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‌SECOND LAW OF MEMORY.

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Fieldhand. Millionnaire. } Ex.

A fieldhand is a labourer who lives by the sweat of his brow, and eats not what he does not earn. A Millionnaire is at the opposite pole, and can have a superabundance of all things. It is a case of opposition. Where two ideas pertain to one and the same idea, but occupy opposite relations in regard to it, it is a case of Exclusion. The means of subsistence is the common idea and Fieldhand and Millionnaire occupy opposite positions in respect to that idea. Other examples: “Upper, Under;” “Above, Beneath;” “Before, After;” “Entrance, Exit;” “Appear, Vanish;” “Cheap, Dear;” “Empty, Full;” “Col. Ingersoll, Talmage;” “Washington, Arnold;” “Minnehaha, Minneboohoo.”

Millionnaire. Pauper. } Ex.

Here is opposition between millionnaire and pauper. It is a case of Ex. Other examples: “Superfluity, Scarcity;” “Fertile, Barren;” “Sorrow, Happiness;” “Straight, Crooked;” “Irregular, Circle;” “Prompt, Tardy;” “Liberal, Stingy;” “Wide, Narrow;” “Open, Shut;” “Inclusion, Exclusion;” “Beginning, End;” “Industry, Idleness;” “Addition, Subtraction;” “Infernal, Celestial;” “Cellar, Garret;” “Miser, Spend-thrift;” “Assimilation, Learning by rote,” &c.

Pauper. Wealth. } Ex.

Here is the extreme of opposition. The state or condition of destitution of the pauper is contrasted with the state or condition of being over supplied. Other examples: “Insufficient, Enough;” “Work, Play;” “Crying, Laughing;” “Awkward, Graceful;” “In, Out;” “East, West;” “North, South;” “Saint, Sinner;” “Fast, Slow,” &c.

WEALTH. CommonWEALTH. } In. by S. & s.

If “Wealth” is taken as “Private” or individual, and “Commonwealth” be taken in its derivative sense, as “wealth in common,” or, the “public wealth,”‌ then this would be a case of Exclusion. If “Wealth” is taken as the condition of great abundance, and “Commonwealth” as the political body, known as a State, then this is a case of Inclusion by sight, or by sound, the word “wealth” belonging to both alike.

COMMONwealth. UNcommon. } Ex.

Considering “Common” in relation with “Uncommon” we have Exclusion. In the previous pair, we used wealth of commonwealth to make a relation with the simple word wealth. Here we use the first two syllables of the word to contrast with uncommon.

Uncommon. Rare. } Syn. Inclusion.

These words are nearly alike in meaning. Other examples: “Choice, Preference;” “Resolute, Determined;” “Economical, Frugal;” “Ugly, Ill-looking;” “Insane, Mad;” “Lie, Untruth;” “Reliable, Trustworthy;” “Air, Atmosphere;” “Resident, Dweller,” etc.

Rare. Well done. } Ex.

This pair requires careful notice. “Rare” with reference to “Uncommon” means unusual, seldom met, or unfrequent; but considered in reference to “well done,” it means partially cooked or underdone. This, then, is a clear case of Exclusion. Other examples: “Men whose heads do grow beneath their shoulders, and men whose shoulders do grow beneath their heads;” “Cushion, Mule’s Hoof;” “Ungoverned, Henpecked;” “Bed of Ease, Hornet’s Nest;” “Waltz, Breakdown.”

Well done. Badly done. } Ex.

A clear case of Exclusion. They are both “done,” but one is done “well,” and the other “badly done,” or the opposite of well.

Badly done. Good. } Ex.

A relation is sometimes found between one word and a part of another word or phrase. Here “Bad” is the opposite of “Good.”

Good. Good Princess. } In. by G. & S.

“Good” covers all cases, whatsoever, of its kind, but “Good Princess” is a particular kind of species of good things or‌ persons. Examples: “Snake, Copperhead;” “Spider, Tarantula;” “Horse, Dray horse,” etc.

Now carefully read over the eleven words, and recall or ascertain the relations between them:

 Fieldhand.

 Millionnaire.

 Pauper.

 Wealth.

 Commonwealth.

 Uncommon.

 Rare.

 Well done.

 Badly done.

 Good.

 Good Princess.

When you have carefully realised the relations between these words, lay aside the lesson and recall the entire series from memory, proceeding from Fieldhand to Good Princess, and back from Good Princess to Fieldhand. Do this five times—each time from memory and more rapidly than before.

Again, repeat from memory, at least five times, the series from Building to Good Princess, and back from Good Princess to Building, reciting as fast as possible each time.

Assimilative Memory; or, How to Attend and Never Forget

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