The Science of Memory Fully Expounded

It has been most judiciously observed by a writer in the Encyclopædia Britannica, that "in modern times the subject of Mnemonics does not seem to have generally received that amount of attention which its importance demands." This is accounted for by the reason that the professors of the art "have had more in view the exhibiting of mere feats of memory, than to apply the principles of the art to matters of real value and importance." Their systems have invariably been more showy than useful, and have been adapted principally to one or two subjects, wherein they have afforded more or less aid; but for the general purposes of education, reading, and study they have been wholly inapplicable; hence has arisen a degree of suspicion and distrust as to the capabilities of the art, however judiciously treated, which may be said to be most unfortunate.

Many works on Mnemonics have appeared during the last half century, one or two of them containing much valuable information, one or two ushered into ​the world under high-sounding titles, and written with such stultifying arrogance that little was to be expected from them, and they improved the subject accordingly. The remainder of the treatises may, with truth, be characterized as wholly worthless, put forth not with the intention and for the purpose of instructing, but merely to excite curiosity, and act as decoys to the study of private systems.

Some have professed to teach in an hour or so "systems" that should, without trouble, radically and permanently improve the memory, but it is hardly necessary to say that such so-called systems, which merely consist of a substitution for figures and a few prompters, form no exposition of the science, and are utterly useless to accomplish the many things professed. Indeed, it is so reasonable as to be at once apparent to all, that to explain the various laws on which the memory acts, and to give it effective and practical aids, constitute a distinct study, and cannot be acquired from a few cursory directions. Much weighty testimony has at times been adduced in commendation of these yclept systems, and has been triumphantly pointed at in proof of their usefulness. But, such eulogiæ are easily explained from the fact that the propounders of these "systems" merely followed, or modified in some slight degree, the plans adopted by our saga​cious forefathers, which, though only partially in accordance with the natural laws, are nevertheless found to afford such assistance in one or two simple subjects, that the learners have been much struck therewith, and hence have freely expressed their wonder. Had such systems, however, been based on a complete comprehension of the natural laws, they would not all so surely have passed into desuetude and oblivion.

That the subject offers an ample field for enquiry none will doubt; and that a treatise in which it should be fairly, scientifically, and independently treated would be a boon to society, seems equally manifest. Indeed, a lucid explanation of the natural laws of the memory, and practical aids based thereon, would form one of the most valuable contributions to educational literature that can be conceived.

Feeling such to be the case, the Author has endeavoured in some measure to supply the existing want, and he ventures to think this little work will prove to be a fair and useful exposition of the sub-jeet; and, while everything has been avoided that might prove burdensome to the reader, he yet believes that the principles of the science have been sufficiently fully explained to enable any person of average ability, and with a little perseverance, to bring his ​natural powers to a high degree of usefulness and vigour.

To those, however, and they may not be few, who turn to these pages in the expectation of finding some passe-partout to accomplish anything and everything without effort or difficulty,—to such it is but fair to remark that they will meet with no realization of their wishes. The ascent to excellence is always steep and rugged, and this can prove no exception to the rule. Effort and pains-taking are required to help the memory with facility, and it is sufficient to say, that the reward and advantages will he more than commensurate with the labour bestowed.

The Author believes that the memory in the majority of individuals is capable of being brought with diligence, by practice and judicious culture, and with the assistance of such aids as an acquaintance with the laws which regulate it readily indicate, to such a degree of tenaciousness and perfection that has only been found in a few celebrities, and the practical means to effect which it has been his aim to make clear. He has proceeded by shewing the importance of this faculty in the economy of the mind, its dependence on the general health and the physical conditions of the body, and the necessity of cultivating the tone of the nervous system, that is, ​the brain, the pathway and avenue to the mind. The operations of the mind in remembering, and the laws that appear to govern it, are fully explained, and such helps are afforded as can be easily conveyed for assisting the memory. In truth, he has wished to supply all that science and art seem capable of doing for the improvement and assistance of this faculty, at least so far as the subject is understood at present.

The object has been to explain the general laws rather than to give their adaptation to universal knowledge and the matters of every-day life, but, as the latter will prove very easy when these laws are fully understood, it has been left to the intelligence and ingenuity of the student.

The contrivances for facilitating the operations of the memory are so exceedingly simple, that the merest child may understand and readily practise them, and not only do they not interfere with and hamper the natural workings of the mind, but, being based upon the natural laws, they anticipate, promote, and greatly strengthen them.

Many, who cannot be congratulated on their prescience or judgment, have decried as utterly impossible the formation of any plans or artificial aids which can at once, simply and surely, assist the memory. Man, however, has surrounded himself so ​completely with artificial adaptations for other purposes in life, that he now lives in an atmosphere of artifice, and will never remit his endeavours to triumph still further over nature and the limited state of his own powers. While he diligently uses nature against herself, and opposes one part to overcome another, there seems little limit to what he may do in every department of her vast domain. We see he has artificial means for reading, artificial light of various kinds, artificial means of talking, artificial dental organs, artificial helps to reading for the blind, artificial means to increase the hearing, etc., and he will, no doubt, have many further artificial facilities yet, to augment his natural capabilities, of which at present we have no conception. When then we see that mau, finding the powers that nature has bestowed upon him inadequate to his numerous and ever-increasing desires, has called in art, or a knowledge of nature's laws, to assist him in so many various ways, while nature has not said, "thus far shalt thou go and no farther," who shall authoritatively pronounce it impossible, when the laws by which it is governed are fairly understood, to formulate aids for the assistance of the memory, one of the very highest and most important of man's endowments?

But primarily, it is necessary that the laws which ​regulate the memory in its natural workings should be clearly comprehended, and any any aids it is desired to form must be based on these, and the more directly such aids are founded thereon, the more efficacious they will necessarily be. When these laws are thoroughly understood and appreciated, and suitable aids used, there will be no limit to the power and the extent to which the memory may be charged, except a person's patience and diligence.

As the history and gradual progress of the science have already been satisfactorily considered in other treatises on the subject, it has not been thought desirable to reproduce them in this, as the object has been rather to present all that appears necessary and material to its practical elucidation, than to divert the attention and encumber the reader with the details and comparisons of previous plans.

Much that might prove interesting to the reader in continuation of the subject it has been found necessary to suppress, as it would otherwise swell this little treatise to an extent not wished at present, but if it should meet with the support and approbation of the public, the Author would feel himself encouraged in a subsequent edition further to enlarge on it, with a view to increase its usefulness, and to illustrate the mode of application to various branches of knowledge.

​As some readers might feel desirous of making enquiries on some points, the Author begs to say he would be happy to reply to any communications as far as time should permit him; and on the other hand, should any person possess information relevant to the subject that might seem interesting or useful he would gratefully acknowledge its receipt.