The Practical Memory System

by George Frederic Lester

Layout 2

 

The ∙ Practical ∙ Memory ∙ System.

 

by
Prof. G. FREDERIC LESTER

THE

 

Practical Memory System.

 

---

 

BY
PROF. G. FREDERIC LESTER.

Ост. 1, 1887.

 

---

 

BOSTON:
PRESS OF L. BARTA & CO.
1888.

PREFACE.

 

---

 

I don't claim that I have invented an entirely new system for cultivating and improving the memory, only that I am teaching a modern system based upon natural principles; the association of ideas.

Of all the intellectual powers with which man is endowed, there is none the cultivation of which is more important than that of memory, and, by a happy coincidence, there is none more susceptible of cultivation and improvement. Valuable aids to memory were in use long before the Christian era, and numerous attempts have since been made to simplify and render them generally available; but, being so cumbrous and indefinite a nature, were pronounced valueless. It is for this reason that a vague notion seems to exist that any system of memory must be extremely difficult to master.

Dr. Watts, in his "Essay on the Improvement of the Mind," speaks strongly on anything which may assist the mind in a question of knowledge, and alludes in highest terms to the systematic training of the memory.

I am going to follow and guide you through this system till you are familiar with it. I do not propose to enter into any details as historical or scientific facts, but make it concise as possible. The following pages are arranged to instruct the pupil rather than to fill them with flourishing language and obscure expressions. I have undertaken to place the subject within the reach of all classes, that it may be interesting as well as instructive and beneficial.

If our memory is able to retain important details, our business capacity will be increased proportionately.

Any one familiar with shorthand will find the system easy to master, and, in fact, the system will be a valuable aid in the study of shorthand. By its aid any one of average ability and intellect may compete with those highly talented by carrying out this method, which in time so strengthens the memory that the system is no longer required. The gaining of this power is not a tedious process, at variance with the natural working of the mind, but its acquirement is certified as easy and pleasant. A fair trial of the process will convince you of its value.

LESSON ONE.

 

---

 

We will now commence to master the system.

All the sounds of the letters of the alphabet represent figures, except the vowels a, e, i, o, u, and w, h, and y, and can be used for figures to an unlimited extent.

Figures, when standing alone, represent nothing unless they are used as numerators of objects.

It is very difficult to remember a large number of figures. How can we get over this difficulty?

Any amount of figures can be retained by expressing them by words or familiar phrases. The resemblance between the letters and figures will aid us to a great extent in the remembrance of them.

The following sounds represent the figures 1 to the 0:—

T or D		= 1
N		= 2
M		= 3
R		= 4
L		= 5
The sound of		= 6
SH in SHop
CH in CHurch
J in James
G in George
TCH in waTCH
DGE in weDGE
Any guttural sound as		= 7
K in King
Q in Queen
G in God
C in Crown
ING in kING
V or F or any similar sound as		= 8
PH in PHilip
GH in coUGH
P or B		= 9
Any hissing sound as		= 0
C in Cipher
S in Sign
Z in Zero

T may easily be remembered as one, as it has one stroke, T.

n may easily be remembered as two, as it has two strokes, n.

m may easily be remembered as three, as it has three strokes, m.

R is the last letter in the word Four.

L roman numeration is 50, Five.

The sounds of CH, SH, and G, Six.

Guttural sound, Eight.

P or B stands for Penny Bank with 9c. In it, Nine.

o we hiss any one who is good for o, Naucht.

We go by sound and not by spelling. The pupil must now practise the sounds in the following words:—

Knowledge	N L DGE	216
Knight	N T	21
Knife	N F	25
Phonetic	——	——
Lamp	——	——
Chair	——	——
Picture	——	——
Cushion	——	——
Window	——	——

No letter is of any numerical value unless it can be distinctly heard. The T in waTCH is not distinct, and therefore the TCH is taken as one sound and represents 6.

The following table are words called links, pegs, or prompters. The value of them will be seen in the following lessons. Figures from 1 to 100 are represented by words. The rule for representing figures by words once understood will enable you to remember any number of figures.

