Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1883-11-17
MEMORIES OF SENATOR'S.
Their Faculty for Remembering Per-
@ sons and Things.
Some of Lamar's PeeuIiarities-Beek
and Edmunds.

Washington correspondent of the Pitts
burg Chronicle: Senator Beck is fond of
all sorts of sports, but can forget names
and faces faster than any man in public
life"
The above is one OF the many stray par
agraphs that newspaper people push
about apparently because they contain a
positive assertion that is very liable to be
unture. ] should Judge that this one has
not the slightest semblance of accuracy
about it; for the Senator, if he is fond OF
sports, is too heavy to enjoy them if they
require activity, and too slow to hunt
them up ii they have to be run down.
AS to his memory, there is not proba-
bly, in the Senate; with the exception OF
Senator Edmunds, a man whose mind is
so well stored with recollections OF past
events, and with such data as is required
for'their identification and rehearsal. Let
us recall an example of his forgetfulness,
or otherwise, of names and faces. 1t was
during the latter part OF the second ses--
sion OF the Thirty-ninth Congress that l
was requested to prepare for the New
York Herald a synopsis OF the several bills
pending and passed that had their origin
in the House relating to reconstruction.
This call was made on Sunday morning,
and the matter was required for the Mon
days issue. To have obtained what was
necessary from the records of the House
would have been a tedious and toilsome
process, and / was advised to fly to Mr..
Beck, who was then member of the
House. called on him at his quarters,
and he kindly and patiently gave me two
hours OF his time. He had considerable
amount of data at hand, what he did not
have he supplied with his memory, and
when we were through i had the notes fer
complete history OF the reconstruction
legislation to that time. | remember
that there was a large stone jug in
the room, and that he was so. consider
ate as to propose that we should re-
| cuperate our exhausted energies by a
participation in the contents, which, as
nearly as can remember, We're Kentucky
corn-juice. This occurred many years
ago From that day to this l have never
pressed myself upon Mr.. Beck's attention;
have never asked any favor OF him never
referred to our Sunday toll. l had never
spoken to him prior to that time; / have
never spoken to him since, except in re-
turning the salutation with which he al
ways identifies me when we meet. | will
| put Mr.. Beck against anyone l know Tor
| remembering names, faces and events.
! Senator Edmunds is another depository
| Of information to whom an application for
aid can proftably be made. There wasin
| the previous Congress discussion in pro-
| gress in the Senate upon subject which
| several sessions before had been debated
at considerable length. Appealing to
| Senator Edmunds, asked him if a certain
| Senator had not, some years before, made
a speechin strong contrast with the senti-
ments he had recently expressed on the
same subject. Come to my committee
room tomorrow morning at IL O'Clock,
and / will tell you all about it." And
then and there he patiently possessed me of
the prior action and the views of Senators,
| quite in conflict with their recent declara-
| tons.
Senator Lamar has some peculiarities,
and one of them is his unreliable memory
of men. Since he first became member
of the Senate he has never failed to greet
me cordially, in the public cOnveyances,
on the street, at the capitol and at the ho-
tells, and yet he has not the slightest ac-
quaintance with me, nor the least idea OF
| who | am.
The late Ben Hill remembered everyone
| he had ever met. 1t did not trouble him
to call upon him'a at his rooms, ana he wur
as willing to be interviewed on the side
walk as anywhere. He was Genial and
a hearty man, and bore up with wonderful
strength even when life became Il burden
to him. Thepeople Of his State who'visit
the capitol fairly worship his memory, and
l have never met Georgian who did not
affirm that the scandal which pursued him
so cruelty at the last was matchmaking
scheme. They mourn most of all that
Georgia's brilliant light has gone out.