Chapter XII.

       The Ten­Question Thought System.

       Table of Content

      Treating of a novel and rational method of bringing forth from the subconscious store­house the miscellaneous assortment of information, which every person has stored away regarding various subjects, but which knowledge is unavailable and unused because of the lack of system in the storing away, and the absence of knowledge of a method whereby this scattered knowledge may be brought together—This system, if mastered and practiced, will immensely increase the available information at the disposal of one, and will render one “well informed” upon subjects of which he apparently knows but little—It is an eye opener, and will produce remarkable results—This chapter also contains an explanation of “Analytical Memorizing.”

      EVERY MAN has in his subconscious storehouse a vast assortment of general information or knowledge. He knows something about every object or subject which has ever attracted his attention or interest in the faintest degree. The character and amount of such knowledge of course depends largely upon the degree of attention he has bestowed upon it, and upon the opportunities for observation he may have had in the past. But even the man of the most limited opportunities and the most careless observation has stored away much valuable material of whose existence he is almost unaware. The information has been stored away mechanically, and no attempt to resurrect it has been made, as no demand for the stored away knowledge has been apparent in the man’s every day life.

      If we would by intelligent practice occasionally bring forth to the light of day the stored away knowledge we would give our minds beneficial practice; increase our powers of recollection, broaden our field of available knowledge; develop our powers of reasoning, comparison, etc., and make ourselves “better informed” regarding a variety of subjects. The bringing forth of these stored­up memories will compel us to classify them, arrange them in their proper order, make comparisons, note associations, draw conclusions, and make use of a variety of our mental faculties, which will result in mental development and culture. Many of us are like misers who have hoarded away precious metal, which we never again see or make use of.

      The writer has heard of prisoners, and men compelled to live away from congenial companions, compelled to look to themselves for company, who turned their vision inward and evolved from their inner consciousness the knowledge which had been stored there, and directed their mental processes to the same, with the result that when they emerged from their seclusion they had attained a degree of mental development far in advance of that possessed by them when they entered it. There are cases of record where political prisoners have written the most interesting books during their confinement, without having a single reference book, their information being drawn from that great storehouse, the subconscious mentality. Men sometimes live in a community taking casual notes regarding the people and things around them, with no special object in view. Years afterward, these men find themselves writers, and draw upon their old, almost forgotten, impressions of the past, and putting them on paper give to the world a vivid picture of the life of the town or city of their former abode. Dumas has given us an example of this subsequent use of stored­up knowledge in his well known novel “The Count of Monte Cristo.” He shows us the old political prisoner, the Abbe Faria, who has been shut out from the sight of men for years, resurrecting his old fund of information for the benefit and instruction of his fellow prisoner, Edmond Dantes, and exciting the interest and concentrated attention of the latter he develops him from a bright but uneducated fisherman­sailor into a well­informed and educated man of the world. The old Abbe has stored away in his mind the learning of a lifetime, and draws from it for the benefit of Dantes. The story is, of course, pure fiction, but given the circumstances and the men, there is no reason why the result could not be obtained.

      This resurrecting of stored­away impressions has another good result. It awakens in one an interest in the subject or object under consideration, and the mind thereafter will be awake to impressions concerning the object or subject, and one’s fund of information regarding that particular thing, and things associated with it, will be greatly augmented. The mere directing of the attention upon the subject or object, after placing oneself where he will not be distracted by outside impressions, or after shutting out impressions if he has the power, will bring into the field of consciousness many interesting impressions and important information. But if one pursues a systematic plan for bringing out the impressions, his power of recollection will be greatly increased, and at the same time his mind will be developed along the lines of systematic thinking, classification, analysis, etc.

      The writer has found the following system of “resurrecting thought” quite useful in his own case, and in that of others to whom he has presented the matter. It is simple but wonderfully effective, and its continued use will undoubtedly repay one for the time and trouble expended upon it. It increases brain­power, in several directions, and is a most effective educational method.

      The system consists of ten questions, which when applied to the object or subject under consideration, and answered by bringing into the field of consciousness all the stored­up impressions to be found there, will be found to have brought into play all the information concerning that particular thing possessed by the student. The following outline will give an idea of the system. The subject is to be first stated, and then the nine questions asked of oneself and answered, one by one.

      QUESTIONS REGARDING ONE SUBJECT OR OBJECT.

      I. Its Origin or Root?

      II. The reason of its inception?

      III. Its history?

      IV. Its qualities and characteristics?

      V. Things associated with and connected with it? VI. Its use and application?

      VII. It demonstrates what?

      VIII. Its results and consequences?

      IX. Its end or future?

      X. Your general opinion regarding it, and your reasons for same.

      You will find that this system of questions will bring to light all of your previous impressions regarding the thing under consideration, and also will cause you to classify, arrange, consider, pass upon and determine its various features. It will educate you in recollecting, thinking, studying and observing. Each question will suggest something to you, and when you are through with the subject you will find that you know much more about it than you thought possible. Besides this, you will commit the questions to memory, and your observation and study of anything thereafter will naturally be along the lines of the questions.

      Do not let the apparent simplicity of this system cause you to pass it by without trial. Give it at least one trial on a subject, under favorable circumstances, and you will begin to see its uses. Of course, the ability to recall impressions, in answer to the questions, will steadily increase with practice, after the mind becomes accustomed to the inquisitorial process. Try the system on a subject this week, and then repeat the process a week later, and you will find a great improvement, your fund of impressions regarding that subject having apparently grown materially during the interval. The explanation is that your questions have started to work the sub­conscious searchers who have been at work digging out treasures from the depths of the great storehouse. Your questions have been regarded as orders from the Will, and these little workers have been busy with their imposed task, while your consciousness was busy with other things.

      ANALYTICAL MEMORIZING.

      When one wishes to master a subject, it will be found advisable that he dissect that subject—analyze it thoroughly, and by thus examining its parts in detail obtain a comprehensive idea of it as