The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1871-06-29
.Hg5IT NUMBER 3
[Prom the cegellnd i...d.r1


GFrom the Clevellnd Iseadert
Wonderful Powers soflLemory-A BIfna
Man With Faculties DlnIeuIt 70 Ex.
plain ~ .' ,tHJ - u III , Jl-E--
An exhibition was given at the WeddeIl
House parlors few weeks ago. Of the re-
markable powers of memory and associa-
ton which We're aseribed to one Daniel
McCortney, OF Cardlngton, Ohio. A num-
Der of our prominent citiznns and repre-
sentatiVes Of the press were present, who
were given full opportunity of testing
the accuracy and universally Of the
knowledge claimed 1t was asserted that
Mr. McCortney could remember the day
of the week Of any given date during the
last forty-four yeaIs. that he could tell
any important event which transpired at
the time, the state Of the weather, the
place in which he then was, his occupa-
ton, and the PERSONS who were present
with him. 5=.-- .-.-=e
It may not be aniiss 10 STATE thai Nc
Cortney is fifty -tWo-years Of AGE, nearly
blind, having only within the last eight
years been able TO distinguish the coarsest
print and acquire an imperfect knowledge
of reading he is consequently ignorant,
except as he has gained inform&tion from
contact with the world and the converaa-
tion of those among whom be moved. he
was born near Mount Pleasant West
moreland county, Penn hut has resided
most of his life IN this State He is one Of
seven children, none Of whom exhibit the
same faculties of mind with himself
During the years in which he has re-
manned in obscnrity, he has been perform-
ing the common duties of the laborer-
saving wood, working upon the farm, or
assisting about the shops orrailrcads In
his general appearance be exhibits the
same awkwardness' and peculiar marks Of
intuition which distinguish Blind Tom and
other prodigies with whom the public is
familiar; a remarkable knowledge, which
puzz,es themselves something which
they can never lmPaEt aud which none
can learn.
After the company had assembled.
McCortney was led into the room by his
agent, Mr.. o. c. Brown, and introGaced 10
the company. Being seated, he was asked
by gentleman present il be knew him.
He replied that be knew his voice, and
| spoke the gentleman's name he then
told when and where he saw the gentle-
man last the year, day Of month ana
week, which were pronounced correct.
Several passages We're then read in differ
ent parts Of the New. Testament, and their
exact location, book, chapter and verse
Immediately given. Those present no4F
engaged in a genera and merciless exani-
nation, embracing this opportunity for ao-
quiring a knowledge of dates and days half
forgotten, which were connected with some
important event in their lives. It is safe
to say that every married nan present
gave the date and asked the day of the
week Of that happy event, all found the
statements Of their mothers as TO theiy
birthday corroborated, and many sound
his memory more correct than their notes.
Events Of National and State history for
the last forty years which had any claim
to Importance, were described as soon as
the date was given. The most dificult
mathematical problems were propouhded
and answered almost instantly The le,s-
hibiton was a mosts fnll and unanswerable
argument IN support of the claim that
4 Daniel -McCortney has nc peer IN this elass
to which nature has assigned HIM; Chat his
peculiar gifts are more varied and wonder
ful than any other, and that the public
have a right TO witness their workings.