1 00:00:00,440 --> 00:00:06,320 Speaker 1: How to remember words, et cetera. In a preceding chapter, 2 00:00:06,559 --> 00:00:09,439 we gave a number of instances of persons who had 3 00:00:09,519 --> 00:00:14,880 highly developed their memory of words, sentences, et cetera. History 4 00:00:14,960 --> 00:00:19,120 is full of instances of this kind. The moderns fall 5 00:00:19,239 --> 00:00:23,320 far behind the ancients in this respect, probably because there 6 00:00:23,359 --> 00:00:26,719 does not exist the present necessity for the feats of memory, 7 00:00:26,960 --> 00:00:30,960 which were once accepted as commonplace and not out of 8 00:00:30,960 --> 00:00:36,640 the ordinary. Among ancient people, when printing was unknown and 9 00:00:36,799 --> 00:00:40,920 manuscripts scarce and valuable, it was the common custom of 10 00:00:40,960 --> 00:00:44,560 the people to learn by heart the various sacred teachings 11 00:00:44,600 --> 00:00:49,000 of their respective religions. The sacred books of the Hindus 12 00:00:49,039 --> 00:00:52,079 were transmitted in this way, and it was a common 13 00:00:52,119 --> 00:00:54,520 thing among the Hebrews to be able to recite the 14 00:00:54,560 --> 00:00:59,640 books of Moses and the Prophets entirely from memory. Even 15 00:00:59,679 --> 00:01:03,439 to this day, the faithful Mohammedans are taught to commit 16 00:01:03,520 --> 00:01:09,239 the entire Koran to memory, and investigation reveals always that 17 00:01:09,280 --> 00:01:12,599 there has been used the identical process of committing these 18 00:01:12,640 --> 00:01:16,519 sacred books to memory and recalling them at will, the 19 00:01:16,640 --> 00:01:21,400 natural method instead of an artificial one. And therefore we 20 00:01:21,439 --> 00:01:25,680 shall devote this chapter solely to this method, whereby poems 21 00:01:25,799 --> 00:01:29,680 or prose may be committed to memory and recalled readily. 22 00:01:31,319 --> 00:01:35,799 This natural method of memorizing words, sentences, or verses is 23 00:01:35,879 --> 00:01:39,640 no royal road. It is a system which must be 24 00:01:39,719 --> 00:01:45,000 mastered by steady work and faithful review. One must start 25 00:01:45,000 --> 00:01:48,159 at the beginning and work his way up. But the 26 00:01:48,239 --> 00:01:52,680 result of such work will astonish anyone not familiar with it. 27 00:01:52,680 --> 00:01:58,079 It is the very same method that the Hindus, Hebrews, Mohammedans, Norsemen, 28 00:01:58,640 --> 00:02:01,680 and the rest of the races memorized their thousands of 29 00:02:01,799 --> 00:02:05,200 verses and hundreds of chapters of the sacred books of 30 00:02:05,239 --> 00:02:09,240 their people. It is the method of the successful actor 31 00:02:09,520 --> 00:02:13,319 and the popular elocutionist not to mention those speakers who 32 00:02:13,360 --> 00:02:18,919 carefully commit to memory their impromptu addresses and extemporaneous speeches. 33 00:02:19,919 --> 00:02:23,479 This natural system of memorizing is based upon the principle 34 00:02:23,599 --> 00:02:26,439 which has already been alluded to in this book, and 35 00:02:26,599 --> 00:02:31,199 by which every child learns its alphabet and its multiplication table, 36 00:02:31,879 --> 00:02:34,439 as well as the little piece that it recites for 37 00:02:34,479 --> 00:02:38,120 the entertainment of its fond parents and the bored friends 38 00:02:38,159 --> 00:02:42,520 of the family. That principle consists of the learning of 39 00:02:42,599 --> 00:02:47,159 one line at a time, and reviewing that line, then 40 00:02:47,319 --> 00:02:51,360 learning a second line and reviewing that, and then reviewing 41 00:02:51,400 --> 00:02:55,280 the two lines together, and so on, each edition being 42 00:02:55,400 --> 00:02:59,800 reviewed in connection with those that went before. The child 43 00:02:59,800 --> 00:03:03,280 that learns the sound of A, then it learns B, 44 00:03:03,960 --> 00:03:07,719 then it associates the sound of A B in its 45 00:03:07,759 --> 00:03:13,639 first review, the C is added, and the review runs A, B, C, 46 00:03:14,599 --> 00:03:18,319 and so on until Z is reached and the child 47 00:03:18,479 --> 00:03:21,599 is able to review the entire list from A to 48 00:03:21,759 --> 00:03:27,319 Z inclusive. The multiplication table begins with it twice one 49 00:03:27,479 --> 00:03:31,360 is two, then twice two is four, and so on, 50 00:03:31,800 --> 00:03:35,360 a little at a time until the twos are finished 51 00:03:35,400 --> 00:03:40,159 and the threes begun. This process is kept up by 52 00:03:40,280 --> 00:03:45,560 constant addition and constant review until twelve twelves finishes up 53 00:03:45,599 --> 00:03:48,560 the list and the child is able to repeat the 54 00:03:48,599 --> 00:03:52,960 tables from first to last from memory. But there is 55 00:03:53,039 --> 00:03:55,599 more to it in the case of the child than 56 00:03:55,680 --> 00:03:59,599 merely learning to repeat the alphabet or the multiplication table. 