An Improved System of Mnemonics/Introduction

THE bases of the Mnemonic art, are Method, Locality, and Association; the advantages of the first, in every branch or department of science, literature, and mechanism, must be obvious to the meanest capacity;—by classification or arrangement, science has been enlarged beyond the formerly supposed boundaries of human knowledge;---literature has derived the greatest assistance from it, and by it improvements in the mechanic arts have been considerably accelerated. In the acquirement of knowledge, no natural powers of memory, however considerable without system, can atchieve so much as an indifferent, or tolerable memory, with it.

The advantages to be derived from locality, cannot be so well demonstrated; they can only be appreciated by those who have reduced it to system; but the casual effects that places have, in recalling ideas, must be acknowledged by all; for there is scarcely a human being in any rank or walk of life, that has not felt their influence. Who that has past his early years, exposed to a variety of pleasing and unpleasing sensations, having been separated from the scene of former joys, and after a lapse of time, returns to the well-known spot, that does not find a thousand impressions revive by the most trivial objects in nature? The sight of a tree perhaps renews a sensation, which instantly recals the remembrance of having formerly climbed it; or having been sheltered by its branches, from the intenseness of the summer's heat, or the drenching storm; other ideas emanate from it or similar objects. Every apartment in our residence, serves to recal former happiness or sorrow; our friends, ​our sports, our griefs revive; circumstances that for years were dormant, rush to our recollection, with nearly all the force of their original impressions. Here we see a fond parent; perhaps now no more, gazing on us with paternal tenderness, when with light hearts, bounding with anticipated joys, we left our paternal residence, to seek imagined bliss in distant scenes. In this apartment, a sister delighted to sit; in that, a brother smiled, caressed, or chid us.—If perchance we should visit the alternately loved and hated school, to which we oft have crept or ran, could we avoid directing our eyes towards the form on which we formerly sat, we should plainly see the elevated seat from whence the appalling mandate Silence, used to issue, even though every vestige of literary apparatus had totally disappeared.

But the power of renewing former impressions, is not confined to places that we have been accustomed to; wherever our imagination roved or dwelt with peculiar interest, the recurrence of our thoughts to the scenes that fancy painted, never fails placing in array the train of reasoning, or events that attracted our attention.—when, for instance, we think upon the plains of Pharsalia, the fields of Agincourt or of Cressy, we soon embody the armed hosts; Here a Cesar, there a Henry or an Edward, fought and conquered; we see the field covered with slain; the warriors animating their followers; here we fix our eyes upon a single chieftain, follow him through the various ranks, observe his "hair-breadth 'scapes," as described by the historian, and finally see him triumphant, the laurel encircling his brow. If we actually visit those places, we look around us, to fix upon some spot where we think the hero might have stood, we fight the battle o'er again: again we crown the conqueror!

Cicero's description of his walk to the academy is beautifully illustrative of our principles—

"We agreed, (says Cicero) that we should take our evening walk in the Academy, as at that time of the day, it was a place where there was no resort of company. Accordingly at the hour appointed we went to Piso's; we passed the time in conversing on ​different matters, during our short way from the Double-gate, till we came to the Academy, that celebrated spot, which, as we wished, we found a perfect solitude. I know not (said Piso) whether it be a natural feeling, or an illusion of the imagination founded on habit; that we are more powerfully affected by the sight of those places, which have been much frequented by illustrious men; than when we either listen to the recital or read the detail of their great actions.—At this moment I feel strongly the emotion I speak of:—I see before me, the perfect form of Plato, who was wont to dispute in this very place; those gardens not only recal him to my memory, but present his very persen to my senses; I fancy to myself that here stood Speusippus, there Xenocrates, and here on this bench sat his disciple Polemo. To me our Senate house seems peopled with the like visionary forms, for often when I enter it, the shades of Scipio, of Cato, and of Lelius, and in particular of my venerable grandfather, rise to my imagination; In short, such are the effects of local situations, in recalling associated ideas to the mind, that it is not without reason, some Philosophers have founded on this principle, a species of Artificial memory."

