The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-01-12
THE VALUE OF MEMORY.


Detroit Free Press.
Several weeks since a representative of the
free Press was engaged in a general CONVERSE
ton with the late James Burns, when that GEN
t!eman remarked that he hadalways had an idea
that newspaper men must pay especial attention
to the cultivation of their memory.
1T Is a valuable quality, and most newspaper
men, perhaps, do cultivate their memory to the
best Of their ability"
Valuable quality! 1t is one of the best. L
had that fact impressed upon my mind when u
young man by that great statesman. Daniel
WEBSTER. and 1t was a lesson ! never forgot
Upon being asked to relate his experience,
Mr. Burns told how, in 1886, Daniel Webster
paid "A visit to Detroit and was given a reception
by the citizens at the old National Hotel, which
stood where the Russell House now stands.
Public exercises were held at the Cass grove,
and IN the evening the reception was held and
was largely attended. Il was about twentv-six
years old; said Nh. Burns, 'and had Just risen
TO the distinction of being in business for my
self. For that reason, | suppose-at all events L
know no other cause-I was invited to be
privately introduced, with a lot of other young
men, to Mr.. Webster
We'll, sir, l went fully impressed with the
greatness OF Mir. Webster, and. | confess, some-
what elated over the honor thus accorded me.
We all ssemble in the parlor. remember
Theodore ROmeyn and the late c. c. Trowbridge
were among those present-fifteen or twenty in
number. Presently Mr.. Webster entered the
room, and we were introduced. Asocial general
chat of perhaps half an hour followed. Mr.. Web
ster talking all over the room and with no one in
particular. after which we took our leave. The
remarkable feature which impressed me was the
fact that Mr.. Webster, who had met fifteen or
eighteen ordinary young men for the first time,
and that in a general way, called us all by name,
and without hesitation or mistake, as we took
our leave"
I've heard that memory of names was one of
Daniel Webster'S strong points
But the story isn't finished" said Mr.. Burns.
-Four years later l was in New York buying
goods. | had not seen or hardly thought of Mr..
Webster in that time. had just turned from
Wall street to go up Broadway, when L
saw a magnificent figure walking ahead of
me. Confident that it was Mr.. Webster | quick
ened my pace, passed him, and at the next cor
ner stopped to get a fair look at him. l was
not mistaken in the man, and was immedi-
diately filled with a desire to speak to him., but L
was held back by the thought that he wouldn't
remember a young man like myself. | followed
him a block before | could make up my mind to
accOst him Everybody on Broadway turned and
looked admiringly at him as he passed, and
finally | thought it would be in keeping with
Western character to be "A little forward. So,
with How do you do. Mr.. Webster, / stepped to
his side.
Turning slightly and half stopping in his
walk, he looked intently into my face an instant
and said: Why, how do YOU do, Mr.. Burnsl
I'm glad to see you, sir And so we walked to-
gether up to the AstOr House. / actually be-
lieve he inquired after every man he met at his
Detroit reception. ana that he called every man
by name, as though they were his init
mate friends. From that hour l knew the value
of a good memory, and from that hour | began
to cultivate my own"
And you believe your experience with Mr..
Webster was of value to your
Value! Well, sir. it was one of the most
valuable things that ever happened to me. 1t
prompted me to begin a sort of elf-discipline
which dare say was worth thousands of dollars
to me-