1 hat.	26 inch.	51 lady.	76 cage.
2 honey.	27 ink.	52 lawn.	77 keg.
3 home.	28 knife.	53 elm.	78 calf.
4 hero.	29 knap.	54 lawyer.	79 cab.
5 hill.	30 mouse.	55 lily.	80 face.
6 hash.	31 Meat.	56 lash.	81 foot.
7 hack.	32 Man.	57 elk.	82 fan.
8 hoof.	33 Mummy.	58 loaf.	83 foam.
9 hip.	34 mire.	59 lip.	84 fur.
10 woods.	35 mill.	60 cheese.	85 fowl.
11 tide.	36 match.	61 shed.	86 fish.
12 tin.	37 mug.	62 chain.	87 fig.
13 tomb.	38 muff.	63 gem.	88 fife.
14 deer.	39 map.	64 cherry.	89 fibe.
15 dale.	40 horse.	65 jelly.	90 posy.
16 dish.	41 Road.	66 judge.	91 pad.
17 deck.	42 rain.	67 cheek.	92 pin.
18 dove.	43 room.	68 chaff.	93 poem.
19 top.	44 warrior.	69 ship.	94 lower.
20 news.	45 rail.	70 kiss.	95 bell.
21 wind.	46 Irish.	71 cat.	96 bush.
22 nun.	47 rock.	72 gun.	97 bug.
23 name.	48 roof.	73 game.	98 beef.
24 Norway.	49 harp.	74 core.	99 bib.
25 nail.	50 lass.	75 gale.	100 doses.

This table should be so well committed to memory, that you will be able to mention the corresponding word when the figure is given, and figure when the word is given. Commit to memory the following words:—

1 campaign.	9 physician.
2 industry.	10 ship.
3 liberty.	11 hotel.
4 child.	12 store.
5 book.	13 flowers.
6 babel.	14 guide.
7 train.	15 dew.
8 carriage.

Associate the word to be remembered with the prompter. An intermediate association will be very convenient sometimes.

First prompter is Hat. First word is Campaign.

1 Hat suggests CAMPAIGN Hat.

2 Honey suggests Bees, and bees suggest INDUSTRY.

3 Home—Country. Country—LIBERTY.

4 Hero—Rescue. Rescue—CHILD.

5 Hill—Geography. Geography—Study. Study—BOOK.

6 Hash—Clatter. Clatter—Confusion. Confusion—Tongues. Tongues—BABEL.

7 Hack—Hurry. Hurry—TRAIN.

8 Hoof—Horse. Horse—CARRIAGE.

9 Hip—Disease. Disease—PHYSICIAN.

10 Woods—Trees. Trees—Bark. Bark—SHIP.

11 Tide—Seashore. Seashore—HOTEL.

12 Tin—Kitchen Utensils. Kitchen Utensils—STORE

13 Tomb—Decorated. Decorated—FLOWERS.

14 Deer Hunter. Hunter—GUIDE.

15 Dale-Wet. Wet—DEW.

 

---

 

INSTRUCTIONS FOR THE REMEMBRANCE OF CHRONOLOGY.

For all the Tables of Modern Chronology, including European and American History, Modern and American Battles since 1200, we find it convenient, in many cases, to have the link or association represent three figures only, and complete the date by prefixing a figure I to the translation.

EXAMPLE.

Captain Kidd commenced his piracies. 1698

Kid and Leather, Leather and Shipper.

Shipper and 6Shi9P oF8F.

By some attention to chronology, the learner will readily perceive which general period, ancient, middle age, or modern, an event belongs to, and thus know whether the figure I is to be prefixed or not. Prefixing 1 adds 1000 years to the translation, We shall not often make a mistake of 1000 years by supplying the figure in ancient or middle age chronology, or by omitting it in modern events. In many cases a desirable word will express them all.

I will give you an idea of the process by giving you a few examples, and leave the rest for the study of the pupil. You can readily see how one word suggests the other; it may mean the same, or it may mean just the opposite. Words that are opposite to each other are easily remembered as Sweet-Sour. Steamer-Raft. The association of ideas is the mainspring of memory.

We take the same process in the remembrance of astronomical statistics, historical events both modern and ancient, latitudes and longitudes of places, heights of mountains, lengths of rivers, mythology, etc.

 

---

 

REMEMBRANCE OF AMERICAN BATTLES.

Example.—Quebec, 1759. Quebec suggests War, and War suggests Scalp, which gives us the date, 0S7Ca6L9P. The 1000 will be understood. The S before the word will not change the numerical value.

Rule.—Translate the figures into a word, and use intermediate associations till the last association is suggestive of the date word.

LexingTON, 1775. Ton and Coal. Coal—Fire. Fire—Heat Enough to. Heat Enough to—7Coo7K A5LL.

Bunker Hill, 1775. Bunker Hill—American. American—Victory. Victory—Pleased. Pleased—7Cac7K5Le. (Cackle meaning that the Americans won the victory and were joyous.)

