Los Angeles daily herald., 1886-12-23
WONDERFUL MEMORIES.
People who In One Gift Have
Greatly ExcelIed the Masses.

In many ways the mental capacities
of individuals differ. but how that differ
ence arises will always remain one Of
natures secrets.
Lord Macauley had a most powerful
memory. Should he read book once
the contents of it were never afterwards
forgot, but were always ready to be re-
produced. Some one doubted this fact,
and asked him as test, to name the
Archbishops of Canterbury. This he
did, along with their dates, and never
made slip, even although he had never
seen them tabulated, but had read them
az isolated facts in the course of his gen.
oral reading.
Mr.. Woodfall of the Morning Post,
who lived in the last century, when it
was illegal to publish or even take notes
Of the speeches made in st. Stephens,
could 90 and hear a debate in the Lords
OF Commons, and thereafter return to
his office, where he dictated to the print.
ers the speeches he had just listened to.
His accuracy was remarkable, and in
compliment to his ability he was known
as "Memory Woodfall."
DR.. Johuson was man of similar Ca
pabilities, and it was by the aid of his
retentiye memory that the Londo on news
papers before the time of Woodfall were
informed as to the speeches made in the
two Houses Of Parliament.
Certain painters, draughtsmen and
sculptors after attentively considering a
figure are able to draw it from memory.
Gustave Dore could do this with great
exaotness. Sir Noel Patton, the ethereal
artist of present day fame, draws all his
pictures on this principal. For nights
in succession he dreams of the same sub
ject, and, when all is faithfully imprint
ed son his memory, he reproduces his
visions on the canvas. And who can
deny their grandeur!
Abercrombie, in bis writings, tells us
Of an artist who copied from recollec-
tioa, and without the aid of an engrav-
ing, a martyrdom of st. Peter, by Ru.
bens, with so perfect an imitation that
on the two pictures being placed beside
enc another considerable attention was
required to distinguish the copy from
the original.
Mozart had an extraordinary memory,
ms is seen in his actions regarding the
writing out of "The Miserere." This
piece was performed in the Sistine Cha.
pei, Rome. and no one was allowed by
the priests, on pain Of accommodation,
to possess or try to copy any part of the
music while in the church. Mozart
attended the services, listened with rap
ture to the singing, returned home and
wrote out from memory the music of the
whole cantata. So well was the work
done that the keeper of the church was
on the point of being tried for perjury.
Beethoven, after he was deaf, could
remember all the combinations of notes
and tones in his works. And yet we can
see such compass in them, and even
are unable at times to comprehend their
intrinsic merits.
Sir Henry Holland relates curious
story regarding his memory. On one
occasion he was travelling in the Hartz
mountains in Germany, and while there
had to visit the famous salt mines of that
country. When in the mines he was
overcome with fatigue and entirely for
got his German. His guides were al
their wits end, for Sir Henry could only
order in English. at length spirit,
were procared and he began to revive
and with his bodily revival his German
vocabulary returned.
The story Of Guillo Guidi, an Italian,
is sad one, and shows that too strong Q
memory may partake OF the nature OF q
disease. This man could repeat 36, ,00(
disconnected words after hearing then
once. but was incapable Of originating al
idea he might term his own. Meme