A certain organization, whose membership consisted of
gag-writers only, was having its annual dinner at a swank hotel in New York
City. One of the membership rules of the organization was that the members
would never actually tell a joke or a gag to each other. They had memorized all
the standard gags by numbers, and instead of telling the joke, they would save
time by simply calling the number of that particular one.
During the dinner, as a situation would present itself, and
any of the comedy writers thought of a gag to fit the situation, he would call
the number, and shouts of laughter would invariably go up. “Number 148,” called
one-peals of laughter. “Number 204,” shouted another-more laughter. Towards the
end of the dinner, one of the new members shouted “Number 212,” and was greeted
by a loud silence. Whereupon his neighbor turned to him and said, “You’ll soon teach,
my friend, that it’s not the joke that’s important, but the way you tell it.”
ALTHOUGH the above is pure fiction, most people would say it
is impossible to remember so many jokes by number. Let me assure you that it is
possible, and I will teach you how, in a later chapter. First, however, you
must learn how to remember the numbers. Numbers themselves are about the most
difficult things to remember because they are completely abstract and
intangible. It is almost impossible to picture a number. They are geometric
designs and they mean nothing in our minds, unless they have been associated to
something you know, over a period of time. Of course, your own address or your
own telephone number does mean something to you. The problem is to be able to
associate any and all numbers easily, quickly, and at any time.
If you were to try to hang a painting on your bare living
room wall, what would happen? Why, the painting would fall to the floor, of course. However, if you had a tiny peg in
that wall, then you would be abl;e to hang a tiny peg in that wall, then you
would be able to hang the painting on it. What I’m going to do is to give you
some “pegs”; no, not for your wall-but to keep in your mind, always. Anything
you wish to remember from now on, having to do with numbers in any way, you
will be able to “hang” on these pegs that are why I call this the PEG system of memory.
The PEG system will show you how to count with objects
(which can be pictured) instead of numbers. This is not a particularly new thought.
It was first introduced by Stanislaus Mink von Weinstein along about the year
1648. In the year 1730, the entire system was modified by Dr. Richard Grey, of
England, who called the idea, “letter or number equivalents.” The idea was
great, but the system. Since 1730, however, many changes have been made,
although the idea is basically the same.
In order for you to learn the method, you must first learn a
simple phonetic alphabet. No need for dismay-it consists of only ten sounds,
and with my help, it shouldn’t take you more than ten minutes to learn them.
This will be the most worthwhile ten minutes you’ve ever spent, since this
phonetic alphabet will eventually help you to remember numbers, or numbers in
conjunction with anything else, in such a way that you never would have thought
possible.
I will give you now a different consonant sound for each of
the digits 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 0. These you must commit to memory
I’ll make this simple for you by giving you a “memory aid” for remembering each
one. Read them carefully and with you full attention.
The sounds for #1 will always be-T or D. the letter T has
one down stroke.
The sounds for #2 will always be-n. Typewritten n has two
down stroke.
The sounds for #3 will always be-m typewritten m.
The sounds for #4 will always be-R. Final sound of the word,
“four” is R.
The sounds for #5 will always be-L. Roman numeral for 50 is
L.
The sound for #6 will always be-J, ch, sh, soft g, etc. The
letter J turned around is almost like the number 6. (J6)
The sounds for #7 will always be-K, hard c, hard g. The
number 7 can be used to form a K, One seven right side up, and the other upside down. (K).
The sounds for #8 will always be-F or V. Written f and
figure 8 both have two loops, one above the other. (f8).
The sounds for #9 will always be-P or B. The number 9 turned
around is P.
The sound for 0 (zero) will always be-S or Z first sound of
the word “zero.”
