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The translations of the phrases "War-cup" and "Thick Rum" give the dates. "But why," asks the learner, "can not a formula be made directly on the subject of the Battle of Dettingen, as well as on another subject of an entirely different nature ?" We will answer. If we had but one battle, or three or four, to Mnemonize, we could do so, and remember the Mnemotechnic Phrases; but when we come to learn scores, or hundreds, we find BY EXPERIENCE, Our best guide, that we can not remember the formulas. If we should attempt to remember the word Fatal in connection with the Battle of Waterloo, and the word Vessel in connection with the Battle of Trafalgar, provided we had but those two Battle formulas to remember, we could doubtless do it; but hundreds of other Battles were very fatal besides the Battle of Waterloo, and many others were fought on vessels besides the one in Trafalgar Bay. Let any person that is not favorably impressed with Homophonic Analogies at first sight, sit down and make plain formulas as we do for Historical Dates in general, for, say fifty Battles, or fifty Distinguished Men, and then attempt to remember the Phrases he has selected, and if he has not a hard task, then he does things easily that we have always found difficult. The explanation appears to be this. In making and learning formulas for hundreds of Battles, without Homophonic Analogies, we have but one subject on which to construct all our sentences; and, consequently, we can not get good and appropriate Phrases; but where we use Homophonic Analogies we have as many, or nearly as many subjects as we have Battles. Then in learning them, the name of the Battle readily suggests the Homophonic term, by the like

ness of sound, and the Mnemotechnic Phrase comes to mind from its connection in sense or meaning with the Homophonic term. The learner will observe two rules in constructing formulas with Homophonic Analogies; the Homophonic words should begin as nearly as possible like the original term, and it should also be some word or phrase that is familiar to us. What is here said respecting the use of Homophonic Analogies in constructing formulas for Battles, will apply equally well to the Eras of Distinguished Men, Latitudes and Longitudes of places, and other subjects where proper names or technical terms are used. If we knew all the circumstances in connection with each Battle, Person or Place that we wished to Mnemonize, we could make a plain formula for it without a Homophonic term that we could remember; but no one is thus well informed. The student will first learn the Homophonic terms in connection with each name of Battle or Person, and then commit the formula by repeating it from the Homophonie to the final Phrase. The same rule must be observed in supplying the figure 1 for the thousand years, in the formulas for Modern Battles, where it is omitted in the Phrase, that we do in all other Modern Dates. In the formulas for the Ancient Battles, of course we do not prefix the figure, as all Ancient Dates are given by a literal translation of the formulas. In all the Tables of Battles, the party first mentioned is the victor, and the last the vanquished.

The principle of Homophonic Analogies, after a little practice, is as satisfactory to the student of Mnemotechny, as rhymes to the lover of Poetry. Every person can commit Poetry to memory easier than Prose. The reason is, that rhymes are pleasing to the ear, and easily impressed on the mind. Associations of sound are the strongest associations in language. The only way that names can be impressed on the mind, if not remembered voluntarily, is to associate each name with some word or phrase that sounds like it, or nearly like it. Then, when the name is required,

the image or idea of the familiar phrase comes to the mind, and calls up the name from the similarity of sound. If we meet a person by the name of ALEXANDER, let us imagine we have seen Alexander the Great, or one of his descendants, and this idea attached to the person will most inevitably call up the name. Were we introduced to a gentleman by the name of HORSLEY, we could easily associate with it the word Horse, which sounds much like it. Imagine the gentleman to have the name of horse, or imagine he is a horse, if you please, and the ludicrous idea will readily fix the name in your mind. When the name is first mentioned to us, it should be immediately associated with some Homophonic Phrase, and repeated several times in the mind in connection with the phrase, that one may not be mistaken for the other.

Memory depends to a great extent on attention and repetition. We may be told that this method of recollecting names is nothing new. Granted. It is old, but it is Mnemotechnic, notwithstanding. The principle is one of the easiest understood, and most philosophical in the laws of language; and the only reason why names of persons and places are so often forgotten, is because this method is not more generally adopted. The above directions will be sufficient for the guidance of any one who is determined to improve, and practice will show its utility and make it easy and familiar.

Ancient Battles.

MARATHON; Miltiades, Gr., vs. Persians,

THERMOPYLE; Xerxes, Pers., vs. Leonidas, Gr.,

SALAMIS; Themistocles, Gr., vs. Persians,

PLATEA; Greeks vs. Persians,

MYCALE; Greeks vs. Persians,

EGOS POTAMOS; Lysander vs. Athenians,

CUNAXA; Artaxerxes vs. Cyrus the Younger,

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371

CORONEA; Agesilaus, Spartan, vs. Athenians and Thebans, 394
LEUCTRA; Epaminondas, Theban, vs. Spartans,
MANTINEA; Epaminondas vs. Spartans: Epaminondas killed, 362
CHERONEA; Philip vs. Athenians and Thebans,
GRANICUS; Alexander, King of Macedon, vs. Persians,
Issus; Alexander vs. Darius, King of Persia,

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IPSUS; Cassander vs. Antigonus: Alexander's Emp. divided, 301 TICINUS; Hannibal, Carthaginian, vs. Romans,

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Zama; Scipio Africanus, Roman, vs. Hannibal,

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MAGNESIA; Scipio vs. Antiochus,

PYDNA; Romans vs. Macedonians: downfall of Macedonia, 168

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PHARSALIA; Julius Cæsar vs. Pompey the Great,
MUNDA; Cæsar vs. Pompey the Younger,
PHILIPPI; Mark Antony vs. Brutus and Cassius,
ACTIUM; Octavius Cæsar vs. Mark Antony,

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