This lesson in figures is given for the benefit of those who have not
yet mastered NUMERIC THINKING. The pupil will appreciate its practical
value the moment he masters the key to it.
This is given in the next few pages, and it will be found to be easy of
comprehension and interesting to a surprising degree.
The whole thing is in a nutshell. Numbers, as such, are abstractions and
hard to be remembered. To make them hard to forget, we translate them
into words or phrases. These are easily remembered and they always
instantly _give back_ the figures they stand for.
We represent the figures 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 0, by certain
_consonants_; and then, as the vowels [a, e, i, o, u, and y, together
with w] have _no numerical_ value assigned to them, we turn dates or any
numbers into translating _words_, which will always tell us precisely
the figures the words stand for.
As this simple process enables us to remember any dates or numbers with
_absolute certainty_, the pupil will be pleased to know that he can
learn _how it is done_ by only _one thoughtful_ perusal.
The questions at the bottom of each page constitute an invaluable aid to
test the accuracy of his knowledge and the correctness of his
inferences.
1. Is it possible to exaggerate the importance of this lesson?
2. When will the pupil appreciate its practical value?
3. Where is this key given?
4. Are numbers hard to remember?
5. How do we make them hard to forget?
6. By what are the figures represented?
7. What letters have no numerical value assigned to them?
8. What do the questions at the bottom of each page constitute?
The nought and the nine digits are _represented_ by the following
_consonants_ when they are _sounded_ or _pronounced_; viz., 0 (nought)
by s, z, or c^soft as in cease, 1 by t, th, or d, 2 by n, 3 by m, 4 by
r, 5 by l, 6 by sh, j, ch, or g^soft as in the first g of George, 7
g^hard as in Gorge, k, c^hard as in _c_ane, q, or ng, 8 by f or v, and 9
by b or p.
Ample practice in translating the sounded consonants of words into
figures, or of figures into the sounded consonants of words will now be
given. If the reader can _remember_ the foregoing consonant equivalents
of figures in connection with the tabulated Figure Alphabet on the 74th
page of this lesson, he can at once pass on through the book. If not, he
must carefully study the intervening pages with painstaking--for when
once learned, no further difficulty can arise.
The tabulated Figure Alphabet on the 74th page of this lesson expresses
the consonant values of the nought and nine digits in perpendicular
columns, as under nought (0) are placed _s_, _z_, and _c_^soft; under
nine are placed _b_ and _p_; under six are placed _sh_, _j_, _ch_, and
_g_^soft, &c. Only those who possess first-rate natural memories can
learn the equivalents of the sounded consonants in figures from this
table. But when learned in this way, the pupil requires much practice in
translating words into figures and figures into words. Even this
exceptional pupil had better carefully study the ensuing examples.
The first thing to be done is to learn _which_ consonants are used to
stand for and represent the nought (0) and 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9.
Let the student remember that we use vowels to make words with, but we
do not give the vowels [a, e, i, o, u], or w, or y, _any number value
whatever_.
WE REPRESENT THE NOUGHT OR CYPHER [0] BY THE CONSONANTS S, Z, OR C^soft
[AS IN _CEASE_].
The figure value of "sew," therefore equals or is represented by a
cipher [0]. S = 0, and the vowel "e" and the consonant "w" have _no figure
value_. Cannot the student understand at once that {S}ay = 0,
{S}ee = 0, Ea{s}e = 0, I{s} = 0, and {Z}oe = 0, and {S}ei{z}e = 00,
{S}i{z}e = 00, {S}au{c}e = 00?
The following is another way of fixing in mind this first rule.
If the capital letter =S= were cut into two parts, and the bottom half
attached to the top half, it would make a nought (=0=). _So it is easy to
remember that S represents =0=._ C^soft as in _cease_ has the same sound
as S, and should therefore stand for the same figure, _viz._, 0; and Z
is a cognate of S--that is, it is _made by the same organs of speech in
the same position_ as when making S, only it is an undertone, and S is a
whispered letter. Besides Z should represent =0= because it begins the
word Zero--C^soft should also stand for =0= for the additional reason that
C^soft begins the word cipher. _In translating a word into figures we
always turn S, Z, or C^soft into nought (0); in turning figures into
words we always translate a nought (0) into S, Z, or C^soft._
1. What is the first thing to be done?
2. What must the student remember in connection with vowels?
3. By what do we represent the cipher?
4. What other way is given for fixing the first rule in the mind?
5. What is meant by a "cognate"?
6. What kind of a letter is S?