Now I would say that having the task selected, first give energetic forethought, or a considerate determination to master this should precede all attempts to learn, by everybody, young or old.  And when the lesson is mastered, let it be repeated with earnestness and serious attention before going to sleep, with the Will that it shall be remembered on the morrow.  And it will be found that this process not only secures the memory desired, but also greatly facilitates the whole course and process.

It is to be noted that by this, or any process, we do not remember everything, but only what is first considered and measured by Forethought.  Also that by it the Memory is never overcharged at the expense of Intellect, for the exertion of will in any way strengthens the mind.  To explain the immense power which this all implies, I observe: 

That previous to the invention of printing, it was usual for students to get their text-books by heart.  Thus in India, according to MAX MULLER, the entire text and glosses of PANINI’S Sanskrit grammar were handed down orally for 350 years before being committed to writing.  This work is about equal in size to the Bible.

There are Indian priests now living who can repeat accurately the whole poems of the Mahabarata of 300,000 slokas or lines.

That these incredible feats were the result of a system of memorizing similar to what I have explained.

That the Guzlas or Slavonian minstrels of the present day have by heart with remarkable accuracy immensely long epic poems.  I have found the same among Algonkin Indians, whose sagas or mythic legends are interminable, and yet are committed word by word accurately.

I have heard in England of a lady ninety years of age whose memory was miraculous, and of which extraordinary instances are narrated by her friends.  She attributed it to the fact that when young she had been made to learn a verse from the Bible every day, and then constantly review it.  As her memory improved, she learned more, the result being that in the end she could repeat from memory any verse or chapter called for in the whole Scripture.  The habit had marvelously developed her intelligence as well as memory.

Now I confidently declare that if this lady had submitted what she learned to the suggestive-will process she could have spared herself half the labor.  And it is to be observed that as in time the labor of reviewing and the faculty of promptly recalling becomes easier and easier till it is simply mechanical, so the memorizing by suggestion becomes more facile until it is, so to speak, only a form.  And as it becomes easier the foresight strengthens till it wields an absolute power.

If the reader is interested in this subject of developing the memory, I would refer him to my work on Practical Education in which it is discussed with reference to recalling objects through all the Senses.