The new North-west. [volume] (Deer Lodge, Mont.) 1869-1897, 1885-07-31
NO. S3S
A PHENOMENAL MEMORY.
Ami Smith, Of the Document Room on
the Top Foor Of the Capitol.
New York GraDhic1

the Top Foor Of the Capitol.
New York Graphicl
II you want to find the most unerring and
phenomenal memory in Washington, climb
to the top floor OF the capitol, at the senate
wing, hunt the document room, and inquire
for Amzi Smith. You will be met by tall,
slender gentleman Of pleasant address,
kindly gray eyes, and quick movements.
Around him on every side. arranged in the
numerous Shelves first according to con-
gressss and next by number under each
congress, are the countless bills resolutions.
ETC., which aspiring statesmen have launched
on both houses since the very earliest days.
1t is a repository, not Of what congress has
done. but Of what the innumerable caravan
of wise Insn and cranks wanted to do--for
Smith keeps u record of the bills regardless
OF their legislative fate. "a. Il. A...,.-, ..-...
Ofcoursa thsy arc carefully indexod by
names and themes, but Smiths memory
doesn't neel this crutch. The members in
preparing bills or reports are always anx-
ious to know IL any steps have heretofore
been taken in the same direction, and the
oracle to consult in each case is Smith You
approach Smith on the subject, no matter
what it is, no matter how long ago, and,
after pulling tho front lock of his hair for a
he will remark, for instance. "Why, YES
you'll find a report of that in 80 Of the sec
ond 33d" (meaning document 80 Of the sec.
ond session of the Thirty-third congress), and
he will go for it with the instinct Of q ferret
During an almost daily intercours, Of sew
eral years never knew him to make mis-
take.
Let me give an interesting story about
him. Some five years ago he was taken sud-
denly sick, and the trouble soon assumed the
shape Of a fever and attacked his head. The
solicitous senators insisted ON daily reports
of his condition from the quiet little country
house a few miles from Washington. For
many days, as the disease gained on him, it
seemed dubious for Smith and his CYCLIC
peiic brain, and correspondingly gloomy
for the public msn who depended on his
ready stock of knowledge. But the clouds
broke at last, fortunately. and he began
slowly to mend. The nature of the COM
plaint led everyone to fear that poor Smith
might have wrecked his brain cargo during
the mental storm through which he passed.
1t was q balmy morning in May when Amzi
began his return engagement at the old desk
and / was one Of the first to try
whether hi, brain would answer roll
call in the good old way. So l askel
whether there was any document giving the
dates when the different states were al
mitted into the Union. He squinted at the
ceiling for few seconds longer than usual,
but at last he caught the spirit Of revival
borne in through the windows on the
blossom-laden air, and replied:
"Yes, it was in 1874, in the Forty-third,
that report was made from the house COM
mittee on territories, in which this intelli-
gence was conveyed. think it was sol Of
the first"
That was then seven years before, and no
one had asked for it since the day it had
been dumped in with grist of documentary
rubbish and quietly taken It's nook in the
caverns of Amzis head.
He does not trouble himself to inquire,
modest gentleman that he Is whether this
gift Is natural or acquired. He takes what
the gods have sent, without any horn
blowing or airs Of superiority, satisfied that
he Is useful, and content with the compen-
sation thereunto attached.