If you will attempt to picture the little memory aid that I
have given with each one, you should remember them easily. Please Keep in mind
that the letters are not important; we are interested in the sound only. That’s
why I call this a phonetic alphabet. With some of the digits I’ve given more
than one letter, but the phonetic sounds of these letters are the same in each
case. You’re Lips, tongue and teeth are used in the same identical way to sound
P and B, or F and V, or J, sh, ch, ect. The sound of the letter G in the exclamation “gee” would, according to the phonetic alphabet, represent #6, whereas the same letter in the word “go” would represent #7. The letter C in the word “coat” represents #7. The same letter in the word “cent” would represent zero, since it is pronounced with the s sound. The letters Kin in the word “knee” or “knife” would stand for #2, because the K is silent. Remember, then, it is the sound that’s important, not the letter.
Now, looks this over once:-
1.
T, D
6. J, sh ,ch, g
2.
N 7.
K, c, g
3.
M
8. F, v
4.
R
9. P, b
5.
L
0. Z, s
Turn away from this page and see if you remember the sound
from one to zero. Test yourself on remembering them out of order, too. You
should know them all by now. I could give you one more aid for memorizing these
sounds by telling you to remember this nonsense phrase: Ten More Logic Fibs.
This will help you to memorize the sounds in order from one to zero. It is
necessary, however, to know them out of sequence-so you shouldn’t have to rely
on the nonsense phrase too long-the original memory aids that I gave you,
should suffice.
This simple phonetic alphabet is of utmost importance, and
the sounds should be practiced until they are second nature to you. Once they
are, the rest of the Peg system will be a cinch for you. Here is a method of practice
to help you learn the sound thoroughly:- Anytime you see a number, break it
down into sounds in your mind. For example, you should be able to read it as m,
k, r, j. You might see an address
85-29, and be able to read it as flap. You can look at any word and practice
breaking it down into numbers. The word “motor” would be 314. The word “paper”
is 994, and “cigarette” would break down to 0741. (The double tt is the same
sound as a single t, therefore it represents #1, not #11.)
None of the vowels, a e I o or u, have any meaning at all in
the phonetic alphabet; neither do the letters w, h or 1. (Remember the word,
“why”).
Before going any further, complete the following exercises.
The first column of words should be changed to numbers, and the second column
of numbers must be broken into sounds.
Climb ……………. 6124 …………..
Butler ………….. 8903 …………..
Chandelier ……….. 2394 ………….
Sounds …………. 0567 ………..
Bracelet ………….. 1109 ………
Hypnotize ……….. 8374 ………
You are ready now to learn some of those “pegs”: I
mentioned. I would suggest however, that you know the sounds thoroughly before
you go on to the pegs themselves.
All right, since we now know a certain phonetic sound for
all the digits from one to zero, you can see that we can make up a word for any
number, no matter how many digits it contains. For example, it we wanted to
make up a word for #2, we could use any
of the following:- net, nut, knot, gnat, nod, neat, note, knit, etc., because
they all begin with the n sound (#2) and
end with the t or d sound (#1). For #14 we could use tear, tire, tore, door,
tier, deer, dire, dray, tree, etc., because they all begin with the t or d
sound for #1, and end with the r sound for #4. Remember that we are interested
in the consonant sound only.
Do you get the idea of how I formed those words? If you do,
then I can go ahead and give you the first few “pegs.” Each one of the peg
words that I will give you has been specially chosen because it is
comparatively easy to picture in your mind, and that is important.
Since the number 1
contains only one digit, and that one digit is represented by the t or d sound, we must use a word that
contains only that one consonant sound. So, we will use the word “TIE.” From
here on in, the word “tie” will always represent the number 1 to you.
As I said, it is important to be able to picture these
objects, so I will give explanations of all those where I think an explanation
is necessary.
The word “NOAH” will always represent #2. Picture an old,
white-haired man on an ark.
The word “MA” will always mean #3. Here I suggest that you
always picture your own mother.
The word “RYE” will
always represent the number 4. You can picture either a bottle of Rye whiskey
or a loaf of rye bread. Once you decide on a particular mind picture for this,
or for any of the pegs, use that particular picture always. You can see how I
arrive at these words. They all have only one consonant sound, and that one
sound is the one representing the digit of the number.
