Page 89 - How to Develop A SUPER-POWER MEMORY

Long Digit Numbers 93
see the point that these memory experts were probably
driving at. If you do try to follow their instructions, you
must concentrate on the number. This, of course, is half
the battle won. Any method that forces the student to be
interested in, and to observe the number, and to concen-
trate on it, must meet with some success. It's just that it is
too much like swatting a fly with a sledge hammer; the
means are almost too burdensome to justify the end.
The Peg system of memorizing long digit numbers is
actually a combination of the Peg and the Link methods. It
forces you to concentrate on the number; it is easy to do—
and the retentiveness is amazing! If you have learned the
list of Peg words from 1 to 100 this should be a cinch for
you. If you haven't learned them yet, this will make you
want to do so. For the time being, you can make up the
words as you go along. I'll use the same number as used
above to explain the method.
First, let's break the number down into two digit num-
bers. 52 26 41 63 75 27. Now, each of these two digit num-
bers should represent or suggest a peg word to you:—

52 26 41 63 75 27
lion notch rod chum coal neck
All you have to do is to make a link of the six peg words!
Or, any words you happen to be using. Picture a lion with a
large notch in him. Picture yourself whittling notches into
a gigantic curtain rod. See yourself throwing your arms
around the rod as if it were your chum, or, your chum is
being used for a curtain rod. Picture yourself embracing a
large piece of coal as if it were your chum; and, finally, see
yourself or anyone with his neck made of coal.
You should be able to make this link in about thirty sec-
onds. After you've made it, go over it once or twice in your
mind to see if you've memorized it. In repeating the num-