The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1908-07-16

Tore the mast Later he was a sue
cessful merchant. and still later own
eT of much larger and better vessels
than those on which he used TO sail.
But he is prOudest of the fact that
for years he had the reputation of
having the best memory of any man
on the coast
This is how he won the reputation.
While Perkins was still struggling
merchant a stranger came to town
one day, claiming to have prodigious
memory. The fellow did some rather
remarkable stunts, but his memory
feats showed evidences of long and
careful drilling. Perkins thought he
saw a chance to discOmfit the stranS-
er and at the same time get a little
much-needed advertising Cor himself
He proposed, therefore, competition
with the stranger
1t was agreed that Perkins should
repeat, off hand, a hundred proper
names, that the stranger should write
them down, and the test would be as
to which could come nearest to re-
peating the list backward. Perkins
rolled off the list so rapidly that the
stranger had difficulty in keeping up
with his pencil. The list was handed
TO an umpire, and the stranger had
first try. Starting at the bottom, he
could not remember more than a
dozen of the names in order. He did
little better starting at the top Per
kins was able to repeat the list up
and down as rapidly as he had given
it originally His fame spread all
over California.
How did l do it, said Senator
Perkins, not long ago, after he had
told the first part of the story. why
/ just simply took the names Of the
people who lived on the main street
of KennebunkpOTt, Me-, where L was
born. 1t was as easy to remember
the up street as down"
Representative Cushman, of Wash
ington, famous as the hUmorist O.
the house of representatives, has
such a solemn cOuntenance that ne
| keeps most people guessing as 10
| whether he is in earnest or having
| fun at their expense When CuSn-
man made his first race for congress
his opponent was J. Hamilton Lewis,
| he of the famous pink whiskers
Meeting a friend one day, Cushman
| inquired anxiOusly what the latter
| though of mis- prospects.
You will be elected, beyond the
| shadow of a doubt" declared has
| friend enCouraEinSly.
Il hope So" replied Cushman with
intense fervbr. What a great thing
| it would be Cor the country
| II Is still a moot question out in
| Washington as to whether Cusnmah
| really meant 1t.
| Anyone who has tried to collect
! claim from a railroad company ana
| has met with iusolence and delay
will appTPciate this story of low
Senator Warren, of Wyoming, got
! settlement.
| Coming to Washington for one ses
sion of congress, Senator Warren ;
I'M, cot lost II contained. besides
4 his own belongings, some OF the mos,
| extensive gowns Of his wife ana
daughter Long and careful search
| failing 10 bring the trunk TO lSnI'
| Senator Warren put in claim Ioi
damages. The railroad company II
/ nored the claim
| Congress adjourned and w dTreh
returned to Cheyenne, hut sun there
v~as NO settlement o. the claim az
! Senator decided it was time 10 az
| Vie stationed an agent in the raliroad
| ards AT CHEYENNE. with instructions
/ 10 notify him as soon as a frelgh'
car belonging to tae railroad whlch
had lost his trunk made its appear
| aucp Such car showed up o"t
dav AMI Warren immediately went
before a local magistrate and sWoTe
ont A writ of attachment heh i!
Uired the headquarters of the ran
! roa5 company. telling what he mao
! done That very day an answer
/ came stating that a check in full o
/ The claim was on its way-and
/ wouldn't Senator Warren please re-
| lease the attached car?
Representative Brick, of South
( Bend. Ind. reiOices in the Christian
name of abraham Lincoln" de is
proud of the name. and has it en-
| eraved in full on his calling cards
One day Mr.. Brick had occasion
to call at the home of Vice-PTesident
| Fairbanks. He produced his card
and handed it to the negro butler
| The darky could read a little, but
not much He glanced at the card
and gasped. Then he made break
/ for the yicepresidents study. He
was several shades lighter and his
/ kinkv hair was almost straight when
/ he faced the vice-pTesident
/ "FO' de Lawd's sake, he gaSped
! ''Marse Abe LinkUm done come back
+ TO life an he's out thar at the do
axing 70 YOU. SOmpin' orful's gw1ne
happen, sho'.'
! It was quite a while before the
| scared negro could be persuaded to
show Mr. Brick n.
Ethan Allen Hitchcock. former sec
retarv of the interior, had sense OF
| humor that used to keep members OF
I congress and his cabinet colleagues
oueSSiFg One dav he had some bus