The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-11-15
FEATS OF
Senator Depew and Mayor Low Have
Ability I'm That Line.

New York Mail and Express.
Chauncey NJ. Depew says that a good
memory is the greatest Of labor-saving
machines. Without 1t he would certainly
form tasks that press upon one whose
activities cover so wide a feld as do
those of New York's Junior senator.
One evening when, as president OF the
New York Central. he had had a ~particu-
larly busy day at his ONCE. he arrived home
late to find awaiting him a reporter for a
morning paper who wanted an advance copy
in the same evening at the annual dinner
Of the Holland Society. Although II was
within fifteen minutes of the hour for his
home dinner, which, in the interest OF sound
digestion, always has precedence with him
over the comestibles at state banquets. he
amiably took the reporter into his library,
closed the door and, explaining that he had
not yet had time to think out his speech,
at once began TO dictate IL, walking up and
down the room with his hands in his pock-
cts. and only once or twice In the course OF
the 2.OC0-word talk stopping to change the
construction OF a phrase or the order OF
his sentences. Without stopping to read
over his notes, the reporter hurried down to
his Office, wrote them out. and had printed
slips at the dinner, which were held on DIR.
Depew when he rose to respond to his toast.
With all the sparkle and spontaneity Of
what seemed an altogether impromptu eff
fort, the gifted orator delivered the speech
word for word as he had dictated IL. Re-
membering that his remarks dealt in due
sequence and Order WITH various little
known events and episodes, chapters and
characters connected with the Dutch set
Element and administration of New Neither
land. deftly and wittily related to men and
matters Of interest i'm our later history. this
facility Of preparation seemed to call for
remark.
Men have told me-" DR.. Depew said.
that they wouldn't dare to make a public
speech of this sort without two or three
DAYS of preparation. Well, 1 wouldn't
dare to make after-dinner speeches IL I
had to drop everything else and spend days
in preparation. 1 suppose 1t comes easier
TO some men than to Others" .
But this feat of memory-not at all a
feat TO Senator Depew-is quite cast into the
shade by Seth Lows performance at the
time of his inauguration as president Of
Columbia. On that occasion, at the Metro
politau Opera House, Mr.. Low made four
separate speeches, one in response to the
trustees. the second TO the faculty, a third
! TO the student body and a fourth to the
alumni. All four were finished perform
ances. both in matter and delivery. The last
was q particularly able and lucid. as well
as extended consideration of the relation
OF the University 20 the political. social and
| Industrial development OF the State OF New
York.
Although speaking without notes and
dealing with a multitude OF dates, names
| and other statistics In the history OF the
| State. Mr.. Low delivered all four speeches
without varying In a single word from the
| speeches as printed on the advance slips
In the hands of the reporters.
: Commenting on 4 similar exactnesS shown