Systematic Memory/Chapter 2

It is much easier, you will find, to remember words than figures. It is far more easy to remember the word America than 349, or the word commendation than 932,782. And yet there is a way by which figures can be remembered as easily as words. Figures can be translated into letters, and numbers can be thus formed into words.

First, you must learn the mnemonic alphabet. The alphabet used here is different from any other, and superior to any which the author has seen. It would appear that most mnemotechnists follow in the path of those by whom they have been instructed, finding that, after acquiring a particular system, to alter the alphabet in any way would confuse them. Hence improvements have hitherto been shunned, greatly to the detriment of the art.

Think of l, n, m, r, then, as the liquids, and representing

f, and its cognate letter v	${\displaystyle \scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}}$	stand for	5	${\displaystyle \scriptstyle {\left\{{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right.}}$	The letters f and v are both found in the word five. Likewise v is the Roman figure for five.
b, and its cognate letter p	${\displaystyle \scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}}$	stand for„	6	${\displaystyle \scriptstyle {\left\{{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right.}}$	The letter b like 6. The letter p an inverted 6.
t, and its cognate letter d	${\displaystyle \scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}}$	stand for„	7	${\displaystyle \scriptstyle {\left\{{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right.}}$	The written capital letter T like 7.
sh, ch, j, g (soft), and tch	${\displaystyle \scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}}$	stand for„	8	${\displaystyle \scriptstyle {\left\{{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right.}}$	No suggestive similarity.
g, ng, k, q, c (hard)	${\displaystyle \scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}}$	stand for„	9	${\displaystyle \scriptstyle {\left\{{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right.}}$	The letter g written, like the figure 9.
z, s, and c (soft)	${\displaystyle \scriptstyle {\left.{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right\}\,}}$	stand for„	0	${\displaystyle \scriptstyle {\left\{{\begin{matrix}\ \\\\\ \ \end{matrix}}\right.}}$	Zero or cipher will suggest the figure.

It must be remembered that we always go by the sound, not by the spelling. The word sought, for instance, we pronounce as if spelled sawt; enough, as if spelled enuf; action, as if spelled akshun, etc. Vowels are not reckoned, neither is w nor h. Th is considered as t only; and, since we go by sound alone, double consonants, as the tt in butter, are counted as single.

It will be observed—and the observation will fix the alphabet the more firmly in the mind—that the figure 5 is represented by the sound f, and by its heavy sound v; that 6 is represented by the sound p, and by its heavy sound b; that 7 is represented by the sound t, and by its heavy sound d; that 8 is represented by the sound ch, as in church, fetch, etc., and by its heavy sound j, as in John, conjure, George, gibe, etc.; likewise by the subdued sound sh, as in shadow, fishing, notion, sure, etc. The figure 9 is represented by the sound k, as in kill, and as also heard in catch, quilt, etc., ​and its heavy sound g (hard), as in good, gracious, etc.; also by the nasal sound ng. Lastly, the cipher (0) is represented by the sound s, as in simple, vassal, nicety, cipher, etc., and by its heavy sound z, as in zephyr, weasel, miser, etc. With the exception of w and h, each consonant sound has thus a certain numerical value.

Having committed the alphabet thoroughly to memory, the pupil's next study should be the translation of words into figures, and of figures into words. Of course you know that the character = in arithmetic means, is equal to. The word mountaineer, then 32724. You see how this is the case: m = 3 ou, the vowels, are not reckoned (sее р. 20); n = 2; t = 7; ai not counted; n = 2; ee not counted; r = 4. M—nt—n—r = 32724. Churchwarden = 848472. The ch sound 8; w not counted; r = 4; ch = 8; w not counted (see p. 20), neither is the vowel a; r = 4; d = 7; e, a vowel; n = 2 Ch—rch—rd—n 848472. In the same way, London = 1272; Scotland = 097127; bridegroom = 647943; any = 2; Jerusalem = 84018; however = 54 (see p. 21); Bartholomew = 64713; wiseacre = 094; coquette = 997; chagrin = 8942; etc., etc. Having practised thus, carefully and thoughtfully, for some little time, the pupil should try the converse of it, translating figures into words or phrases. For example, 628 may be translated into Punch, or bench, or banjo; 924 = gunner, etc.; 469 Rebecca, roebuck, etc. You may likewise translate them into phrases, as 287 into no chat; 546 = far ​up, etc.; 1,700 = load his ass; 6,504 = be off, sir; 293,230 = no gammon, miss; 67,319 = bad milk; 9,719 = a young bullock; and so on.

Accustom yourself, by practice, to the translation of figures into words, and vice versâ, always taking care to go by the sound alone, omitting all vowels, and also the letters w and h. Facility in this work is acquired in a much shorter time than would be imagined. When figures are formed into words it is vitally important that you should, in every instance, make a clear, distinct picture of them. Associate the words with something, no matter what.

Readiness in picturing is the great thing to be acquired. You will very soon be enabled to remember figures with as much ease as words. You can translate them into words, which you will be able to associate with some familiar object, and thus form a picture, as shown in page 17. Whenever you bring the known object before your mind—and this you can do at pleasure—it will at once suggest the less known word. By consulting the alphabet, you can retranslate this word, which will give you the figures you wished to remember. This part of the subject, however, will be fully entered into in its proper place.

A table will now be given of words suited for picture-making, representing the numbers from 1 to 100, and which the pupil can extend, as occasion may require. These words, so to speak, are to be used as memory-pegs to hang facts upon. The words are to be committed to memory. When ​this is done, they are always at your call when you require them.

To commit this table to memory is not such a difficult task as might at first sight be imagined. The figures, which in their order are familiar to every one, will, after the first or second reading, suggest the words which represent them, so that the task is comparatively easy. It should be borne in mind that this table requires to be mastered but once. It will then serve, through a whole lifetime, as a means of committing to memory with ease, a thousand matters which it may be desirable to learn. Always be careful to associate together the word, and the figure which represents it, also to notice why such and such a word represents certain figures and no other.

Having committed this table to memory, the pupil has entirely got over what may be termed the drudgery of the system. There is nothing further to learn. The pupil has only to apply what he has already acquired, which application he will find pleasant and interesting beyond his anticipations. Take courage, therefore. Master this table, and you will be enabled to achieve feats of memory which the world at large would consider beyond human power.

It will be noticed that the words of which the table is composed, together with the numbers which these words indicate, are arranged in groups of threes, this plan being found greatly to facilitate the recollection of them.

Sea will do for the figure 0. It begins with s, ​

​the only consonant in it, and which in the alphabet stands for 0. It likewise forms a striking picture. Law in like manner, will do for 1. (l = 1) Noah = 2 (n = 2). May = 3 (m = 3). Ray = 4 (r = 4) Lass = 10 (1—s = 10). Tomb = 73 (t—m = 73) . And so on. It must not be imagined that we are about to form another alphabet. No, the alphabet neceвsarily consists of letters only; we are now using words; and we use them merely to make a fixed scale in harmony with our alphabet for representing certain figures.

Imagine this table to represent the figure of a man's body, and it will materially assist you in the committing of it to memory. He has got the sea in his forehead, law in one eye and may in the other; a bee on his left cheek, and a shoe in his mouth; a lass, by way of epaulette, on one shoulder, and a bunch of moss on the other; a goose under his left arm, and a rose in his button-hole; his face in his chest, and plenty of cheese, fish, gin, and jam in his stomach. But alas! with all these advantages he has a noose about his neck.

If you examine the table, you will find that most of the words employed are ambiguous in their signification; on this account they afford greater scope for picture-making.