Flat Bush, 1776. Bush—Berries. Berries—Glutton. Glutton—Ho7G7Gis6H.

Tippecanoe, 1811. Canoe—Indian. Indian—Skin. Skin—8Fa1De1D.

 

---

 

OTHER BATTLES FOR PRACTICE OF PUPILS.

Queenstown	1812
Frenchtown	1813
Sackets Harbor	1813
Lake Erie	1813
Thames	1813
Chippewa	1814
Bridgewater	1814
Bladensburg	1814
Lake Champlain	1814
Plattsburg	1814
Baltimore	1814
New Orleans	1815
San Jacinto	1836
Palo Alto	1846
Resaca de la Palma	1846
Monterey	1846
Buena Vista	1847
Sacramento	1847
Vera Cruz	1847
Cerro Gordo	1847
Churubusco	1847
Chepultepec	1847
Mexico taken	1847

These will be found a great aid in history.

 

---

 

DISCOVERIES, IMPROVEMENTS, AND INVENTIONS.

Gold first coined in modern times	1320
Gold—Mine. Goldmines	Mines
Painting in oil first practised	1340
Paint—Brush. Brush—Smears	Smears
Bible first translated into English Bible—Catholic. Catholic—Pope. Pope—Prosperity. Prosperity—Smash Up	Smash up
Playing cards invented for the amusement of the Fr. King	1390
Playing Cards—Gamble. Gamble—Lose. Lose	Mopes
Printing invented by Faust, German	441
Printing and olden times. Olden times and printing. Printing and rarity	4Ra4Ri1Ty
Engraving on copper invented by Finniguerre, It	1451
Engrave and Tool. Tool and Trail. Trail and Trailed	1T4Rai5Le1D
Engraving on wood invented	1460
Wood and Forest. Forest—Owner.	Owner—4Ric6He0S.
Post-offices first established in europe, France.	1464
Post-office—Letter. Letter	T1R4eaS6uR4e
Paper first made of cotton rags	1000
Colleges first established in Europe, at Paris	1215
College—Steeple, Steeple—Point, Point—2Nee1d5le.
Glass windows first used in England	1180
Tin mines discovered in Germany	1241
Windmills invented	1299
Gold first coined in modern times	1320
Leaden pipes for conveying water, invented	1236
Chimneys first used in England	1200
Cannons first made by the French	1340
Copper money first used in Scotland and Ireland	1340
Painting in oil first practised	1340
Patent rights first granted to inventors in England	1344
Playing cards invented for the amusement of the French king	1390
Paper first made of linen rags	1417
Printing invented by Faust, Germany	1441
Musical notes as now used, invented	1333
Coal first discovered in England, near Newcastle	1234
Mirrors and magnifying glasses invented by R. Bacon, England	1260
Spectacles first invented by R. Bacon	1280
Gunpowder first made by Schwartz, Holland	1320
Muskets invented and first used in England	1421
Pumps invented	1425
Engraving on wood invented	1460
Post-office first established in Europe, at Paris	1464
Printing introduced in England	1474
Diamonds first cut and polished	1489
Gunlocks invented	1517
Soap first made in London	1524
Pins first used in England	1543
Tobacco first introduced in Europe	1560
Astronomical observatory first built in Europe	1562
Newspapers first published in Europe	1562
Lotteries first drawn in England	1569
Tea first introduced in Europe from China by the Dutch	1601
Thermometer invented	1610
Shoe-buckles first made	1630
Barometer invented	1643
Air guns invented	1646
Pendulum clocks invented	1649
Bread first made with yeast by the English	1650
Fire engine invented	1663
Diving-bell invented	1683
Banks first established in England	1694
Newspaper first published in the United States, at Boston	1704
Post-office first established in United States, at New York	1710
Diamond mines of Brazil discovered	1730
Chain bridges first constructed	1741
Banknotes first issued	1745
Handkerchiefs first made at Paisley, Scotland	1748
China ware first made in England	1752
Identity of lightning and electricity discovered by Franklin	1752
Lightning rods invented by Franklin	1770
Argand lamp invented	1780
Banks first established in United States	1781
Sunday schools first established in England by R. Raikes	1784
Railroads first built in England	1791
Cotton gin invented by Whitney	1794
Vaccination first practised by Jenner	1796
Lithography invented	1800
Lifeboats invented	1802
Kaleidoscope invented at Edinburgh	1814
Musical boxes first invented	1817
Gas first used for lighting streets in United States	1820
Stomach pump invented	1828
Gun cotton first made	1846
Steel pens first made	1803
Potatoes first cultivated in the United States	1719
Thread first made in Great Britain	1722
Quadrant invented by Thomas Godfrey, American	1740
Rice introduced in the United States	1695
Telegraph first invented	1694
Breeches first introduced in England	1654
City streets first lighted in modern Europe, Paris	1522
Turkeys introduced in England from Mexico	1520
Camera obscura invented	1515

