The Worthington advance., 1888-07-19
Old Tricks Of Memory.
From Chambers' Journal.

Old Tricks Of Memory.
From Chambers Journal.
Not many things are more surprising than
the lapses Of memory one sometimes meets
with in persons whose powers of mind, both
natural and acquired, are considered to be
much above the average. 1t would be folly
to expect grapes from gooseberry bushes or
figs from fir trees; and it would be preposter-
GUS to look for anything but unwisdom from
tho wise; and above all We do anticipate ex-
pertness from the really clever. And yet,
what breakdowns do happen now and again
In the Senate, on the platform, In the pulpit,
and even on the stage; and not seldom tho
moro skillful the person the more curious tie
catastrophe.
In recently published letter of Thackery's
We have description of the sudden forget
h'ness he was subjected to at the literary
fund dinrter. He was one of the speakers, ard
and he describes the affair as an lawful
smash" Of the thread of his discourse he
seems to have said, not in words. but in tic
spirit OF an old dramat;st,
'Tis lost;
Like what we think can never shun remem-
brance,
Yet of a sudden is gone beyond the clouds.
But the experience of the author of "Vanity
Fair was for from being singular to himself.
Others have got their pearls of thought ard
illustration into the wrong place, nay, sone
have been so unfortunate as to lose both
pearls and their setting. 1t seems to have
been trying time for Thackery and he sat
down afterward and described to friend
what fool he made of himself, but his
mother, who had contrived to be within
hearing distance, came to the opposite con-
cluslOn.
The senate is not free from cases of sudden
forgetfulncss, though in days when 1t was
considered out Of place to use manuscript
the lapses took place much more often.
Nowadays case seldom happens unless the
notes have been disarranged or mislaid, or
when the paper gives out" But the thing
does occur, and to front bench men and back
bench men alike. Not long since an ex cab
met minister collapsed completely from fail
urc OF memory, and he was shortly afterward
translated, perhaps by way ofconsolation,
to the house OF peers. Only the other day,
too, member with a grievance made IAN
awful smash" to the delight of the house.
through not being able to get at his notes,
but he has had no consolation and little
peace since.
On the stage the promptor is the safety
from forgetfulness, but in the concert theater
lapses take place Even great living tenor
has been known to retire in the middle of q
hO bOI haoy or nrv,.p ~ fo~
most lifetime, because all memory of the
words he wanted was gone. Such a case of
audden forgetfulness took place in one of the
London theaters early in the present century
During the performance, which seemed to
have been mixed character, the gods in the
galleries called for their favorite song, ''The
Sprig Of ShilelaGh," though it was not an
nounced in the bills; and Mr.. John Henry
Johnstone, a well-known Irish actor and vo-
calist, came forward with alacrity and good
humor to comply with the wishes of the gods
Accordingly the music played, but the singer
stood silent and apparently confused. The
symphony was repeated, but the same silence
and confusion on the part of the vocalist
took place in rather an increased degree.
The symphony was preformed a third time,
but all to no purpose. At length Mr.. John
stone came forward to the front of the stage
and thus addressed the audience: Ladies'
and gentlemen, l assure you that have sung
this song often that forget the first line !"
roar Of laughter greeted these words, and
hundreds of good humOrcd voices began to
prompt the singer, who Immediately gave
the tavorite song in good style, and gained
increased applause.
Sudden forgetfulness is not an unusual
thing in the pulpit. Aubrey, the antiquary,
says that when he was freshman at college
he heard DR.. Sanderson, bishop of Lincoln,
we'll known for his work, "Nine Cases of Con,
sGIon r in, hn l. ~fk 4 -
Lords Prayer: Even the great French
preacher Massliion, once stopped in the mid
die Of his sermon from defect of memory,
and Massilion himself recorded that the same
thing happened through excess Of apprehen-
sion to two other preachers whom he went
Another French preacher stopped in the mid
die of q sermon and wGs unable to proceed
The pause, however, was got over Ingenious
ly. "Friends,' he said, Il had forgot to say
that a person much afflicted is recommended
to your immediate prayers" He meant him
self. He fell on his knees, and before he arose
he had recovered the thread of his discourse,
ory being perceived.
The late Rev: Henry Ware, Of Boston, was
once in n similar predicament. In the mid
die of a sermon his memory failed him, and
he stopped abruptly. The pause seemed long
to the preacher before he reganed his
thought, and he imagined the sermon to be a
failure in consequence, but as he walked
quietly up the aisle a different impression
was given him. "How did you like the ser-
mon?' asked one hearer of another. Like
it? 1t is the best sermon Mr.. Ware ever
preached. That pause was sublime''
A good illustration Of this sudden forget
funess comes from the same district of Bos.
ton. A worthy minister there ia not only
absent-minded and has short memory but
he breaks down as continually Us he breaks
down suddenly. To counteract this it ia
habit with him when he forgcts anything to
rise again and make few supplementary re-
marks, which he always begins with tho
phrase, ''By the way" One Sunday he got
half way through a prayer from memory
when he hesitated, forgot what he was about,
and sat down abruptly without pronouncng
the closing word. In a moment or two he
rose, and pointing his flnger'at the amazed
congregation, he exclaimed: "Oh, by the
way, Amen!"
Il is said of Father Taylor. preacher to
cried out: ':Boys, I've lost my no1ninative
case, but never mind-we're on the way to
glory'
We can understand Q lapse of memory tax.
ing place when the mind is overhurdened and
usually demands arc being made upon it, but
for failure to occur when there is stress put
upon the mental powers is singular, Here is
IL CtsSC t'Vi4O: We Nlo lOlu kOUu du.
thority that a prominent Harvard professor
went in the old Cambridge post-offlco and
presented himself at tho place whore tho de-
livery of letters arc made. He stood there
silent but apparently very confused about
something. The clerk in charge inquired
what he desired. my letters, please. -
"Namc sir?" asked the clerk, After stam-
merin2 and suffering the learned man
said: II have quite forgotten my name' -
The official knew the professor, and with u
smile handed him bis letters.
"You will forget your own name next" is q
phrase often thrown at the stupid and per
haps there would be some excuse for them
even if they did. Il -
There III some consolation however, in
cases Of sudden forgetfulness; the pity is that
it does not come soon enough to benefit fully,
and at times it is denied altogether to tIe
actor AZ for The oratos, he knows after.
valuable forgatten things and the difference
between the projected ideal and the actual
performance 1t would have been great
; saving of nerve force and a p!easurablc emo.
ton to have thought of these two itcme !,afore
he had wished himself 900 miles away and
before ha room had eXurn around and ho