spade |
| 16 | Dish | 1.204120 | These are tins |
| 17 | Duke | 1.230449 | at home is a year ago |
| 18 | Deaf | 1.255273 | Do annoy all even a chum |
| 19 | Tug | 1.278754 | at once if I call you |
| 20 | House | 1.301030 | Tom is at same as I |
| 21 | Aunt | 1.322217 | To my aunt Ann he took |
| 22 | Nanny | 1.342423 | I admire a hairy one ma |
| 23 | Ham | 1.361728 | Do my boy take enough |
| 24 | Hair | 1.380211 | Tie my way is netted |
| 25 | Nelly | 1.397940 | Do me quick a purse |
| 26 | Nab | 1.414979 | Try to trip up a chap |
| 27 | Niece | 1.431370 | Dear maid may I kiss |
| 28 | How Now | 1.447158 | Dare you each to laugh |
| 29 | Hag | 1.469397 | Do you be home quick |
| 30 | Miss | 1.477121 | Try a couch to night |
Mr. Appleby, in 1887, issued a series of lessons on "Natural Memory." The lessons have been written by qualified mnemonists, and embrace a wide range of subjects, the appointed teacher being Mr. Pivernau, 17, Wharton St., London, W.C. They have been issued for the avowed purpose of spoiling the business of empirical professional teachers, who charge extortionate fees for what is generally a re-arrangement of some old systems. Mr. Appleby
Mr. Appleby, in 1887, issued a series of lessons on "Natural Memory." The lessons have been written by qualified mnemonists, and embrace a wide range of subjects, the appointed teacher being Mr. Pivernau, 17, Wharton St., London, W.C. They have been issued for the avowed purpose of spoiling the business of empirical professional teachers, who charge extortionate fees for what is generally a re-arrangement of some old systems. Mr. Appleby charges 15s. for the whole course of seven lessons a very moderate charge. The system can be used with any key, the greater portion of the lessons dealing with matters which do not require a figure alphabet. The application of the system to the study of foreign languages forms a prominent feature; and among the other subjects are Shorthand, British M.P.s, First Impressions, Whist, Mental Calculations, &c. The lessons throughout are exceedingly good, and are certainly the best that have yet been issued. The work is a philanthropic one, as Mr. Appleby desires no profit, and simply desires to enable those who wish to learn a good reliable system thoroughly to do so, without expending five or ten guineas on self-styled professors who gain what little knowledge they possess from my own and other handbooks.
John Sambrook.
Sambrook's system of mnemonics is one of the few that can justly claim the merit of originality. Gouraud, the American mnemonist, in giving rules for remembering the ratio of the diameter to the circumference of a circle, used the substantives wand, tooth, tree, for one, two, three; but until Mr. Sambrook, of Lincoln, taught his system about eight years ago, no one appears to have made use of this principle of similarity in forming a mnemonical system.
Mr. Sambrook noticed that of the ten numerals, eight produced a distinct sound, the only resemblance between any being five and nine, both having the long i sound, and four and the cipher 0, commonly called "naught" or "nothing," with the short o. He also noticed that these eight distinctive sounds were the most common in the English language; and he thereupon arranged a mnemonical system with these and other common distinctive sounds as the basis.
As the principle throughout is similarity, the rules will be found very easy to learn, and it will be difficult to make a mistake.
It should be borne in mind that the pronunciation is the sole guide, and that where the pronunciation is doubtful another word should be selected. 0 to 9 may be expressed almost without thinking by
| Mole, | Gun, | Jew, | Key, | Door, | Hive, |
| 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 |
| Brick, | Muff, | Plate, | Vine. | ||
| 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
As the similarity between words and numerals almost ceases after 9, 10 is pronounced "one-ō;" 11, one-one; 12, one-two; 21, two-one; 82, eight-two; and so on. The similarity is then found to apply as strongly to all numbers. Thus, 10 can be expressed by banjo, sambo, or other similar words; 11 by common, onion, &c.; 12 by canoe, manhood, Dunoon, &c.; 21 by stewpan, newsman, &c.; and 82 by daybook, outlook, pothook, &c. Once learned, this system will always be found the most natural and the simplest to use.
Mr. Sambrook uses the topical method with nomenclature tables, and also homophonic analogies in teaching history. His system is applied to the usual range of subjects, and is taught privately for a fee of one guinea, or by correspondence for 10s. 6d.
Moigno.