 

---

 

American Historical Events

Peru discovered by Perez de la Rua, Span.	1515
Mexico conquered by the Spaniards, under Cortez	1521
Peru conquered by the Spaniards, under Pizarro	1532
Lima in Peru founded by Pizarro	1534
Amazon River discovered by Francisco Oreleana	1541
Mississippi River discovered by Hernando de Soto	1541
Silver Mines of Potosi first discovered by an Indian	1545
Brazil settled by the Portuguese	1549
Florida first settled by the Spaniards at St. Augustine	1565
Painting introduced into Mexico	1569
Hudson's River and Bay discovered by Henrich Hudson	1610
Tobacco first cultivated in the United States in Virginia	1616
Slaves first brought to the United States by the Dutch	1620
Harvard University (first college in the United States) founded	1638
Sugar cane first cultivated in the West Indies	1641
New England colonies formed a confederation	1643
New York surrendered by the Dutch to the English	1664
King Phillip's war commenced	1675
Rebellion in Virginia, headed by Nathaniel Bacon	1676
Philadelphia founded by Wm. Penn	1682
Mississippi River first navigated by La Salle	1683
Charter of Connecticut hid in an oak tree at Hartford	1687
Schenectady destroyed by the French and Indians	1690
Plymouth and Massachusetts Bay colonies united	1692
Witchcraft superstition prevailed in New England	1692
Yale College founded in New Haven	1693

 

---

 

AMERICAN CHRONOLOGY.