From these and a thousand similar instances, that will readily present themselves to the mind of the reader, it appears rational to suppose, that a system true to these principles must be of considerable importance. Upon this plan we learn that Simonides, the Cean poet, the supposed inventor of the art proceeded, the account of which is described by Quinctilian. It is related that he was invited to a feast to celebrate the virtues of his host, one Scopas a Thessalian, but his poetic genius, soaring to the regions of the Gods, for matter to adorn his eulogium, where finding a more ample field for his imagination, he dilated too long on the merits of Castor and Pollux, to the mortification of his patron, who expected, that he alone, would have the glory of the day; he therefore refused to pay the stipulated price, and referred the son of rhyme to his patrons in the celestial spheres, for a moiety of the original sum; It appears that his piety was rewarded, for a messen​ger shortly after called him from the festive board, supposed to be sent by these gods, for he was scarcely in safety, when the room fell, and crushed Scopas and his guests to death; who were so mutilated, that their friends could not recognise them; but Simonides recollecting the precise situation that each person had occupied at table, was thus enabled to identify their persons, and point them out to their friends for burial. This suggested to him the advantages derivable from locality and association; and gave him the hint which he afterwards digested into a system.—Mythological as this account is (to strip it of its supernatural agency) it does not appear improbable that to an accident of a similar kind, we may be indebted for the device.

The powers of imagination and association are also called to the mnemonicians aid; the pictures of the former are connected by the assistance of the latter, and are thus strongly retained by the memory.

The association of ideas in the natural order of the mind, we find the most powerful and efficacious means of reminiscence; wherever one object becomes linked with another, we more easily recollect it, than where it is apart or isolated.

It appears to be a part of our nature, to have recourse to association in the general course of things, and perhaps, if analysed it may be one of the causes of the diversity, we observe in men: The uncommon quickness of some, and the slowness of others, may proceed from their superior, or inferior talent of associating. This principle is as extensive, as ample, as our powers are capacious; it reaches every where; not an object of our senses, our feelings, or our thoughts, but is subservient to it; the objects of sight, are associated with each other—as are feeling, hearing, tasting, and smelling. From the pressure of a hand, the harmony or discordance of sounds, what various feelings arise? a peculiar pungency or sweetness of taste, an odoriferous or fetid exhalation in like manner; mental researches, metaphysical investigations, all derive assistance from it, 'tis the hand-maid of memory, great in its importance to man, as it is as active as versatile.

​This powerful engine of the mind, if cultivated, must be of the greatest utility; it may be used in a thousand instances where this system cannot reach, though it is the very pivot on which it turns.

Some people apprehend that the memory may be burdened by a multitude of images and impressions—does not the extensive knowledge of the Scholar refute the supposition? does he feel oppressed by the vast store of learning he possesses? does he not rather feel his powers expand, his capacity increase in proportion to his acquirements? do we not frequently, when we are desirous of remembering a particular place, look around for some object or objects sufficiently marked to assist our memory? Here instead of one impression, we conjure up two or three, and this we do without our memory being in the slightest degree oppressed; but on the contrary, our recollection materially aided by them.

The associations we form with objects of sense, we find less fugitive than those of a merely mental nature; therefore it must be evident, that where the latter can be interwoven with the former. our chance of retaining them is greater—Dugald Stewart, with his usual felicity of thought and expression, observes that "The influence of perceptible objects in awakening associated thoughts and associated feelings, seem to arise in a great measure from their permanent operation, as exciting or suggesting causes. When a train of thought takes its rise from an idea or conception, the first idea soon disappears, and a series of others succeed, which are gradually less and less related to that with which the train commenced; but in the case of perception, the exciting causes remain steadily before us, and all the thoughts and feelings which have any relation to it, crowd into the mind in rapid succession, through each others effects, and all conspiring in the same general impression."

For this purpose symbols are introduced, as permanent exciting causes, which a little practice, will render as familiar to us as any objects in nature; these must be placed in the established lo calities, to be employed in the various subjects we desire. By ​sing them in the manner detailed in the work, we gain the assistance of one of the essentials to recollection---Attention; Whilst our eyes become fixed to a particular spot, the faculties of the mind accompanying them, become concentrated to a focus, which materially assists our memory. Without attention, we can never recollect; the means therefore, that conduce to it, must be desirable.

Great as the advantages are that may be derived from this system, let not the student deceive himself by expectations, which cannot be realised. He must frequently repeat his subjects to fix them in his memory; but the advantages he derives are, that he can retain them more permanently, as well as acquire them more quickly, than by the general mode we adopt; and also have his subjects more disposable.

