The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1898-01-18
A Mnemonic Device.

A Mnemonic Device.
(Fron the New York Evening Post In
Two Parts.)
PART L
s.1s15. the battle of Waterloo" L said, as
we walked along.
..What are you thinking about?' asked
Anita.
ITS the way used to remember my
aunt's address, when 1 was boy, l
said.
"Oh. then, your aunt lives at IS Fiji
teenth street; is that it?" asked Anita
Eyes. either at IS Fifteenth street, East
or West, or at Is Eighteenth street, East
or West; at one of the four, 1 am quite
sure" 1 replied with confidence
Anita and 1 had been married fort
night before in San Francisco. and had
started for the East directly after the
wedding. This particular Sunday after
noon in New York had been set apart in
our programme for calling upon my aunt,
the venerable Miss Williampe Van Brunt.
Accordingly, we left our hotel at two and
strolIed slowly down Fifth avenue.
In the astronomical observatory with
which I am connected am most orderly,
but unfortunately my methodical habits
do not extend to the arrangement OF my
private papers, and 1 found, that after
noon, that l had neglected the old memory
crutch of the battle of Waterloo. This
might necessitate our calling at four diff
ferent houses, but there was also chance
of our achieving success at the first place
of inquiry.
AS we approached a druggists Anita
suggested our going in and looking at a
directory. This did, little knowing at the
time how familiar 1 was fated to become
with the interiors of drug-stores during
the afternoon. A search of the directory
did not reveal the name Of MISS Will
iampe Van Brunt. Thereupon we pursued
our downward and crosswise stroll, and
rang experimental bells at East and West
Eighteenth and East and West Fifteenth
streets but with the discouraging result OF
discovering that there was no Miss Van
Brunt concealed in any one of those abid-
ing places.
At the last place of inquiry as I descend
ed the steps 1 thought [ saw look or an
noyance on Anita's face.
'"rhe battle of Waterloo" began.
ooh. bother the battle of Waterloo!'
exclaimed Anita, in tone 1 had never
heard her use before. II do wish you
vague and scientific Now. don't believe
you have the least idea where that poor
old aunt of yours lives"
Anita at this climax stamped her foot
loudly on the pavement, thereby attract
ing the attention of two or three men to
US. We maintained after this outbreak a
silence so prolonged that it extended over
into the next block. AS we approached
the second corner Anita spoke.
Don't get so vexed about your poor me-
mory, dear" said she, that you can't
even speak to me.
Her tone was soothing, and evidently
calculated to calm a man in a violent
rage.
II am not vexed," replied; 81 have on
" been thinking about the best way of
dealing with the unexpected
"Well?" said she; have you thought of
another address we might try?"
"49 East or West Sixteenth street,"
replied promptly.
"And why?" she asked.
Because it makes 1649, the date of the
execution of Charles I. think that pos
sibly I may have used that instead of
Waterloo to remember my aunt's street
and number. At all events, we can try
the two, they are so near"
And after that 10 East or west FOrty-
ninth street." said Anita cheerfully. It's
a poor memory device that won't work
both ways.
mo" 1 said 1.-The Van Brunt house
isn't out of the teens: of that I am GER
tain
"And if we don't find her at the execu-
ton of Charles t. said Anita, shall we
have to give her up?"
Il am afraid we SHALL" I replied.
Those are the only dates I have ever
been able to remember. And that 1 do
remember them so well is what makes
me quite sure that there was something
important with them-something that is,
OF real Importance"
The execution, when tried, worked no
better than the battle.
III you are sure the house Is in the
teens said Anita, after the negative that
met our inquiry at our last hope, I'VE
have something still to work on. Now,
you say you stopped at the house for a
week; think carefully; wasn't there some
thing peculiar about the house, something
you could remember it by?'
ut was a high-stoop, brown-stone,"
replied, heroically, trying to rise to the
occasion, but conscious that 1 was fall
ing miserably, with windows in front"
Really" said Anita, you surprise
me-
Then she laughed. but her disappoint-
ment was nevertheless keen, and on this