National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-03-23

tAs son Charles ast.sllv ppttesa sevs.fesn o.
jects, ana, ssranes 8 2 ss1is tSEe n ~ n
terror Of tns store, M nos n III vacys p
plain sight. This practice waS tbs bAAs Of
their astounding ela1utgank performances.
Houdin was once invited. VIA HI con, TO .
gentlemsn's house 70 gfsS private ssence,
and - they went up skaiEs they passed tie
library door, which Ma partially epen.
II t IL 70 single no.snt yo.nS ch..ss Hosan
nized the position Of two busts. The gentle-
man, during the seancs, was artf0lly led BY the
father to ask some questions relating 70 the
library, and Nos % astounded BY the accuracy
Of the medtun's suswess that he lost temper
and accused Houdin Of being an mpocser WIG
wns In oollusion With his eorvano. 10 geGy
him no explained the manner N wnicn p ~
had become possssssd ofthe fnibfmafaon, nlc1
the spectators oeelared TO b more VIC soa
Artiots offen train thelr mAmor1ee = em,-
lar fAshioa. Hoesrth, the sfeos Engnea -
tsed st Ant 70 ketch upon his thumb-na1 the
erotesoue fsces which y nj n - ramblmge.
But a his memory grew stro0Ger ~ used 70
learn them by heAst, - tAe ehnorse pa!oo ~
and could reproduce them on popee VIVA ~
deyiating fidelity. WlhAn dArs, ono % M
a
trained himself In ooneepo1dmS nanner. AZ
Art be used to stop end Skstah nt2le scenes
that struck his fancy, but now he cotnnks
them to memory and drawn them q home.
MANY persons have compared these dreWings
from memory With the actual scenes Ind have
found an astonishing accuracy, even N maf-
tiers of unimportaut detan. The WISER bee
seen little sephii rsproductson nom rseoa-
lection, and compared e 9Th the place.-
4 Va. s;mply pooa q yss.s VII ~ !, so me
background low slope Of hills, With cottage
or two IN the distance, The wonder about the
matter was in the Extraordinary fidelity WIN
which the limbs Of the trees bad been remem-
bered. They were ahnormally projected -
every direction, forming quite . singular 40
somewhat complicated treillage, 90 thas y
seemed strange that any eye. could hsye zen
g much in 80 momentary glance. So III n S'e
Houdin, Hart has trained hts memory ma nv
eve together, and they obey him.
The memory may be trained for faces - well
as names; sometimes for both together. 1t has
been written Of the Bourbons that they never
forgot mans name, nor his face, and this has
been sometimes considered Is true sign OF
their royal natures. It must be confessed that
this specially of recollection Il great quahn-
cation for king; but royalty does not or must
not claim monopoly Of It. But here In New
York very nOtoOle poucc yuSSsSS w Nss~ ~
officiate at the Tombs possessed TINS power as
fully as any Bourbon OF them all:
He was terror 70 al criminals VINO wste
sailing under false -coiors; ior ne mao Hgn.-
full habit Of studying faces, ana w0uu eu3-
denly burst out to the prisoner A INC Toch'
"What do you say your name. fs-Harry
Thompsoul You're Q liar. Your name 10
James Levins, and I arrested you when police
captain, ten years ago, for Deang " unisMIu'
possession Of stolen jeweify inn ponce jus
tice has some power OF internally photograph
ing the features Of jail-oards, and then Oh n-
scrbing their names q the ioot OF the pacsuie.
He Is out Of office now, when u Pny, .of ne
vas very efficient In his capacity; put ne naa z
hankering for unlean politics, which unoso
him.
AL these instances prove tine isct tnat aseI-
age memories are suscepttble Of enormous 90
velopment by training. IL 10 gieatiy 70 % re-
GREETED that this truth csnnos oe u''i1oo "
the Board OF Education.
In the present system Of public schools there
is not basis OF scientific tnougnt. ING c3n-
sequence is that an accumulation OF se1s-pooks,
covering an immense ares, human knowleoSe OF
represents teaching, snd stesy c.1e
represents the education received. Nenne, tne
teachers nor the taught know anything s9ous
the things which the cooks arg soPPoseo 70
assist them In studying. The former se' ies
sons which the latter commit 70 memyEy, Ao
that ts all. But - they are iorceo 70 ieasn "
heart things which they 90 not comPtenena,
the hsob OF appearing 70 tne memosy u9lne.