Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-11-15
STORIES OF FoRGETFULNEss.
Some Lapses of Memory That Had Odd
Results.

From the Wichita Eagle
To old soldiers 1t will seem incredible
that a veteran could forget the company
and regiment he served in during the civil
war, but that such a thing can happen and
has happened can be amply verified in the
bureau of pensions Congressman Victor
Murdoch has two notable cases -of that
kind. One of them is Melodies Hammond
known to nearly everybody in Wichita.
That he served in the army during the war
there is very good reason to believe, but
he cannot remember a single incident or
feature of his service. not knowing where
he was Unlisted or discharged or what com
pany or regiment he served in. Some thirty
odd years ago he was struck by lightning
and does not remember a thing behind that
event.
Former Commissioner of Pensions Eugene
Ware knew that such forgetfulness was
possible, for he once related this story: He
and James Whitcomb Riley, the Hoosier
poet, were giving readings in Colorado
Riley was to recite one of his own pieces
one he had composed and written him
self, one he had already recited over
100 times that season. When he went upon
the stage he forgot it utterly. ''~
One of the most peculiar cases of amnesa
in history is recorded in "reminiscences of
Bishop Munster He went out for n walk
one day. and for the information of some
visitors he expected he had written on
his door: THE master of the house is not
at home" When he returned from his walk
he noticed the sign on his door. and for
getting that he was the master of the house
he sat down on the steps and waited for
himself.
I met a prominent citizen opposite where
the National Bank of Commerce now
stands who actually waiting for him
self. He said that the man who was his
actual self had promised to meet him there.
and was very much surprised why he did
mo- . "a ta
many times at the queer incident.
l do not propose TO show that every time
a man forgetS to pay back borrowed money
his cells are on a strike. but / know of one
very notable case in which that was true.
A prominent citizen got $500 from another
man and actually forgot il. Until this day
he cannot remember getting the money,
but fortunately his bank account proved
that he did get 1t. and he paid 1t back
promptly.
A preacher who had a congregation in
well to do central Kansas town one Satur-
day afternoon bought cow and tied her
in front of the church until he was ready
to go home. When he came to the church
to. hold services the following morning he
saw the COW suffering for food and water.
He discarded his weil-prepared sermon and
preached powerfully on the text THE mer-
ciful man is meeiful to his beast" He gave
very severe roasting to the british per-
son who had allowed the cow to suffer. and
it never dawned upon his mind that he him
self was the owner of the cow until after
he had dismissed his congregation.
Since ] am talking OF this pastor | am re-
minded of the fact that the word minister"
as applied to pastors was associated with a
very peculiar case OF forgetfulness. Calvin
first applied the word to the pastors of his
following in consequence of the fact that
one of his deciples was educated in hall
of the School of Equity of Poitiers, which
was known as La Mnisterie One of the
graduates of that hall had to deliver an es-
say, and, as graduates are wont to do even
now. he selected fine garden of big cab
bages to practice in. When the day came
and he stood before his audience he entire
~ forgot that he was not talking to cab
hages until he arrived nearly at the end OF
his address, when he comrletely broke down,
saying. Gentlemen. / now clearly see that
you are not cabbages. 1 supposed" La
Fontaine does not say what the students
did to him.