The Abbé Moigno, like Leibnitz, is better known by other works than those which he wrote on memory. Moigno was a clever French scientist, the translator of Tyndall's works, and the editor of a well-known scientific journal. His works on memory are very complete, and, being in French, may be recommended to the attention of those who may be learning that language. He published three books on memory, the best being the "Manuel de Mnemotechnie." The other two books are entitled respectively "Latin for All" and "German for All." They can be obtained from a French book-seller for about 3s. each. Moigno was a pupil of Castilho, and the system elucidated in his manual is very much the same as that taught by Aimé Paris.
A few years ago three or four brochures on memory were issued by as many different persons, each claiming to be the originator of the system. Mr. J. H. Noble, of Leeds, did most to popularize it, and it is now best known in connection with his name. It is published at 1s., and now includes a supplement on "Blindfold Chess," &c. The key word is:—
| P | R | O | F | I | T | A | B | L | E |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 0 |
As will be seen, it very much resembles the "private-mark" word used by most retail tradesmen, and any word composed of ten different letters, as "Chimney-pot," "Consumable," "Blacksmith," &c., would answer equally as well. The alphabet is used in a similar manner to that adopted by Mackay and Crowther. For the purpose of recollecting things in a consecutive order, a table is formed of words to express 1 to 100, in the following manner:—0, Obelisk; 1, Pipe; 2, Rat; 3, Ox; 4, Fox; 5, Ivy; 6, Top; 7, Ark; 8, Bag; 9, Lamb; 10, Painter's Easel; 11, Paint Pot; 12, Pipe Rack; 13, Perched Owl.
Dalzell.
Under the title of "Mnemonics applied to History" Mr. Allan Dalzell, of Stirling, issued, in 1882, a couple of pamphlets. The author deals with English and Scottish historical dates from the Roman period to 1872. The key is similar to that adopted by Stokes and others, and is used in the ordinary way to convert numerals into words. Instead, however, of associating the facts and dates with a list of consecutive words, he uses a sentence of suggestive words to indicate their order. Some of the sentences are very apt and easily remembered; but others appear awkward and difficult. The little books are neat and handy, well got up, and remarkably cheap.
Loisette.
About four years ago Loisette, an American lecturer on mnemonics, commenced business in London, teaching what he termed " instantaneous memory" and "the art of never forgetting." The system subsequently received the approval of Dr. Wilson and Mr. R. A. Proctor, the astronomer. The fee for a complete course is fifteen guineas, five guineas being charged. for imparting the system proper; and additional fees of five guineas each for "a whist memory" and the "cure of discontinuity." A reduction is made for classes. Having received repeated inquiries regarding the merits of this system, I have taken the trouble to carefully compare it with other systems, with the result that I certainly cannot endorse either the Professor's claim or Mr. Proctor's testimonial to its originality. Mr. Loisette advertises that he uses "none of the keys, pegs, links, or associations of mnemonics;" and Mr. Proctor says he believes it is unlike all other systems. Both these statements are incorrect. It certainly differs in some respects from other systems, inasmuch as what are known to other mnemonists as "keys and associations" appear here under other names. The greatest point of difference, however, between Loisette's system and others is that he does not now use what Miles terms a nomenclature table, a list of words representing 1 to 100, a very useful arrangement for learning a series of facts or dates. This, in my opinion, is the greatest drawback in Loisette's system, as the labor of learning a list of serial events by his method is increased tenfold. Any one who doubts this statement is invited to compare Loisette's method of learning the "Accession of English Sovereigns" with the ordinary mnemonical mode detailed on page 67. A comparison of Loisette's mode of learning the figures expressing the ratio of the circumference to the diameter with Miles's fraction 1/337 reduced to a decimal will likewise show the advantage of the nomenclature table. After a careful comparison of this system with that of Dr. Pick, Miles, Beniowski, Stokes, and others, the conclusion I came to was that, while it in some respects resembles all of them, it is inferior to any one of them.
In 1886, a very exhaustive exposure of Mr. Loisette's claims to originality was published in a pamphlet by Mr. F. Appleby, entitled "Loisette's Art of Never Forgetting compared with Mnemonics."[1] In this the principal features of Mr. Loisette's system are detailed, and innumerable instances are given in support of Mr. Appleby's contention that the Loisettian system is neither original nor different from what is known as mnemonics. I may add that Loisette's figure alphabet is similar to that used by Aimé Paris, Beniowski, Stokes and others. He originally used a series of one hundred words, but has latterly discarded it, and now "correlates" or associates in a manner similar to the example given in the notice of Dr. Pick's system.
