Iowa voter. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1867-1874, 1870-08-04
Forgetting Names.

Forgetting Names.
How common it is to forget ones name.
We don't mean to forget your own name,
although that Is sometimes done, but for
get another mans, ana this notwithstand-
ing the fact that you are well acquainted
with him. A person hesitates in introduce
ing people with whom he is familiar, be-
cause ne can't think of their names, some
times to his own modification and to theirs,
for it is hardly agreeable to have one with
whom you are daily brought in contact,
Obliged to say, when, the forms Of intro
duction require it, Ut beg your pardon,
sir, but your name has escaped me-" You
feel that you have been trifed with, and
that the man has been pretending to know
you when he didn't more than hall.
One great cause for this forgetfulness OF
names les in our senselees system OF in
Productions. The true idea upon which
introductions should be based is the nat
ursl desire of the parties introduced to
become acquainted. Brown may want to
know Smith, but if Smith prefers not to
know Brown, it is species of imposition
for their mutual acquaintance, Jones, to
bring them together; yet this is continu-
ally being done in our every day life, and
II Is no wonder Smith don't remember
Browns name afterward, for he takes no
pains to remember it.
How often does an incident like the
following occur: Jones and Smith are
walking together on the street. They
meet a party in which is Brown, with
whom Jones stops to exchange few
words on business merely. Thereupon,
Brown feels called upon to introduce
Jones to his half dozen companions,
five Of whom he has just been introduced
to himself, and, consequently, has to ask
them their names, and then Jones is
irresistibly impe]led to introduce Smith
to the whole party, getting hail their
names wrong and muttering unintellgibly
over the rest A day or two after joiner,
who possesses prominence or notoriety
that renders him q mark to be remem-
smiles blandly as he extends his hand,
and says: "My dear Jones, how do you
dor" Jones stares little, looks con-
fused, and then makes q lame attempt to
appear to know him, although he hasn't
the slightest recollection Of ever having
seen him before. The man sees he is not
recognized, and feels hurt.
"YOu don't recollect me, seer"
SAYS Jones, knowing that he ia telling
wretched lie, "Oh, yes, do. / know
you, but can't quite call your name.
Fact Is I am the worst hand in the world
to recollect names"
Then Jones learns the cordial fellows
name, and is reminded that theil mutual
friend, Brown, introduced them On the
occasion above alluded to, when they go
their ways cordial fellow thinking Jones
is putting on airs, and Jones believing he
is bore.
People go through the farce Of intro
duction so often they come TO attach very
little importance to it, and you see men
pass each other on the sidewalk without
any recognition, who, ten minutes before,
were shaking hands with each other in
the most cordial manner. in compliance
dentally grouped together for minute or
two must all be introduced. No wonder,
then, that men forget names. They forget
them because they don't care to remem-
Der them, and this careless indifference
assumes the form Of a habit at length.
1t is said of Henry Clay, we believe,
that he never forgot the face of q man he
had once been introduced to, or failed to
cali his name But Henry was in politics,
and had learned to remember the i'm
portance of one vote" During one of
Clay's later trips to Washington he made
some stops by the way. Our little village
was thrown into fever Of excitement by
the report that the Great Kentuckian
would stop at the neighboring city of
Utica next day for short time, and many
went to see him and aid In that process
of handwriting by which our enthusiastic
American people shorten the lives OF our
most popular men, the severity of the pro-
cess being increased according to the
feebleness of the subject. Among the
representatives ofour town was Eb. Linds-
ley, the homeliest man in New York
STATE.
"He called me Lindsey" said old Eb.
in voice Of mingled emotion and Jamaica
rum, as he related his interview to .
throng Of listeners in the village bar room
ON his return, Eyes, gentleman, he shook
hands. called me Lindsey and cried"
Quoth "Uncle Kim" a satiric wag. "No
wonder the old man cried-you're 30 aw.
ful shomelyr
Hotel keepers and hotel clerks pride
themselves on remembering names, for 1t
n their interest to. We have often ad-
miled the cordially with which our sharp
little friend CORE, Of the Gibson House,
Gfssps BY the hand q guest, and, While
smile Of hospitality hghtens up his face,
and tears of affection glisten In his eye,
pronounces his name without the slight
est hesitation, only casually glancing at
the register on which the guest has just
affixed his signature, as he does go.
Lets see" says Core 'syou haven't
stopped with rs i'm"
"Over . year." says the guest, delighted
ak being remembered; and then he eels
that his custom IL Approximations that
he Is under the immediate eye Of the pro.
prietor, Who viii see personally that I'll
his wants are attended TO, because he
knows himi don't you scot And when
he returns TO his home up In the country