The word “LAW” will always represent #5. The word “law”
itself cannot be pictured; I suggest that you picture any policeman, in
uniform, because they represent the law.
Number 6 is the word “SHOE” Number 7 is the “COW.” Number 8 is the word “IVY.” For this one, you can picture either Foison
IVY, or ivy growing all over the sides of a house. Number 9 is the word “BEE.”
Number #10 therefore must be made up of a t or d sound and an s or z sound, in
that order. We’ll use the word “TOES”….. picture your own toes.
Ordinarily it would be a little difficult to remember ten
completely unassociated words as I have just given you. Since the peg word for
any number must contain certain sounds only, you’ll find that it is easy. As a
matter of fact, If you have read the ten words once, with a little concentration, you probably already know
them. Try id When you say the number to yourself, think of its sound
first, then tat to remember the peg word.
Test yourself in and out of order.
You should know that #3 is “ma,” without
repeating “tie,” “Noah,” “ma”!
To show you how fantastic your memory can be with my little
memory aids, you can do this until the words be, co
me second nature to you. If you come to a number, and you
thank you can’t remember its peg-think of the sound for that number, and say
any words that come to your mind, starting with and containing that particular
consort of
“right a bell” in your mind, and you’ll know that that’s the right one. For instance, if you couldn’t think of the peg word for #1. You might say to yourself, “toy, tow tea, tie”; as soon as you say “tie,” you’ll known that that is the correct word. You can see now what I’ve done. I have built you up slowly with each item. First I gave you an aid to remember the phonetic sounds; now those sounds are your aid to remember the very important peg words; and the peg words will help you to remember anything where numbers are involved, so make sure you know them well.
“right a bell” in your mind, and you’ll know that that’s the right one. For instance, if you couldn’t think of the peg word for #1. You might say to yourself, “toy, tow tea, tie”; as soon as you say “tie,” you’ll known that that is the correct word. You can see now what I’ve done. I have built you up slowly with each item. First I gave you an aid to remember the phonetic sounds; now those sounds are your aid to remember the very important peg words; and the peg words will help you to remember anything where numbers are involved, so make sure you know them well.
1.
Tie
6. Shoe
2.
Noah
7. Cow
3.
Ma
8. Ivy
4.
Eye
9. Bee
5.
Law
10.toes
Now, if you feel that you know the first ten peg words
thoroughly, I’ll show you to use them for remembering objects in and out of
order. I’ll give you ten objects, out of sequence, and prove to you that you
can remember them after reading them only once!
9…….. Purse
5…… typewriter
6……… cigarette
2….. TV set
4…….. Ashtray
8……. Wrist watch
7…….. Salt-shaker 1……
fountain pen
3…….. Lamp
10…… telephone
The first one listed is #9-purse. All you have to do is to
make a ridiculous and /or illogical association of the peg word for #9, which
is “bee,” and purse. If you have realized the importance of actually “seeing”
these ridiculous associations in you might see yourself opening a purse and a
swarm of bees fly out of it, stinging
you . Just “see” the picture for a
moment, then go to the next one.
#6(shoe)-cigarette. You can see yourself smoking a shoe instead of a cigarette, see millions of
cigarettes falling out of a shoe, or you can se yourself wearing gigantic
cigarettes instead of shoes.
#4(rye)-ashtray. You might see yourself dropping ashes into
a scooped out loaf of rye bread instead of an ashtray, or, you’re buttering an
ashtray instead of a slice of rye bread.
I am giving you one or more ways that each object can be
associated ridiculously with its peg word.
You are to use only one of these pictures for each one. Use one that I
give, or one that you think of yourself. The first illogical picture that comes
to mind is usually the best one to use, because that is the one that Pi1 help
you with all ten of them, since it is the first time you are attempting this method; but after this you should be
able to do it without my help.
