The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-11-20

2 ector of the Federal Budget General
 ord made a long speech which bristled Ftth figures running into the billions. Fever once did he look at note, but Fent ahead calling off a string of statis- les from memory. giving each sum own to the last cent. The enormous au- fence, consisting mainly of representa- I've business men, broke into applause admiration of his amazing faculty pr carrying such exact details in his lead.
 I once asked James J. Hill how he ontrived to cultivate the unique mem Try he possessed, probably the best nemory of any man of his day. His re- Fly was: "It Is easy enough to remem- er things you are interested in."
 James A. Farrell president of the pnited States Steel corporation, has |erhaps the greatest business memory of my man in America today. When l |sked him his recipe for memory build ng he explained that he never asked is brain cells to record and retain |ata of no earthly use to him, such as he records of different ball players, or ace horses, or anything equally useless b him. He modestly added that he left loom in his mind for facts and figures Helpful to him in handling his duties.
 Coming to work of a morning, I lave often noticed in the train a young banker who invariably turns from the ront page of his newspaper to the Sporting page. And when he has hap bened to sit near me Ithave frequently beard him discuss sports, but I do not ecall ever having heard him talk over &nything of practical interest or value to
 conscientious man, interested in finance and business.
 know another young banker who puts in five or six evenings every week
 studiously striving to equip himself No progress in his profession. Some ime ago this banker was voted an in Erease of $25,000 year in his salary. @ A very young stenographer was sent by the office manager to take dictation From the president when his secretary #vas on vacation. She astounded the president by her rapidity and accuracy. He didn't have to stop to spell names Pf individuals or companies. By and =by the secretary was promoted and the Foung stenographer was made private Fecretary. F
 What was the secret S She had made t her business to find out all she could about the presidents duties and his dic- ation, and had made her mother read bff to her in the evening all the ma erial she could lay her hands on which had been dictated by the head of the concern, and she assiduously practiced writing it down in shorthand.
 What is the point of all these appar- ently unrelated incidents? It is this: IA, lot of people have not learned the Ealue of attending to theer own busi- ness and of not allowing matters of ab- solutely no value to them to absorb their time and clutter up their minds.
 The bus boy who had allowed Firpo's defeat to interfere with his efficiency zbs no more foolish than the young banker who has allowed sport to take Possession of so much of his time and brain cells. Neither is attending zeal ously to his own knitting.
 The other banker as we'll as H;ll and Farrell and Lord and the young stenog- Erapher all followed a different course; they sought industriously to feed their minds and memories with things of value to them in their work.
 The first week went to work in this country, I heard an executive scold an assistant and finish up by telling him very emphatically: Always keep your eye on the ball." Don't wait for some- one else to tell you, Mind your own business" Do it!