Sheridan's famous ride occurred in 1864. In dates of the last and
present century it is usual to indicate the last two figures of the
date. 64, therefore, is all we need express. Formula: Sheridan's ride in
1864--(64) {Ch}ee{r}s; or, (64) {Sh}e{r}idan. The Pennsylvania Whisky
Rebellion took place in 1794; or, (94) {B}{r}ewery.
4. SOMETIMES THE FIRST AND LAST CONSONANTS OF A WORD ARE USED, AND
SOMETIMES TWO CONSONANTS IN THE MIDDLE OF A WORD.
These devices are rarely resorted to, but if ever used, they must be
thoroughly assimilated. Battle of Waterloo was fought in 1815; 15 may be
found in the _t_ and _l_ of (15) Wa{t}er{l}oo. Herbert Spencer was born,
as we have already seen, in 1820. The 20 may be found in the _n_ and _c_
of Spe{n}{c}er.
5. Never, on any account, use the same word to express two different
dates; as, its first two consonants for one date and its two middle, or
its first and last consonants, to express another date.
6. _Never fail to carefully analyse the relations between the fact or
event and its date or number word._
SUBJECT TO THE EXCEPTIONS HEREAFTER NAMED, ALL DATES AND NUMBERS SHOULD
BE EXACTLY EXPRESSED IN THE DATE OR NUMBER WORDS.
Alexander the Great was born 356 B.C. and died in a drunken debauch
323 B.C. His birth: (3) {M}acedonia's (5) A{l}exander a (6) {Ch}ild. His
death: A (3) {M}acedonian's (2) I{n}ebriation (3) {M}ortal. Several
mnemonists of the old school have for the past forty years used the
phrase "Rise, Sire," to express the date of the creation of the world,
which according to the accepted biblical chronology took place 4004 B.C.
But that phrase, proper enough in the mouths of the sons of Noah, when
they found their father lying on the ground in a fit of intoxication,
could have no pertinence when applied to the Creator, to the creation
in general, or to the creation of this world in particular. A
self-connected phrase would, however, express this date as follows:
"Creation of the World: (4) Ea{r}th (0) {S}tarted (0) {S}wiftly (4)
{R}otating."
_First Exception._--From A.D. 1000 to A.D. 1700 the last three figures
of the date should be expressed in the date words. {M}a{r}{s} expresses
340 and could be used to indicate the invention of cannon in (1) 340 by
one who knew that Mars was the name of the god of war in classic
mythology. The formula would be: "Invention of cannon: (1) 340
{M}a{r}{s}." But this term would have no mnemonic significance to one who
knows the word Mars as meaning only one of the planets. Hence the
danger--ever to be avoided--of using classical allusions in teaching the
average student. A (3) {m}artial (4) O{r}gan (0) {S}ways, or {m}urderous
a{r}tillery {s}tarted.
_Second Exception._--From A.D. 1700 to the present moment, the last two
figures must be expressed in the date words. Many examples will
hereafter illustrate this exception. In very rare cases, the expression
of the last figure in the date word will suffice. We know that Ralph
Waldo Emerson and Oliver Wendell Holmes [author of the Autocrat of the
Breakfast Table] were born towards the beginning of this century, the
former in 1803 and the latter in 1809. The following formulas would give
the date of their birth: Ralph Waldo (180)3 E{m}erson; Oliver Wendell
Holmes (180)9 "{B}reakfast."
_Third Exception._--In cases where there is no practical utility in
comparing one very large number with another, as in the case of the
distances of the planets from the sun, mere round numbers may suffice,
yet astronomers must know such numbers with exactness. But in regard to
all mundane affairs, the pupil must throw off the character of scholar
and assume the license of children, if he attempts to express large
numbers, as of populations, &c., by "guessing," or, what is the same
thing, by only giving round numbers. The Brooklyn Suspension Bridge is
5989 feet long, and the Forth Bridge, which crosses the Firth of Forth
in Scotland, is 8296 feet long. Now, instead of saying that the former
is _about_ 5000 feet long, why not say 5989 feet long? [(5) {L}ong (9)
{B}ridge (8) O{f} (9) {B}rooklyn.] And instead of saying that the latter
is _about or somewhere in the neighbourhood_ of 8000 feet long, why not
be exact and say 8296 feet long? [(8) {F}orth's (2) {N}ew (9) {B}ridge
(6) {Sh}own. It was completed in 1890.]
No one who has not had experience in dealing with thousands of poor
memories, as I have had, can realise the fact that in most cases of poor
memories _the facts themselves are often possessed_, but are mostly
_unrecallable_ when wanted. I have tried to teach pupils how to find
analytic date or number words _without any previous training in In.,
Ex., and Con._, and 99 of all such attempts have always been failures.
The 100th case, which succeeded, only confirmed the rule. On the other
hand, I have always found that these failures become successes after a
thorough practical training in In., Ex., and Con., such as I have
already given. In fact, I never had a pupil who became proficient in the
use of In., Ex., and Con., who did not arrive at the use of analytic
number words without any specific directions from me. But I think, on
the whole, that it is the better way to _combine_ direct and specific
training in analytic number words, with a previous exhaustive general
drill in In., Ex., and Con.
The rules hereafter given must be carefully studied and every example
painstakingly examined. After studying my formulas let the pupil
endeavour in _each case_ to find a better one himself. If the pupil acts
on my advice, he will know how to be always _sure_ to think of the
needful related or including facts for finding analytic date words,
phrases, or sentences.
The different processes for dealing with dates or numbers may be
classified as follows:--
(1) _Cases where the name of the person, fact, or event gives its date_;
as, Birth of the colored orator and politician Frederick {D}ou{g}lass
(18)17. This kind of a case is of rare occurrence, and it would be like
the charlatanry which has disgraced many former memory systems to allow
the pupil to suppose that it frequently happens. A glance at the event,
word, or description will quickly tell him if it represents the
necessary figures, and if it do not, he must resort to an analytic date
word, or phrase, or sentence, whichever he finds most suitable for him.
No one figure alphabet contains the advantages of all others. Each has
special advantages in special cases. Whatever figure alphabet, however,
is used, the main thing about it is to master it thoroughly.
(2) _Cases where a significant or analytic word or phrase expresses the
date or number._ "I{l}l-u{s}a{g}e" expresses the date of the death of
Columbus in 1506, as he died in great neglect. The impetuous pupil says:
"How can I be sure that this phrase applies to Columbus? Would it not
apply to any one who had been ill-used?" Certainly not. It applies only
to an ill-used man whose date (birth or death, &c.) was in 1506. If he
knows of some other man who was greatly ill-used and who died in 1506,
then he must use another analytic phrase for that man. See next
paragraph.
Six distinguished persons were born in 1809, yet the date of the birth
of each is easily fixed: Darwin, whose principal work was called "Origin
of Species;" Gladstone, noted for his vigorous eloquence; Lincoln, who
was conspicuous as a binder together of separated States; Tennyson, who
was chosen as Poet-Laureate, and who was born at Somersby, England;
Felix Mendelssohn-Bartholdy, who early displayed a musical genius, and
whose first oratorio was called "St. Paul;" Elizabeth Barrett Browning
[_nee_ Elizabeth Barrett], whose poems are distinguished for their
subjectivity. The analytic formulas for these different persons born in
the same year, 1809, may each differ from the others, thus: