The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1888-09-15
SUDDEN POBGETFULLNESS.

DODOhN 10Ds
A curious case of sudden forgetfull-
ness took place in one of the London
theatres early in the present century.
During the performance, which seems
to have been of a mixed character, the
gods in the galleries called for their
favorite song, The Spring Of .Shillek-
agh, though it was not announced in
the bills /; and Mr.. John Henry John
stone, we'll known Irish actor and
vocalist, came forward with alacrity and
good humor to comply with the wishes
of the scds. 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 part OF the
vocalist took place in rather an increas-
ed degree. The symphony was per-
formed third time but all to no pur-
pose. AT length Mr.. Johnstone came
forward to the front of the stage and
thus addressed the audience: "Ladles
and gentlemen, l assure you that have
sung this song SO often that forget the
first line" A roar OF laughter greeted
these words, and hundreds of good
humored voices began to prompt the
singer, who Immediately gave the fav-
orite song in good style, and gained
increased applause.
Sudden torgetfullness is not an un-
usual thing in the pulpit. Aubrey, the
antiquary, says that when he was fresh
man a. college he heard DR.. Sanderson,
Bishop of Lincoln, we'll known tor his
work, Nine Cases of Conscience, break
down in the middle of the Lords prayer.
Even the great French preacher Mas
slllon once stopped in the middle of a
sermon from a defect of memory and
Massillon himself recorded that the
same thing happened through excess of
apprehension to two other preachers
who he went to hear in different parts
of the same day. Another French
preacher stopped in the middle of
sermon and was unable to proceed.
The pause was, however, got over in
geniously. "Friends," said he, 81 had
forgotten to say that a person much
afflicted is recommended to your i'm
mediate prayers" He meant himself.
He fell on his knees and before he rose
he had recovered the thread of his dis
course, which he concluded without his
want Of memory being perceived.
The late Rev. Henry Ware, of Bos-
ton, was once IN similar predicament.
In the middle of sermon his memory
failed him and he stopped abruptly. The
pause seemed long to the preacher be-
fore he regained his thought, and he
imagined the sermon to be failure in
consequence but as he walked quietly
up the aisle, different impression was
given to him. GLOW did you like the
sermon1" asked one hearer of another.
Like it -? 1t is the best sermon Mr..
Ware ever preached. That pause was
sublime p
A good illustration of this sudden
forgetfullnes comes from the same dis
trict of Boston. A worthy minister
there is not only absent minded and
has a short memory, but he breaks
down suddenly. To counteract this, in
some measure, it Is habit with him,
when he torgets anything, to raise again
and make few supplementary remarks
which he always begins with the phrase,
"By the way" One Sunday he got
halfway through prayer from memory
when he hesitated, forgot what he was
about, and sat down abruptly without
pronounclng the closing word. In a
moment or two he rose, and pointing
his finger at the amazed congregation,
he exclaimed "Oh, by the way, Amen!"
1t is said OF Father Taylor, a preacher
to sailors, that once, when he got con-
fused he cried out "Boys. I've lost my
nominative case; but never mind
we're on the way to glory !"-Cham-
6er's /onrual.