THE POWER OF MIND. William Walker Atkinson

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СКАЧАТЬ down. It is very simple, but quite effective as a trick.

      The law of association is sometimes used to easily join together for the purpose of recollection different things having some relation to each other. Thus Dr. Watts coined the word vibgyor as a means of easily remembering the names and order of the primary colors, the initial letter of each color, in their proper order, forming the said word, thus, Violet, Indigo, Blue, Green, Yellow, Orange, Red. The word news is composed of the initial letters of the four points of the compass, thus: North, East, West, South. The name of the vice­president who first served with Lincoln, may be remembered by thinking of Lincoln’s name in this form: abrahamlincoln. Franklin Pierce was the fourteenth president, which fact may be remembered by his initials F (ourteenth) P (resident). We recite these things merely to show how many ways there are whereby one may remember things by attaching them to “pegs.” The great trouble is that, while a few things may be remembered in this way, it is generally harder to remember the “pegs” than the things themselves, after one has burdened himself with a number of them. They are artificial, and Nature in the end revolts.

      Looking back it will seem that the plan of Simonides, or the “topical system” as it is sometimes called, was the first in the field, and still shows signs of life. Then came the “figure alphabet,” which is still very much with us, in a much improved form, and elaborated almost out of resemblance. The latter is quite fascinating at the start, but a little later on—well, just try it. The plan of memorizing a date by words containing a certain number of letters corresponding to figures to be memorized, looks easy, but one soon tires of it—and you are apt to get your words mixed, thereby mixing your centuries. Very artificial! The third in order, the “associative” or “correlative” method, is interesting, but is apt to bring on mental dyspepsia if used as a steady diet by the memory. Even if these systems were practicable, they would do little more than to aid in the memory of dates, leaving the development of the other faculties of the mind to other methods.

      The better plan is to develop the several faculties, to the end that they may readily receive impressions, and retain them, and by practice to so train the recollection that previously received impressions may readily be revived. We have tried to point out the way in this book, and we trust that everyone who has read its pages will put into practice the principles therein taught.

      FINIS.

      Memory: How to Develop, Train, and Use It

       Table of Content

       CHAPTER I. MEMORY: ITS IMPORTANCE.

       CHAPTER II. CULTIVATION OF THE MEMORY.

       CHAPTER III. CELEBRATED CASES OF MEMORY.

       CHAPTER IV. MEMORY SYSTEMS.

       CHAPTER V. THE SUBCONSCIOUS RECORD-FILE.

       CHAPTER VI. ATTENTION.

       CHAPTER VII. ASSOCIATION.

       CHAPTER VIII. PHASES OF MEMORY.

       CHAPTER IX. TRAINING THE EYE.

       CHAPTER X. TRAINING THE EAR.

       CHAPTER XI. HOW TO REMEMBER NAMES.

       CHAPTER XII. HOW TO REMEMBER FACES.

       CHAPTER XIII. HOW TO REMEMBER PLACES.

       CHAPTER XIV. HOW TO REMEMBER NUMBERS.

       CHAPTER XV. HOW TO REMEMBER MUSIC.

       CHAPTER XVI. HOW TO REMEMBER OCCURENCES

       CHAPTER XVII. HOW TO REMEMBER FACTS.

       CHAPTER XVIII. HOW TO REMEMBER WORDS, ETC.

       CHAPTER XIX. HOW TO REMEMBER BOOKS, PLAYS, TALES, ETC.

       CHAPTER XX. GENERAL INSTRUCTIONS.

      CHAPTER I.

       MEMORY: ITS IMPORTANCE.

       Table of Content

      It needs very little argument to convince the average thinking person of the great importance of memory, although even then very few begin to realize just how important is the function of the mind that has to do with the retention of mental impressions. The first thought of the average person when he is asked to consider the importance of memory, is its use in the affairs of every-day life, along developed and cultivated lines, as contrasted with the lesser degrees of its development. In short, one generally thinks of memory in its phase of "a good memory" as contrasted with the opposite phase of "a poor memory." But there is a much broader and fuller meaning of the term than that of even this important phase.

      It is true that the success of the individual in his every-day business, profession, trade or other occupation depends very materially upon the possession of a good memory. His value in any walk in life depends to a great extent upon the degree of memory he may have developed. His memory of faces, names, facts, events, circumstances and other things concerning his every-day work is the measure of his ability to accomplish his task. And in the social intercourse of men and women, the possession of a retentive memory, well stocked with available facts, renders its possessor a desirable member of society. And in the higher activities of thought, the memory comes as an invaluable aid to the individual in marshalling the bits and sections of knowledge he may have acquired, and passing them in review before his cognitive faculties—thus does the soul review its mental possessions. As Alexander Smith has said: "A man's real possession is his memory; in nothing else is he rich; in nothing else is he poor." Richter has said: "Memory is the only paradise from which we cannot be driven away. Grant but memory to us, and we can lose nothing by death." Lactantius says: "Memory tempers prosperity, mitigates adversity, controls youth, and delights old age."

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