A. P. Hedley
Mr. A. P. Hedley, of Ipswich, recently issued what he termed a system of "Natural Memory." The "system" was written on four pages of foolscap for which he charged 10s. 6d. The whole of the system was based on the first lesson, which ran as follows:—"Choose a time when the mind is perfectly at ease and commence to think, no matter of what, the first person, place, or thing, which presents itself to the mind. From this let the mind drift on without interruption to other thoughts. The mind must not be forced along, but allowed to drift naturally. When the pupil has been thinking in this way for about two minutes he must stop and commence going back again to the point from whence he started, taking care to recall every little thought passed on the way forward." The other lessons repeat this rule, and suggest that words, figures, sentences, and paragraphs may be "worked in the thoughts" and recalled in like manner. Pupils were required to sign an agreement not to divulge this remarkable system under a penalty of twenty pounds!
Chauvauty.
The Abbé Chauvauty, of Lourdes, known in England best by a testimonial which he gave to Loisette, issued in 1886 a memory system which is very popular in France. After giving his famous testimonial he made the acquaintance of the celebrated Abbé Moigno, and he then found that the Loisettian system was anything but a new discovery. He thereafter withdrew his testimonial, and, in a pamphlet published in France, denounced "Professor" Loisette and all his works. The Abbé has since perfected his system, and in connection with it has published a monthly "Revue de Mnemonique," the contents being mainly devoted to mnemonical exercises.
Miscellaneous.
In addition to the various modern mnemonical systems detailed in the preceding pages, there have appeared a number of systems under different names that deserve a passing notice.
Dr. Grey's system has always found imitators, and at the early part of this century it appears to have been very popular. A schoolmaster, named Needham, in 1813, issued a work founded on Grey's system, entitled "Reminiscentia Numeraris," a rather bulky volume. The most valuable portion was the annotations, in which he gave a great number of interesting facts pertaining to chronology, inventions, &c.
In 1828, T. S. Peckston published a "Chronological Chart of the Patriarchs," based on Grey, to which he added an essay on memory.
In the following year (1829) appeared "A View of the World," by W. R. Goodluck, in which he used a figure alphabet initially. The book was one of 310 pages, the author adopting a narrative form, weaving in the memorial lines as he proceeded.
Under the title of the "Calendar of Memory," a very useful book by Professor Snooke, was published in 1830. It is more useful to almanac makers than to the general student. The rules given are concise, and are readily impressed on the memory by the author's rhymes. The following is a specimen:—
To find the dominical letter with ease,
Take units and tens of the date, and to these
Add leap years within them, and two add beside;
Find what the sum wants to make 7 divide;
The number that's wanting will plainly bespeak,
In the alphabet's order, the letter you seek.
Snooke also gives an epitome of Grey's method. In 1838, Grey's system was condemned by Doctor Valpy, who issued a "Poetical Chronology," in which he dealt with English history in the following manner:—
"In sixteen hundred eighty-eight, behold,
Th' invited fleet in triumph's gallant pride,
Fraught with new stores of wealth and freedom, bears
William of Orange o'er the German tide."
The book at the time of publication was much used in schools.
In 1838, "Aids to Memory," by Mrs. Jukes appeared. This contained a series of short mnemonic sentences in which were embodied the principal facts of the Old Testament. The plan adopted was that which was afterwards popularized by Mrs. Slater.
A Mr. W. T. Imeson figures as a teacher of memory in 1843, and as the inventor of what he termed "Ideatypics." In that year he published a small card at 6d., entitled "Phrenotyphonicon," and in 1844 and 1851 he issued other works. There was, however, nothing particularly novel in his mode of treatment, and his productions are now only known as curiosities.
A novelty in memory books was published in London in 1841, when a Frenchman, Gustave Adolphe Bassle, issued his "Systeme Mnemonique" in French. It is probably the only French work on memory that has been published in England. The system is that of Aimé Paris, and there is a strong family likeness between Bassle's work and that of Abbé Moigno.
In 1839, the Rev. R. R. Knott published anonymously ("By a Cambridge M.A.") the "New Aid to Memory," which was devoted to English history. In 1842 he reissued this work in his own name, and added three other volumes. These consisted of adaptations of Feinaigle's system to Scripture history and to the history of England, Rome, and Greece, and were illustrated with a number of fanciful engravings.
Robert Pike and William C. Pike, in 1844, published at Boston, U.S.A., a work entitled "Mnemonics applied to the Acquisition of Knowledge; or the Art of Memory." Other works on this subject were published about this time by J. W. Cannon, and Lorenzo D. Jolinson, but their works have long been out of print, and copies are scarce.