#7(cow)-salt-shaker. Picture yourself milking a cow, but the
cow has salt-shakers instead of udders. Or, see salt-shakers coming out instead
of milk.
#3 (ma)-lamp. You can picture your mother wearing a gigantic
lamp for a hat. See the lamp going on and off. (Action-Rule #2.)
#5(law)- typewriter. You might “see” a policeman putting
handcuffs on a typewriter, or you can see a typewriter walking the beat,
swinging a club, like a cop.
#2(Noah)-television set. You might picture Noah sailing on a
television set instead of an ark.
#8(ivy)-wrist watch. You can see millions of wrist watches
growing all over the side of your house, instead of ivy; or, you can see
yourself wearing ivy on your wrist instead of a watch.
#1(tie)-fountain pen. Picture yourself wearing a gigantic
fountain pen instead of a tie, or you might see yourself writing with you tie, instead of a fountain
pen.
#10(toes)- telephone. See yourself dialing with your toes,
or, you pick up the telephone, but it turns out that you’re holding your toes.
(Probably talking to a heel.)
Now-take a piece of paper, number it from one to ten, and
try to fill in the objects in order, without looking at the book. When you come to #1, just picture your peg
word, tie, and the ridiculous picture of you wearing a fountain pen instead of a tie will come back to you
immediately. So you know that #1 is fountain pen. When you picture Noah, you
will see him on a television set instead of an ark; so you know that #2 is
television set.
You will remember them all quite easily. The wonderful part
about it is that you also know them out of sequence. You can see, of course,
that it makes no difference. You can also call them off backwards-just think of
the peg word for #10 (toes) ad word up to “tie”.
You should now be thoroughly amazed at your own ability .
But wait! Why not memorize twenty-five objects
instead of only ten? Well. At the end of this chapter you will find the
peg words for numbers 11 through to25.Please learn those just as you learned
the first ten. When you know them perfectly. Try this on your friends. Have
them number a sheet of paper from one to twenty or twenty-five, or as many as
you wish to show off with. Then have someone call out any of these numbers,
haphazardly, and then name any tangible object. Ask him to write that object
alongside the number called. Have him do that until every number has an object
next to it. Now call one. Then have him call any number called. Have him do
them right back to him from #1 right down to the last one. Then have him call
any number, and you immediately give him the object, or have him call any
object and you tell him the object, or have him call any object and you tell
him what number it is !!
Don’t let that last part throw you. There is nothing to it.
If I was to ask you now what number salt-shaker was, you would “see” the
ridiculous picture of a cow with salt-shakers instead of udders. Since “cow” is
the peg for #7, then you know that salt-shaker was #7.
Watch the look of astonishment on your pal’s face when
you’re through!
11. Tot 15. Towel 19. Tub 23. Name
12. Tin 16 . Dish 20. NOSE 24.
NERO
13. Tomb 17. TACK 21. NET 25.
NAIL
14. Tire 18. Dove 22. Nun
For “tot,” it is best to picture a child that you know. For #12, you can see the
object called, made out of “tin.” For “tomb,” picture a gravestone. For #20,
you can see the object called, on your face in place of your “nose.” For “net”,
you can use fishing net, a hair net or tennis net.
For #23, you can see the object you wish to remember forming
your “name.” for instance, if the object were cigarette, you would picture your
own name printed out very large with cigarettes. If you don’t care for that idea,
you might picture one of your business cards for “name,” or any other
possession that has your name on it. Whatever you decide on, you must use it
all the time. For “Nero,” I always picture a man playing a fiddle.
Remember, please, that once you decide on a particular
picture for any of the peg words, you are to u7se that picture all the time.
If you know the pegs from 1to25 thoroughly (and suggest that you go no further until you
do), and if you feel confident (or even if you don’t), why not take test #2 in
chapter #3 once again. Try it, and then compare your present score with the
marginal one!
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