The Jasper weekly courier. [volume] (Jasper, Ind.) 1858-1922, 1874-05-01

This power of volltion, of willing, so Ia
speak. that all the mental power shall be
thrown into one channel. Is capable
OF many Illustrations besides that OF
memory. But these are the most
interesting because they are uncon-
scious. The conductor who tries to
remember because his bread and
butter are concerned does not know any
thing about the laws OF volition, and
would be very much surprised il he Were
To learn that he remembered not because
he had good memory, but because hc
made his memory remember. We none
of us know what tremendous powers we
possess ii we could only throw them into
one groove. rs the men of one idea do.
In cases of memory there are reporters
who actually accomplish feats still more
wonderful. To say nothing of the steno-
grapher, who trains his memory TO take
up exactly "a fast as he can write,
and no faster. the long-hand reporter
is curious exemplification of what
can be done by training. On many
journals IL is not considered desirl-
Bile to give lectures at full length, be-
cause readers as class, prefer the abridgc-
ment, and also. il is contrary To the laws
of editorial perspective. As rule, there
fore, long-hand reporters are employed for
lectures, sermons, etc. These men CON
dense the addresses as they 90 along, and
when the speaker has finished the report
i ready. This necessitates very pecu-
liar mental action. The memory is EN-
ployed i'm "A two-fold operation. and the
intellect Is engaged in cOndensing at
the same time. Ii is obvious that the
speaker can speak faster than the writer
can write. Therefore the latter has to
remember what the speaker has said. and
To- cor NIT TO memory what he is saying.
lie Is often two entire sentences. some
times whole paragraphs. behind him, and
II the speaker is very rapid, and the sub
ject intensely interesting, he is forced TO
write on slip of paper beside him. one or
two words, 10 serve as clues To entire SEN
fences. Leaving great blank space to be
filled in afterward. he jumps after his man,
ana commences the next paragraph even
with the speaker. This trait is capable of
high development, and makes trained
long-hand reporters of great value 10 a
newspaper. They have come into such
vogue in the metropolis that really first
class long-hand writers are seldom found
elsewhere. The skillful interviewer"
also illustrates the usefulness of memory
to reporter. Ii often happens that it Is
impossible. AS well as unadyisablc, to take
notes in the presence of the person who il
submitting to the interview. and the re-
porter is Obliged to retain in his memory
not only entire sentences. but also whole
paragraphs, and sometimes columns. until
he retires into the neighboring lager beer
saloon or hotel rcading-room. where the
matter is busily transferred to paper from
the photograph in the busy Boheman's
brain. First-class interviewing reporters
become so skillful in this line that they
prefer not To take notes, even when ii j.
possible, and public officials ana Others are
frequently astonished to see their Ian
guage, uttered in casual and informal
conversation. reproduced verbatim in the
columns of leading newspaper the next
morning.
Robert Houdin. the well-known presti-
digitateur. recognized this fact that. BY
strenuous efforts of tho will, in cOniunc-
ton with repeated practice, the memory
might be compelled 10 do almost anything.
He and his son made ii "A constant practice
To walk through the streets of Paris. and
taking a single glance at store window.
notice as many objects AS they could
They would then question each other and
return To the window to verify. On one
occasion the son Charles actually noticed
seventeen objects, and, strange To say.
SOME We're IN the interior OF the store. anu
not in the window, In plain sight. This
practice was the basis of Their astounding
clairvoyant performances. Houdin was
once invited, with his son. to "A gentle
mans house to give a private seance. and
as they went up stairs they passed the Ii
brary door, which was partially open. In
that single moment young Charles Houdin
read off the names OF twelve volumes and
recognized the pOsitiOn of two busts The
gentleman, during the seance. was artfully
led by the father TO ask some questions
relating TO the library and was 50 aston
ished by the accuracy of the mediums an
swers that he lost his temper and accused
Houdin of being an impostor who was in
collision with his servants. To pacify
him he explained the manner in which his
son had become possessed of the informa-
ton, which the spectators declared To be
moro wonderful than clairvoyance itself