57 00:04:00,439 --> 00:04:03,120 There is also the strengthening of the memory as a 58 00:04:03,120 --> 00:04:08,439 result of its exercise and use. Memory, like every faculty 59 00:04:08,479 --> 00:04:12,479 of the mind or every muscle of the body, improves 60 00:04:12,560 --> 00:04:18,399 and develops by intelligent and reasonable use and exercise. Not 61 00:04:18,480 --> 00:04:22,319 only does this exercise and use develop the memory along 62 00:04:22,399 --> 00:04:26,360 the particular line of the faculty used, but also along 63 00:04:26,519 --> 00:04:31,439 every line and faculty. This is so because the exercise 64 00:04:31,519 --> 00:04:35,279 develops the power of concentration and the use of the 65 00:04:35,360 --> 00:04:40,360 voluntary attention. We suggest that the student who wishes to 66 00:04:40,439 --> 00:04:44,759 acquire a good memory for words, sentences, et cetera, begin 67 00:04:44,879 --> 00:04:48,360 at once selecting some favorite poem for the purpose of 68 00:04:48,399 --> 00:04:53,000 the demonstration. Then let him memorize one verse of not 69 00:04:53,160 --> 00:04:57,639 only four to six lines to begin with. Let him 70 00:04:57,720 --> 00:05:01,639 learn this verse perfectly, line by line, until he is 71 00:05:01,680 --> 00:05:05,120 able to repeat it without a mistake. Let him be 72 00:05:05,199 --> 00:05:09,199 sure to be letter perfect in that verse, so perfect 73 00:05:09,279 --> 00:05:12,639 that he will see even the capital letters and the 74 00:05:12,680 --> 00:05:17,240 punctuation marks when he recites it. Then let him stop 75 00:05:17,279 --> 00:05:20,959 for the day. The next day, let him repeat the 76 00:05:21,040 --> 00:05:24,759 verse learned the day before, and then let him memorize 77 00:05:24,800 --> 00:05:28,279 a second verse in the same way and just as perfectly. 78 00:05:29,399 --> 00:05:32,480 Then let him review the first and second verses together. 79 00:05:33,560 --> 00:05:36,319 This edition of the second verse to the first verse 80 00:05:36,800 --> 00:05:41,360 serves to weld the two together by association, and each 81 00:05:41,519 --> 00:05:44,240 review of them together serves to add a little bit 82 00:05:44,319 --> 00:05:47,519 to the weld until they become joined in the mind 83 00:05:47,759 --> 00:05:52,519 as our A, B. C. The third day, let him 84 00:05:52,560 --> 00:05:55,279 learn a third verse in the same way, and then 85 00:05:55,439 --> 00:05:59,839 review the three. Continue this for say a month, adding 86 00:06:00,199 --> 00:06:03,439 new verse each day and adding to it the verses 87 00:06:03,560 --> 00:06:08,120 preceding it, but constantly review them from beginning to end. 88 00:06:09,199 --> 00:06:12,800 He cannot review them too often. He will be able 89 00:06:12,839 --> 00:06:16,000 to have them flow along like the letters of the alphabet, 90 00:06:16,079 --> 00:06:20,000 from A to Z. If he reviews properly and often enough. 91 00:06:21,560 --> 00:06:24,560 Then if he can spare the time, let him begin 92 00:06:24,600 --> 00:06:28,399 the second month by learning two verses each day and 93 00:06:28,560 --> 00:06:33,600 adding to those that precede them with constant and faithful reviews. 94 00:06:34,399 --> 00:06:37,360 He will find that he can memorize two verses in 95 00:06:37,399 --> 00:06:40,319 the second month as easily as he did the one 96 00:06:40,439 --> 00:06:44,360 verse in the first month. His memory has been trained 97 00:06:44,399 --> 00:06:48,279 to this extent, and so he may proceed from month 98 00:06:48,360 --> 00:06:51,800 to month adding an extra verse to his daily task 99 00:06:52,199 --> 00:06:54,759 until he is unable to spare the time for all 100 00:06:54,800 --> 00:06:58,040 the work, or until he feels satisfied with what he 101 00:06:58,079 --> 00:07:02,680 has accomplished. Let him use moderation and not try to 102 00:07:02,720 --> 00:07:08,759 become a phenomenon. Let him avoid overstraining. After he has 103 00:07:08,879 --> 00:07:12,839 memorized the entire poem. Let him start with a new one, 104 00:07:13,160 --> 00:07:16,800 but not forget to revive the old one at frequent intervals. 