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 th