From 1853 to 1866 other works on Grey's system appeared, one being by the Rev. J. G. Cumming, entitled "A Chronology of Ancient History" (London, 1853); and one by E. D. Girdlestone, "Memory Helped, or Dr. Grey's system explained" (London, 1866).
In 1864, an American book, entitled "Mnemeology," by Chase, appeared, but is little known. A copy will be found in the British Museum.
In this year also appeared Mrs. Slater's "Sententiæ Chronologicæ." This is a well-known work, and has long been popular. The key is used initially, and the work is a useful one.
"How to Remember Sermons and Lectures" formed the subject of a little pamphlet by the Rev. John Jones, Kirkdale, Liverpool, which was published in 1863. The system is entirely topical, the objects being arranged in columns. Each symbol is supposed to recall that on the right of it, and vice versa. The ideas to be remembered are to be associated by phrases to the objects in their order. No figure alphabet is used. Another edition was published in 1866.
In 1866, Haney's "Art of Memory" appeared in New York in the form of a fifty-paged pamphlet. The greater portion is copied from McLaren's "Systematic Memory."
The late Mr. William Hill, of Patricroft, about 1870, used the topical system as the basis of a somewhat elaborate but ingenious arrangement, which he termed the "Local Suggester." This consisted of dividing the interior of a room into 50 spaces, and arranging a series of alphabetical words in each. To these words were connected the idea or fact to be remembered. Music, French, Quadrilles, &c., were taught by this method, rhyme being also used as an aid. Mr. Hill's first work entitled "The Educational Monitor" was published in 1847; and in 1852 the fifth edition of his "Memory of Language" appeared.
An excellent mental almanac appeared in 1873, the author being Mr. William Relton, of Liverpool. In this Mr. Relton epitomizes the methods of the Venerable Bede and Professor de Morgan. Aimé Paris's key is used for retaining the figures, and brevity is the key-note throughout. The chief merit of this sixpenny pamphlet is that it is absolutely reliable. It can be obtained from the author, at 25 Mount Street, Liverpool.
Another excellent work on memory was published in 1873, viz., "Memory Helps in British History," by James Macaulay. The key is similar to that given in Chapter V. of this book. Macaulay's book deserves to be better known, the associations being particularly happy, making the acquisition of historical dates a pleasant task. It was published by Porteous, Glasgow, but appears to be now out of print.
In 1875, W. H. Courtley, a clever mnemonist, lectured on mnemonics and taught a system privately, the fee being 21s. Courtley was a pupil of Mr. F. Appleby, and the alphabet is the same. The French genders were ingeniously associated with the Queen's head on a penny piece in a somewhat similar manner to that adopted by Fairchild.
In 1877, William Begg, of Cincinnati, published a ponderous volume entitled "A Centennial Book: Mnemonics or a System of Aids to Memory." The plan adopted much resembles Grey, and the book is little known in England.
"How to Remember" was the subject of a half-a-crown pamphlet in 1877, by J. H. Younghusband, who had previously published a "Chronology of English History," and a "Perpetual Mental Almanack," both of which appear to be included in this pamphlet. The key used is that of Aimé Paris, and the associations and arrangement throughout are exceptionally good.
"Statutes by Heart," by F. W. Head, was published in 1877, and aimed at memorizing the particulars and numbers of various statutes. The key differs but slightly from that used by Beniowski and others, but is only used initially—a sentence suggesting the statute, and the initials giving the number. The sentence, "Mutilating Ledger Intending Robbery," in this way suggests the "Falsification of Accounts Bill," and the initials "m, l, n, r," give the numbers, 38, 24. Many of the sentences are suggestive enough, but others would, without a good deal of study, apply to anything.
Under the title of "The Whole Art of Memory," Thos. Laurie, in 1880, published a cheap pamphlet, but beyond a re-arrangement of Beniowski's key, and a consequent change in the list of consecutive words, it differed but little from other systems.
Another pamphlet, "How to Improve the Memory," by Charles Hartley, appeared in 1880. In it various systems are epitomized, a rather full account is given of Grey's method, and various hints for assisting the memory added.
The latest addition to mnemonic literature appeared in 1886, when Gustavus Cohen, known best as an evangelist and phrenologist, published "Memory: How to Secure and Retain it." A large portion of the pamphlet is made up of extracts from Levison and Fowler, and considerable space is therefore devoted to Phrenology and the cultivation of the perceptive faculties.
- ↑ London: F. Pitman, Paternoster Row. Price 6d.