The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1896-08-20

ing 1SPN 70 1iOu1 1O<1iA SOuAey, n.y.
where he is now sojourning, say that
his performances are amazing.
Another case Of unusual memory
which is attracting much attention, il
the recent achievements of Secretary
Carlisle in Chicago. Mr.. Carlislea
speech on the finances, which would fill
eight or ten columns of the Democrat
or Chronicle, was delivered without
manuscript, and the speaker referred
TO his notes only two or three times
during the whole of his address. As be
gave many figures and statistics re
ferring to this and other countries the
performance must be set down as q
noteworthy one. It has, however, been
equaled or surpassed by other men
prominent in our public life. Edward
Everett, Charles Sumner. Roscoe Conk.
ling and James G. Blaine were famous
for oratorical efforts which had all the
force and attractiveness of extempore
deliverance, but which had been care
fully prepared and memorized. Mr..
Conkling had special gifts in this di-
rection.
1t was often difficult for his hearers
to persuade themselves that his fighA
of eloquence. flashes Of wit. volleys Oh
invective and appropriate gestures were
not inspira lions of the moment, when
in fact, they were the finished product
of laborious preparation and in some
cases Of private rehearsal His great
speech in New York in the Garfield cam
paign was q wonderful achievement in
memory and in the oratorical art that
conceals art. Mr.. Blaine also generally
knew precisely what he was going ia
gay, just how he was going TO say 1t, 30
fore delivering an important speech. II
Long ago ceased to be q secret that OF
the occasion of his last appearance in
Rochester he secured the attendance Cd
an expert shorthand reporter in his
private room. The reporter seated him
self at table, with paper and pencils
and Mr.. Blaine, slowly pacing tho room
deliberately thought out dictated
speech.
A typewriter copy Of the reporter,
potes was Immediately taken to the
newspaper offices and q few hours later
Mr.. Blaine delivered the speech, word
for word, TO large asssmblage OF PEG
pie. Between the dictation and the de,
livery Mr.. Blaine had many callers and
his thoughts were diverted in other
ways by the events of the day, but his
memory did not fail him. Although
this was by no means one of the most
important mental efforts of his life, il
was peculiar and impressive one.
Some mental philosophers have com
tended that there is no such thing al
pure memory-that what is called mem.
DRY is merely an intellectual bent in a
certain direction For example, one
student may have a genius for history
and another for the languages, each BE-
ing dull" except in his own speciality.
and the historian may wonder at the
linguist's poor memory OF names,
events and dates, while the linguist may
accuse the historian of deficient mem.
DRY because the latter is batfied by def.
dcc1ensions and ccnmgationS
Tho local politicians mind nnay be q
Of election returns and q
perfect blank in certain other dircc. |
lions, from which it is clear that he has
q good memory for the kind Of statistics |
that interest him. Yet, # he forgeta !
one Of dozen articles which he should /
order at the groos<y his bettez half will |
him for having poor memory,
while she herself may not remembef
vino were Candidates for mayor at the
last election. From all of which SONS |
people afews that memory, as ON inoe-
pandent fscufty, does not exist, but Il
merely thn manifestation Of different |
channels OF thought in which some
n}nda habitually travel.
The correctness or error Of this
theory. however may be left TO the
1otaph ysieians and psychologists. We
see and hear Of what seem to be ex.
cases Of memory and the
rum viii continue TO be q good enough
definition In tho popular mind OF the
5henor@na Of the kind to which brief
reference has been made--Rochestes
Democrat md Chronicle.