The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1890-06-04
JACKS MEMORY TRAINING.

somehow, He Seemed to Forget.
ScENE-The family circle, about three
o'clock in the afternoon. Present, Fa-
ther, Mother, Sister Carrie, Little
Willy, Aunt Susan. Enter Jack, with
slam and rush. He filings books
down on a table and himself into q
chair.
Jack-I want to tell you, my honored
relatives, that this memory training is
superb! That was only the third lesson,
and my memory bump feeling it =
Aunt Susan [shivering ]-Jack, did you
notice the thermometer as you came in?
Jack-Oh, L forgot to shut the door! l
beg your pardon! [Shuts it. My mem
DRY bump fairly knocked my hat off, it
is growing so fast. l shall have to wear
stove-pipe hat to accommodate it.
Want to tell you what learned to-day.
! learned to
Sister Carrie-Jack, excuse the inter-
ruption, but ! am somewhat acquainted
with you, and l should like to know
whether you mailed that letter l gave
you at noon?
Jack [clapping his hand to his pock-
et]-Wh-e-e-ew! If l didn't forget all
about it! Was it of any Importance?
Sister Carrie-Importance! Didn't
tell you l wouldn't have it miss that
mail for any thing?
Jack taking out the letter. you
needn't get angry, Carrie! I'll take it
to the office after supper [starts to put
it in his pockcv, Dut Carrie takes possess
sion It'll. Well, as was saying, moth
er, you can't imagine how much l can
remember. Listen! He rises, strikes
an attitude and recites]: Hamburg,
Goldfish, soft-soap, Washington, mill
race, needle, camel, coming, bulldog.
Milton, Dickens, Dante, cheese, geogra-
ply, fiddle
Father-Jack you young rattlebrain,
how much more is there of that stuff?
Jack-There are one hundred and
seventy-eight words in all, and can
say them all off, backwards or forwards.
How's that for feat of memory? Geog-
raphy fiddle, Calcutta, Shakespeare,
turpentine-
Father-It just occurred to me, Jack,
that you pass the jewelers. every day,
J and possibly Mr.. Goldsmith sent word
by you about my watch? It's high time
it was done. / need it badly.
Jack-Whe-e-e-ew! I'm sorry, father,
but he gave me note faU>xQu three
days ago, and 1 put it III the cilek, be-
cause he's jeweler. That's the way
to associate ideas, you know l thought,
whenever looked at the clock, would
think of that note. But I forgot to
look at the clock. Takes the note
sheepishly out of the clock and hands il
to his father.
Father sarcastically, as he takes It'll
Been training your memory in any
other direction, Jack?
Jack Frightening up, not noticing
the sarcasm oh, yes, sir! can give
the Presidents of the United States for
ward and backward. Hear me! George
Washington John Adams, Thomas JET
ferson, James Madison, James Mon
roe
Mother-Oh, Jack, while l think Of
it, you ordered the sugar at the gro
Gerry?
Jack-Dear me, that's too bad! You
see, just before got to the store Bill
Jenkins came along on his new bicycle
Safety, and beauty--and l was look
ing at that, and walked right by. III
get it tomorrow without fail.
Mother-Well, we'll have to 60 with
out sugar for tea to night, suppose
[slyly] Tell us something more abou
your memory training.
blackwell, the brightest thing i.
about figures. I can remember any
date you please. I'm going to become
an encyclopedia, biped encyclopedia
Observe! The cotton gin was invented
in 1903. California was discovered il
1886. The area of Alabama is 50,72
square miles. The public debt Of thu
United States in 1889 was
Willy Hooking up from his blocks J.
Jack! .,..
Jack-Don't interrupt
| Willy-But, Jack! Can Sammy Brow
go fishing with me Saturday?
blackwell, there! | declare, Willy
I'm sorry, but forgot to ask. Saw hi
mother, too. willy begins to whimper.
Come. now, don't cry, and I'll help yov
dig fish-worms. III see Mrs. Brown to
morrow. Willy dries his tears
Carrie-How your memory is i'm
proved, Jack.
Jack [proudly]-It's wonderful! Why
l just glanced at store window as
came along, and think can remembe
every thing in that window Let's see
There was big dog, and some pocket
knives and some jumping jacks, AM
some
Father looking out of the window +
See! see! Cows in the yard! He fling
down the paper and rushes out
Willy-Shoo! shoe! Whoop! File
after
Mother-Oh, my geraniums! run
out of the room.
Carrie-Oh, my tennis ground! Fol
lows.
Aunt Susan-And all the clothes hum
out. Drops her work and runs.
Jack following slowly and sheepish
lyl Dear me. must have forgotten +
shat that gate!-Prof Amos r. Wells
in Golden Days.
BUNS SMOKE.