105 00:07:18,000 --> 00:07:21,120 If he finds it impossible to add the necessary number 106 00:07:21,160 --> 00:07:24,920 of new verses by reasons of other occupation, et cetera, 107 00:07:25,519 --> 00:07:28,360 let him not fail to keep up his review work. 108 00:07:29,360 --> 00:07:33,000 The exercise and review is more important than mere addition 109 00:07:33,199 --> 00:07:37,920 of so many new verses. Let him vary the verses 110 00:07:38,160 --> 00:07:42,600 or poems with prose selections. He will find the verses 111 00:07:42,600 --> 00:07:46,480 of the Bible very well adapted for such exercise, as 112 00:07:46,560 --> 00:07:51,680 they lend themselves easily to registration in the memory. Shakespeare 113 00:07:51,720 --> 00:07:55,480 may be used to advantage in this work. The Rubayat 114 00:07:55,560 --> 00:07:58,720 of Omar Khayam, or The Lady of the Lake by 115 00:07:58,839 --> 00:08:03,040 Scott Or or the Song Celestial or Light of Asia, 116 00:08:03,439 --> 00:08:06,639 both by Edwin Arnold, will be found to be well 117 00:08:06,680 --> 00:08:10,360 adapted to this system of memorizing, the verses of each 118 00:08:10,519 --> 00:08:14,519 being apt to stick in the memory, and each poem 119 00:08:14,600 --> 00:08:19,000 being sufficiently long to satisfy the requirements of even the 120 00:08:19,040 --> 00:08:24,199 most ambitious student. To look at the complete poem any 121 00:08:24,240 --> 00:08:27,680 of those mentioned, it would seem almost impossible that one 122 00:08:27,680 --> 00:08:30,519 would ever be able to memorize and recite it. From 123 00:08:30,560 --> 00:08:34,960 beginning to end letter perfect. But on the principle of 124 00:08:35,000 --> 00:08:39,279 the continual dripping of water wearing away the stone or 125 00:08:39,320 --> 00:08:43,639 the snowball increasing at each roll. This practice of a 126 00:08:43,720 --> 00:08:47,840 little being associated to what he already has will soon 127 00:08:47,879 --> 00:08:55,320 allow him to accumulate a wonderfully large store of memorized verses, poems, recitations, etc. 128 00:08:56,799 --> 00:09:00,039 It is an actual demonstration of the catchy words of 129 00:09:00,120 --> 00:09:04,799 the popular song, which informs one that every little bit 130 00:09:05,000 --> 00:09:08,120 added to what you've got makes just a little bit more. 131 00:09:09,639 --> 00:09:14,080 After he has acquired quite a large assortment of memorized selections, 132 00:09:14,480 --> 00:09:17,120 he will find it impossible to review them all at 133 00:09:17,120 --> 00:09:20,519 one time, but he should be sure to review them 134 00:09:20,600 --> 00:09:24,480 all at intervals, no matter how many days may elapse 135 00:09:24,559 --> 00:09:29,879 between each review. The student who has familiarized himself with 136 00:09:29,919 --> 00:09:33,759 the principles upon which memory depends, as given in the 137 00:09:33,799 --> 00:09:37,960 preceding chapters, will at once see that the three principles 138 00:09:38,000 --> 00:09:44,720 of attention, association, and repetition are employed in the natural method. Herein, 139 00:09:44,840 --> 00:09:50,320 recommended attention must be given in order to memorize each verse. 140 00:09:50,360 --> 00:09:54,679 In the first place, association is employed in the relationship 141 00:09:54,799 --> 00:09:58,279 created between the old verses and the new ones, and 142 00:09:58,480 --> 00:10:02,960 Repetition is employed by the frequent reviewing, which serves to 143 00:10:03,039 --> 00:10:08,519 deepen the memory impression each time the poem is repeated. Moreover, 144 00:10:08,840 --> 00:10:12,480 the principle of interest is invoked in the gradual progress 145 00:10:12,600 --> 00:10:15,720 made and the accomplishment of what at first seemed to 146 00:10:15,799 --> 00:10:20,159 be an impossible task. The game element is thus supplied, 147 00:10:20,519 --> 00:10:25,759 which serves as an incentive. These combined principles render this 148 00:10:25,919 --> 00:10:29,120 method an ideal one, and it is not to be 149 00:10:29,200 --> 00:10:31,919 wondered that the race has so recognized it from the 150 00:10:31,960 --> 00:10:33,039 earliest times.