Massachusetts deprived of her charter by Sir E. Andross	1684
Charter—Charcoal. Charcoal—Fire. Fire—Warmth. Warmth—6Shi8Ve4R. Shiver is just opposite to warmth.
The American Continent discovered by the Northmen	1001
America discovered by Columbus	1492
St. Lawrence River discovered by the French	1508
Florida discovered by Ponce de Leon	1512
Pacific Ocean discovered by Balboa	1513
Jamestown in Virginia settled; the first permanent English settlement in the United States	1607
Canada first settled by the French	1608
Pocahontas, an Indian princess, married Rolfe, England	1612
New York City founded by the Dutch	1614
Plymouth settled; the first settlement in New England	1620
Boston settled by a colony under Blackstone	1630
Printing-press first established in the United States, at Cambridge	1639
Tea first used in the United States	1720
Bible first printed in the United States	1752
Philadelphia Med. School (first in the United States) founded	1764
Boston Massacre	1770
Paper currency first established in the United States	1775
Declaration of Independence of the United States, July 4	1776
Bank of No. America (first bank of United States) instituted	1781
War ship first built in the United States, at Portsmouth	1782
Death of Thomas Jefferson and John Adams, July 4	1826
Jackson inaugurated president, March 4	1829
Venezuela declared independent	1829
Spanish army invaded Mexico and surrendered at Tampico	1829
Mount Auburn Cemetery, near Boston, dedicated	1831
Death of Charles Carroll, the last surviving signer of the Declaration of Independence	1832
South Carolina passes the Nullification Act	1832
Black Hawk war commenced	1832
Cholera breaks out at New York, June 27	1832
Texas declared independent	1835
Florida war commenced	1835
Banks in United States suspended specie payments	1837
Caroline steamer burned at Schlosser, and the crew murdered by the Canadians	1837
United States Ex. Expedition under Com. Wilkes sailed	1838
President Steamer lost on the Atlantic, March	1841
Insurrection in Rhode Island in favor of a new constitution	1842
Treaty of commerce with China, made by Caleb Cushing	1844
Philadelphia riots between Americans and Irish	1844
Postage reduced to five and ten cents in United States	1845
Texas annexed to United States	1845
Death of General Jackson, at the age of seventy-eight, June 8	1845
United States declared war against Mexico	1846
Mexicans, 20,000 strong, under Santa Anna, at Buena Vista, defeated by General Taylor, with 5,000 men, Feb. 23	1847
Vera Cruz and castle of San Juan d'Ulloa, captured by General Scott, March 29	1847
Rice introduced into the United States	1695
Louisiana settled by the French, at Iberville	1699
Cotton first cultivated in the United States, in South Carolina	1702
Indians invade New England and destroy Haverhill	1708
New Orleans founded by the French	1717
Baltimore founded in the United States	1729
Freemasons first established a Lodge in America at Boston	1733
Lima destroyed by an earthquake	1746
Indigo first raised in the United States at Carolina	1747
French war declared by Great Britain	1754
Braddock's Expedition and defeat near Fort Du Quesne	1755
Massacre of American wounded and prisoners at Fort William Henry, by the French and Indians	1757
Quebec, Niagara, Ticonderoga, and Crown Point taken by the British	1759
Canada ceded to Great Britain by France	1763
Stamp Act passed by the British Parliament	1765
Colonial Congress first met at New York	1765
Duties first imposed by Great Britain on tea, paper, and glass sent to the colonies	1767
Lightning rods invented by Franklin	1770
Tea destroyed at Boston	1773
Continental Congress first met at Philadelphia	1774
Revolutionary War commenced with Great Britain	1775
Ticonderoga taken by Colonel Ethan Allen	1775
Paper currency first established in the United States	1775
Boston evacuated by British troops	1776
New York City taken by British troops	1776
Declaration of Independence of the United States, July 4	1776
Miss Jane McCrea murdered by Indians	1777
Confederation formed by the thirteen States	1777
Washington retires with his army to winter quarters at Valley Forge	1777
Cherry Valley attacked by the Indians	1778
Wyoming pillaged by Tories and Indians	1778
Treaty of alliance with France	1778
Arnold's treason and death of Andre	1779
Charleston captured by the British	1780
Siege of Savannah by the Americans, and death of Count Pulaski	1780
Americans under Gen. Gates defeated at Camden, S. C. Baron de Kalb killed	1780
British and Tories defeated by the Americans at Ninety-six	1780
Massacre of 300 American prisoners at Waxhaw, by Col. Tarleton	1780
British army under Lord Cornwallis captured by Gen. Washington, at Yorktown	1781
Peace concluded with Gt. Britain after the Revolution, and Independence acknowledged	1783
New York City evacuated by British troops	1783
First American voyage to China, from New York	1784
Shay's insurrection in Massachusetts	1786
Constitution of the United States adopted	1788
Congress under the Constitution first met in New York City	1789
District of Columbia ceded to the United States by Maryland and Virginia	1790
Circumnavigation first performed by a United States ship	1790
Washington City founded	1791
United States Bank instituted	1791
United States Mint established by Congress	1792
Insurrection in Pennsylvania on account of duties on distilled spirits	1794
Treaty of commerce with Great Britain	1794
Seat of Government removed from Philadelphia to Washington	1795
Blacks in St. Domingo declare their independence	1797
Hostilities commenced between France and the United States	1798
Death of Washington, at the age of 67, Dec. 14	1799
Louisiana purchased of France by Pres. Jefferson	1803
War between United States and Tripoli	1803
Alexander Hamilton killed in a duel by Aaron Burr	1804
Middlesex Canal (first in the United States) completed	1804
Lewis and Clarke's expedition over the Rocky Mountains	1806
Aaron Burr tried for conspiracy	1807
Steam first used to propel boats, by Fulton, American	1807
Royal family of Portugal removed to Brazil	1807
Slave-trade of United States abolished by law, January 1	1808
American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions instituted	1810
Steamboats first navigated Mississippi and Ohio	1811
Declaration of the last war against England, June 18	1812
Constitution captured the Guerriere	1812
Jackson defeated the Indians at Tallapoosa	1814
Sortie of Fort Erie	1814
Washington City, capitol, burned by British	1814
Peace made with Great Britain at Ghent, after the last war	1815
Jackson defeated the British at New Orleans, January 8	1815
American Bible Society founded	1816
Chile declared independent	1818
Florida ceded to the United States by Spain	1819
Steamer first crossed the Atlantic from Savannah, Ga	1819
Independent Order of Odd Fellows first established a Lodge in America, at Baltimore; T. Wildey, N. G	1819
University of Virginia founded by Jefferson	1819
Royal family of Portugal returned from Brazil	1820
Peru, Mexico, and Guatemala declared independent	1821
Streets first lighted with gas in United States, at Baltimore	1822
Brazil erected into an independent empire	1823
Erie Canal in New York finished	1825

 

---

 

MOUNTAINS OF THE WORLD, WITH THEIR HEIGHTS.

