The river press. [volume] (Fort Benton, Mont.) 1880-current, 1882-11-08
RATES OF %ADYERTlS.SG
GOOD MEMORIES.
As Exhibited by q Negro and Several Gam
blers of st. Louis.

AS Exhibited by a Negro and Several Gam
blers of st. Louis.
st. Louis can probably furnigh some
Of the most wonderful and best authen-
ticated cases of good memory on record.
The remarkable powers Of Howard, who
was for many years stationed at the door
of the Lindell Hotel dining room, have
given him a reputation as wide as the
country. He had 50 trained his judg-
ment and memory that he could receive
and distribute so hats without keeping
any system Of checks OF places whatever.
A guest entering the diniIng-haIl handed
his hat to the dusky doorkeeper, who
obtained a view OF the owners physiog-
nony. He would then dispose OF the
tile among a hundred others and receive
another hundred before the owner OF
the hat would return for his head gear.
In q twinkling Howard would produce
the identical hat from the heap, never
handing over the wrong property. FIRE
quenlIy to test his memory, the owner
OF the hat intrusted to the darkey's care
would deny his own property Oh return
to the entrance, but without avail, The
face and hat were photographed on the
mans mind with all the truth of a caln-
era, SO that he never made q mistake in
attending to the duties of his office. This
wonderful negro was presented with an
elegant gold badge by q number OF gen
tlemen and the proprietors of the hotel.
He is now employed in Chicago.
John and Charles Barker, two broth
ers, who dealt in a Sixth street faro
bank, could keep track of the fitty-tWo
cards in the box, and, without consult
ing a card or anything else, could an.
nounce Just what cards were in the box,
after a certain number were dealt. In
the deal when it came to the privilege
10 "call the turn" neither of the BROTH
ers, who were equally endowed in this
respect, ever troubled those keeping
track of the game, but announced the
number and denomination Of the cards
left in the box, In playing against the
bank they displayed the same confidence
in their memories, and laughed at the
idea of keeping count of the cards. A
local celebrity, known by the sobriQuet
Of Overcoat Johnny, bestowed upon him
on account of his fondness for appropri-
ating great coats to his own use, has q
much better reputation as a casino play
er than as a citizen. He can safely give
his OPT Onent one-half the game be ore
the first card il dealt and then beat. him
with ease. From frequent playing he
has so strained his memory that in a
rapidly played game he can mentally
keep track Of every card played, with
the description of the trick taken by it,
and at last cards invariably announces
the. cards in the hands Of his opponents.
If given an opportunity he can stock q
deck and call off every card in its order,
dealing with the backs toward him. /
The remarkable memory of a gambler
asthe New York Jew was SO no
torious that it was with difficulty he per-
suade.a faro dealer to allow him to buck
6gAlIiSt Tic Ud1ak. I1S never uISCOIIl-
NODDED himself keeping q tally OF the
cards with peucii. bat at the end of q
deal or at any stage Of the game he could
our the action of any card called
for and tell every bet and the amount of
the same made by half a dozen players
about the board. A week after q play he
III could. tellto atcertainty how many times
q certain card won or lost, and after a
nights play would sum up without the
of the cards the winnings and
! losses Of any cardsfor the previous four
hours play. These, facts caused the SUI
perstitious dealers to refuse to allow him
to put money on the sboard.-Post Dis
patch.
A DUEL ON THE DESERT.
49,