Stewart further observes in one of his admirable essays: "that the qualities of a good memory are---to be susceptible; to be retentive; to be ready."——Much as we require from nature to produce this happy union, we may derive considerable assistance from system to effect it. Susceptibility and retention, are aided by the frequent exercise of the proper faculties necessary to them. We cannot succeed in being ready, unless we have properly arranged the subjects of our study.——These, the system of mnemonics is calculated to produce.

Erroneous opinions are formed of the application of this art; it is generally called the system of Artificial memory, which implies an opposition to Natural memory, but a very little consideration, must point out the impropriety of the term; it would be perhaps better expressed, by saying Artificial helps to the Natural memory, for nothing can be impressed on the mind, without the exercise of memory, which this system so far from dispensing with, calls into most active use; and only requires the assistance of those principles, that have their foundation in nature.

If we wished to recollect the period when the laws of Draco were promulged, and said that their Venom defeated their object, as a people could not long endure them. That Moses must have TripIt quickly across the Red Sea to escape the hosts of Pharaoh.

​That the followers of Columbus instead of imitating their leader, seemed only anxious to Trepan the unfortunate inhabitants they discovered. And that the words Venom, Tript, and Trepan had the letters which were employed to represent the figures 623 В.С. 1491 B.C. and 1492 A.D. the proper dates when those transactions occurred. Would not the remembrance of these be truly an exercise of memory?—but receiving such desirable assistance from association and arrangement.

That the recollection of these or similar dates, together with other subjects, that are by many deemed essential to impress on the memory, may be disapproved of by others, is a different consideration. The author is free to admit, that too much importance is attached to the remembrance of several things by some, as they may be esteemed too lightly by others.—Some people seem to act, as if the whole principles of knowledge, consisted in being able to repeat the sentiments or opinions of others; or the specific rules laid down, whether in the languages or sciences; and therefore deplore the badness of their memories, in being unable to retain them; but if they took one-tenth of the pains in attending to general principles, which they employ in committing to memory, not only would their knowledge be more extensive, but their minds more active and efficient for all the various purposes of our nature. The exercise of reason, the various analogies that may be traced by a little investigation, will be found more effectual in obtaining knowledge, than the exercise of the best memory that man ever possessed. With these this system does not clash, it is only presented as a help to those subjects where philosophical principles cannot guide—where science has not given general laws to determine with facility the subjects of our cogitation or application; and where a ready recollection is essential:—this may be observed in one of our earliest studies, the multiplication table; a child or an adult may be easily taught the principles of it, that it is, in fact, nothing but addition in another form but for use, this would be of little service. It is necessary in applying it, that the arithmetician should have no pause, no calculation to effect, but at once give the correct an​swer; or business would be considerably retarded.---The same in a variety of other tables. No system can be devised so effectual for Chronology, as the exercise of memory. Geography and Astronomy in detail, in the same manner, require the exercise of the same faculty. To these or similar studies that require the actual exercise of memory, any plan calculated to assist, must be desirable.

But mnemonics are not limited to mere systematic tables: history, poetry, prose, grammar, oratory, botany, or similar pursuits where even design and plan can be admitted, will derive occasional aids from them. However admirable the orator's arrangements may be, he requires occasional resting places for the mind in his developement; this can be done by the mnemonic arrangement, without interfering with the general harmony of his design. The same in the other branches that have been enumerated.

One considerable advantage arising from the application of this system is, the habit of adhering to method, which we acquire by the practice of it.—This pursued in one branch of study, will indubitably operate and influence our conduct in others.

The powers of association called into action, will materially serve us, in accustoming our minds, to combination, and analogy; and although we frequently use grotesque or ludicrous assimilations in subjects, where no chastity of style is required; yet they are not so decidedly essential to the system, but others more congenial to the feelings may be substituted.

We shall conclude this introduction with the remarks of a great genius, upon the possibility of means being devised to facilitate the acquisition of knowledge. Condorcet, speaking of the improvement of the mind, refers to geometry, which in India and Egypt was an occult science, now so well known.---All the discoveries of Newton, learned in two years by a boy. At each epoch genius outstrips the present age; and is overtaken by mediocrity in the next. Nature has furnished us with the means of abridging our intellectual labours; and there is no reason for supposing such simplifications will ever have an end.