	(Feet)
Chimborazo; Republic of Ecuador	21,400
Chimborazo and Shiverazo, Shiverazo and Shiver, Shiver and Winter	1Wi2N1Te4R
Black Mountain the highest of the Blue Ridge, N. C.	6,500
Black and Dungeon, Dungeon and Jail	6Jai5L
Ætna, a volcano in Sicily	10,900
Antisana, a farm-house; Republic of Ecuador	14,300
Ararat, resting-place of Noah's Ark, Armenia	12,700
Ben Nevis, highest in Great Britain, Scotland,	4,400
Mont Blanc, Switzerland	15,900
Brown Mountain, highest of Rocky Mountains, N. Α.	16,000
Cotopaxi, the highest volcano, Ecuador	18,900
Dhawalaghiri, one of the Himmaleh Mountains, Asia	26,500
Geesh, highest in Africa	15,100
Hecla, a volcano in Iceland	5,500
Mt. Ida, in the island of Candia	5,000
Jorullo, volcano in Mexico	4,300
Jungfrau, Alps, Switzerland	13,700
Lebanon, Syria	10,000
Mansfield, highest of the Green Mountains, Vermont	4,300
Mt. Marcy, highest in New York	5,300
Olympus, Greece	6,600
Ophir, Sumatra, East Indies	13,800
Parnassus, the home of the Muses, Greece	6,000
Peaks of Otter, Virginia	4,300
Mt. Perdu, highest of the Pyrences, France,	11,300
Popocatapetl, highest in Mexico	17,700
Mt. Roa, highest in Oceanica, Hawaii	17,500
Mt. Sinai Arabia	8,200
Sorata, highest in South America, Bolivia	25,400
St. Bernard, Switzerland	8,000
St. Elias, highest in North America	17,900
Stromboli, volcano in the Mediterranean Sea	3,000
Peak of Teneriffe, one of the Canary Isles	12,000
Vesuvius, volcano near Naples	3,900
Mt. Washington, highest of the White Mountains	6,400

 

---

 

Heights of Towers, Spires, Monuments, etc.

	(Feet)
Bunker Hill Monument	240
Leaning Tower of Pisa	190
Milan Cathedral	260
Mosque of St. Sophia, Constantinople	290
Porcelain Tower at Nankin	228
Pyramids of Egypt (the highest)	520
Salisbury spire	410
Solomon's Temple	210
St. Ivan's Tower, Moscow	330
St. Paul's Church, London	370
St. Peter's Church at Rome	518
Strasburg Cathedral	474
Temple of Belus, Babylon	666
Tower of Babel	680
Trinity Church, New York	283
Walls of Babylon	350

 

---

 

Heights of Waterfalls and Cascades.

	(Feet)
Cerosobi Cascade, Alps, Switzerland	2,400
Falls of the Arve, Savoy	1,100
Falls„ of„ St. Anthony Falls Upper Mississippi	60
Falls„ of„ Terni Falls Near Rome	300
Fyers Falls near Loch Ness, Scotland	200
Genesee Falls, Rochester, N.Y.	96
Lauterbrunn Falls near Lake Thun, Switzerland	900
Lidford Cascade, Devonshire, England	106
Missouri Falls, N. America	164
Montmorency Falls, near Quebec	250
Natchikin Falls, Kamchatka, N. America	300
Niagara Falls	164
Passaic Falls, New Jersey	71
Tivoli Cascade, near Rome	80
Waterfall Mountain Cascade, South Africa	85

 

---

 

Latitudes and Longitudes of Places from Greenwich

	Lat.	Long.
Albany, Capital of New York	43 N.	074 W.
Boston	42 N„	071 W„
Cincinnati	39 N„	084 W„
Halifax	45 N„	064 W„
Mexico (City)	20 N„	099 W„
New York	41 N„	074 W„
Panama	09 N„	079 W„
Washington, D. C.	39 N„	077 W„
Berlin	53 N„	013 E.
Calcutta	23 N„	088 E„
Moscow	56 N„	036 E„
Paris	42 N„	002 E„
Pekin	40 N„	116 E„
Sydney	34 S.	150 E„

 

---

 

ASTRONOMICAL STATISTICS.

Example.—Mercury is 36,000,000 miles from the sun.

Mercury—Merchant, Merchant—Ho3ma6ge.

The millions will be understood, as none of the distances are less than millions and only one any greater distance.

	Miles.
Venus	67,00,0000
Earth	94,000,000
Mars	142,000,000
Vesta	222,000,000
Juno	249,000,000
Ceres	259,000,000
Pallas	250,000,000
Jupiter	487,000,000
Saturn	894,000,000
Herschel	1,797,000,000

 

---

 

THE SEVEN WONDERS OF THE WORLD.

