10--ACME OF ACQUISITION; or, Learning unconnected facts, rules and principles in the Arts, Sciences, Histories, etc., etc., chapters in books, or books themselves, in one reading or study. 149 11--Learning one hundred facts in the Victorian Era, with dates of year, month, and day of each in one thoughtive perusal. 159 ASSIMILATIVE MEMORY. FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES. What is the basic principle of my system? It is, _Learn_ by _Thinking_. What is _Attention_? It is the will directing the activity of the _intellect_ into some particular channel _and keeping it there_. It is the opposite of mind-wandering. What is thinking? It consists in _finding relations_ between the objects of thought with an _immediate awareness_ of those relations. What is the Sensuous memory? It is association through the eye or ear of a _succession_ of sights or sounds without any reflection or consideration of the units of the succession, or what they stand for, or represent. It is learning by _rote_--mere repetition--mere brainless or thoughtless repetition--a mode of learning that is not lasting--and always causes or promotes mind-wandering. What is Assimilative memory? It is the _habit_ of so _receiving_ and _absorbing_ impressions or ideas that they or their representatives shall be _ready for revival or recall whenever wanted_. It is learning through relations--by thinking--from grasping the ideas or thoughts--the meaning and the comprehension of the subject matter. This mode of learning promotes attention and prevents mind-wandering. What are the two stages of the Memory? Let me illustrate: Last week, month, or year you saw a military procession pass along the streets. Note how your mind was affected. Into your eyes went impressions as to the number composing the procession, their style of costume or dress, the orderliness or otherwise of their march, the shape and form of the musical instruments in the hands of the band, and the appearance of the officer in charge on horseback. Into your ears went impressions of the sound of the tramp and tread of the soldiers, the tune played by the band, and any commands uttered by the officer. These impressions commingling in your brain made up your experience of the passing of the procession--your first and only experience of it at _that_ time. I call this the First Stage of the Memory--the stage of the _First Impression_, which is always the precursor of the Second Stage.