Assimilative Memory; or, How to Attend and Never ForgetLoisette, A. (Alphonse)
Science
Assimilative Memory; or, How to Attend and Never Forget
Loisette, A. (Alphonse)
Mnemonics
_Third Exception._--In cases where there is no practical utility in
comparing one very large number with another, as in the case of the
distances of the planets from the sun, mere round numbers may suffice,
yet astronomers must know such numbers with exactness. But in regard to
all mundane affairs, the pupil must throw off the character of scholar
and assume the license of children, if he attempts to express large
numbers, as of populations, &c., by "guessing," or, what is the same
thing, by only giving round numbers. The Brooklyn Suspension Bridge is
5989 feet long, and the Forth Bridge, which crosses the Firth of Forth
in Scotland, is 8296 feet long. Now, instead of saying that the former
is _about_ 5000 feet long, why not say 5989 feet long? [(5) {L}ong (9)
{B}ridge (8) O{f} (9) {B}rooklyn.] And instead of saying that the latter
is _about or somewhere in the neighbourhood_ of 8000 feet long, why not
be exact and say 8296 feet long? [(8) {F}orth's (2) {N}ew (9) {B}ridge
(6) {Sh}own. It was completed in 1890.]
No one who has not had experience in dealing with thousands of poor
memories, as I have had, can realise the fact that in most cases of poor
memories _the facts themselves are often possessed_, but are mostly
_unrecallable_ when wanted. I have tried to teach pupils how to find
analytic date or number words _without any previous training in In.,
Ex., and Con._, and 99 of all such attempts have always been failures.
The 100th case, which succeeded, only confirmed the rule. On the other
hand, I have always found that these failures become successes after a
thorough practical training in In., Ex., and Con., such as I have
already given. In fact, I never had a pupil who became proficient in the
use of In., Ex., and Con., who did not arrive at the use of analytic
number words without any specific directions from me. But I think, on
the whole, that it is the better way to _combine_ direct and specific
training in analytic number words, with a previous exhaustive general
drill in In., Ex., and Con.
The rules hereafter given must be carefully studied and every example
painstakingly examined. After studying my formulas let the pupil
endeavour in _each case_ to find a better one himself. If the pupil acts
on my advice, he will know how to be always _sure_ to think of the
needful related or including facts for finding analytic date words,
phrases, or sentences.
The different processes for dealing with dates or numbers may be
classified as follows:--
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