1. The Pyramids of Egypt.
2. The Pharos of Alexandria.
3. The Walls and Hanging Gardens of Babylon.
4. The Temple of Diana at Ephesus.
5. The Statue of the Olympian Jupiter.
6. The Mausoleum.
7. The Colossus of Rhodes.

 

---

 

LENGTH OF THE PRINCIPAL RIVERS.

	Miles.
Amazon, South America	4,000
Amour, Tartary	2,500
Arkansas, Arkansas	2,100
Burrampooter, India	2,000
Danube, Austria	1,800
Ganges, British India	1,900
Hoang Ho, China	3,100
Irrawaddy, Burman Empire	1,900
Kansas, United States	1,400
Kianku, China	3,200
La Platte, South America	2,700
Mackenzie, United States	2,800
Missouri and Mississippi	4,300
Niger, Africa	2,400
Nile, Egypt.	3,200
Oby and Irtish, Siberia	2,900
Ohio	1,400
Orinoco, Guiana	1,600
Para and Araguay, Brazil.	1,600
Red River	2,100

 

---

 

The Remembrance of Books, Sermons, Lectures, Addresses, Orations, etc. Speaking Without Notes.

As many are desirous of applying the system to the above, I call your attention to the following general rules for their guidance, assuring them that the pleasure and advantage that will attend the ability to bring away in the mind with certainty the main ideas of a sermon or lecture upon hearing it, will amply repay the trouble taken.

Select the different heads, and associate them together. Or each head may be associated with the prompters in their order.

The leading ideas must be selected, and the associations must be made with promptitude; the framework of the subject will then be committed to memory, and will simply have to be clothed in the necessary language. This is applicable to the remembrance of a book. In order to remember a subject correctly, it is absolutely necessary that the pupil's mind should be perfectly composed, so that it can be fully concentrated on it.

It is also essential not to allow the attention to wander into any soliloquies or reflections on the various topics, as the whole time is needed for seizing the striking ideas, and noting the others that depend on them. Contemplation of the subject must be left till afterwards.

Should success not attend the first, or even second effort, do not despair, but remember the time-worn quotation, "Practice makes perfect."

 

---

 

PROSE, POETRY, ETC.

Learners are often heard to say, "Really, my memory is very bad. I wish I could find some easy way to learn prose and poetry." We must remember one thing. There is no royal road to learning! Memory depends, to a certain extent, on attention and repetition. Our readers will not accomplish anything by the use of my memory aids, unless the student is determined to learn. The more the Mnemonic rules are applied, the easier they will be found. The following piece of composition has been selected for an example of the practical use which the system possesses.

 

---

 

MACAULAY'S ARMADA.

1—Attend, all ye who list to hear our noble England's praise;

2—I tell of the thrice famous deeds she wrought in ancient days,

3—When that great fleet invincible against her bore in vain,

4—The richest spoils of Mexico, the stoutest hearts of Spain.

We must associate the most prominent idea contained in each line with the next idea, and so on to the end of the piece of composition.

Attend and Hear. Hear and Noble England's Praise. Noble England's Praise and Famous Deeds. Famous Deeds and She Wrought in Ancient Days. Ancient Days and Great Fleet. Great Fleet and Invincible. Invincible and Richest Spoils of Mexico. Mexico and Stoutest Hearts of Spain must be associated together in the following manner.

"Attend" and "Hear," By "Attending" we "Hear." (Making questions out of the lines will be found of great assistance.) Hear and England's Praise. "Hear" what? Why, hear of "Noble England's Praise." Noble England's Praise and "Famous Deeds." England has performed "Famous Deeds." "Famous Decds" and "Ancient Days." What "Famous Deeds"? Answer, The Deeds "She wrought in Ancient Days." "Ancient Days" and "Great Fleet." In "Ancient Days" "Great Fleets" were scarce. "Great Fleet" and "Invincible." What kind of a "Great Fleet"? Answer, A "Great Fleet" "Invincible." "Invincible" and "Richest Spoils of Mexico." The "Richest Spoils of Mexico" are "Invincible." "Richest Spoils of Mexico" and the "Stoutest Hearts of Spain." The "Mexican" Spaniards have a heart as stout as the "Stoutest Hearts of Spain."

I think I have made this plain enough to show the pupil the idea. The following is another way:—

Associate the most prominent idea in each line with the corresponding prompter. (As—Hill and Attend, Honey and Famous Deeds). In this manner you will be able to mention any line as the number is called. But as this is of no particular advantage, and as it is a little more difficult and not so natural, I should advise pupils to use the former.

 

---

 

AMUSEMENT.

The following feats are appropriate for evening entertainments, fairs, etc.:—

Remembrance of a long list of words or figures.

Call a gentleman or lady from the audience to step upon the platform and write forty or fifty words, dictated by the audience, numbering each word in their order. Associate the first word with the first prompter, Hill; and the second with the second prompter, Honey, and so on. One hundred words or more may be easily remembered in this manner.

Buy twelve clock faces or dials and tack them up in a convenient place, numbering them from one to twelve. Let a person place them at different times. Twenty minutes past nine must be read 9.20. Make a word that will express the three figures, and associate it with the prompter that corresponds with the number of the clock. If the time has four figures, two words may be made.

 

---

 

FIGURES.

Write figures on the blackboard, dictated by the audience, taking care to place nine figures horizontally across the board. Four lines or thirty-six figures are generally enough to conveniently fill a blackboard of ordinary size. Translate every three figures into a word, and associate with the prompters.

740, 014, 941.
110, 484, 310.
594, 250, 100.
742, 940, 521.

Hat and 740—Cress. A Hat, the color of Cress. Honey and 014—Store. Honey may be bought in a Store. Home and 941—Abroad. Leaving home to go Abroad. Hero and 110—Deeds. A Hero is noted for his good Deeds. Hill and 484—River. A Hill is the rising point of a River. Hash and 310—Meats. A Hash is a combination of all Meats.

CALENDAR FOR ONE HUNDRED YEARS,
BY WHICH ANYONE CAN INSTANTANEOUSLY ASCERTAIN THE DAY OF THE WEEK UPON WHICH ANY GIVEN DATE OCCURS.

OR

EXPLANATION OF THE CHART OF SUNDAYS.

In the Calendar Chart are 7 Squares, in which the re months are arranged, under the dates of the days of the month on which the first Sundays occur in the following years, viz:

1800-6-17-23-28-34-45-51-56-62-73-79-84 & 90

and are termed and referred to as Standard Years. Exceptions. The years 1828-56 and 84 (multiple of 28), being Leap, as well as Standard Years, the first Sunday in January falls on January 6, and the first Sunday in February falls on February 3, all the other months remaining unaltered.

RULES TO BE OBSERVED.

To ascertain the day of the week upon which any given date occurs in the present Century.
1st. Subtract from the given year the nearest Standard year; call the remainder (if any) days; add these (together with as many days as there are Leap years between the given and the Standard years) to the number of the day required. Refer this number mentally to the Chart of Sundays, and from this ascertain the day of the week.

EXAMPLES.

 

---

 

June 8, 1845.—As 1845 is a standard year, there will be nothing to subtract. June is in the first square, therefore the first Sunday falls on the 1st. The second Sunday falls on seven days after the first, or the 8th; so June 8, 1845, falls on a Sunday.

March 20, 1836.—The nearest standard year to 1836 is 1834. 34 from 36 leaves 2 to be added to March 20, making it March 22. March is in the second square, and the first Sunday falls on the 2d—2, 9, 16, 23. If the 23d is Sunday, the 22d is one day before, or Saturday; so March 20, 1836, falls on Saturday.

 

---

 

THE ASSOCIATION OF IDEAS.—THE MAINSPRING OF MEMORY.

Association of ideas is very strong. We are often able to recollect people perhaps by something they very frequently say, or upon entering a place where you have spent many pleasant hours with them. If you are in a strange place, and happen to take notice of a store, house, or any object, you will soon be able to find your way round and make yourself familiar with the place, Rhyming is a great aid. It can be used in scientific terms, definitions, and proper names. Associations of sound are the strongest associations in language. Names can be remembered by making phrases or words that sound like them. When the name is required the phrase will immediately come up and suggest the name. Mr. Horsely sounds like horse. Mr. Horsely may be a strong, powerful man, and upon thinking of horse Mr. Horsely will be at once suggested. The following is another method. I know a gentleman whose name is Coldbaugh, and is connected with a bank. The valuables in a bank are kept behind a Cold—Bar. He also has his place of business on Water St. Cold—Water will also give his address.

 

---

 

If, by any reason, I have not fulfilled the wants of all in this little book, instructions in any particular point will be sent upon the receipt of twenty-five cents.

G. FREDERIC LESTER,

Boston, Mass.