Evening star., 1928-03-11

8
wine" Or. perhaps, "the man
! who never forgets.'
Certainly there is very much
of the unusual In a native OF France
who is not gifted with peculiar and
abiding appreciation Of Pommard. Cha
! teauneuf and Barsac. The Frenchman
who doesn't drink wine is almost in the
same tradition-de situation as an
Irishman who eats no pota atoes-almost,
In fact, In the category with the man
! who. for theoretical purposes or other
wise, bit the dog.
| Yet the same may be said Of the man
whose memory exceeds all normal hui
man boundaries. He who never forgets
has a super-individuality. In that re-
spect alone he stamps himself indelibly
upon memories ordinarily but slightly
impressionable. A man who can write
an address of 5000 words and a few
hours later deliver it absolutely ver-
batirn, without single reference to
notes. surely belongs in that eXtraor-
dinary category OF the man who bit
the dog. He Is newS-the most inter-
csting kind Of news.
Consider. then, the case OF a man
who Is both OF these things in one-a
Frenchman who never drinks wine and
has at the same time memory so abb
normally responsive TO whatever is read
vi Iiedtu tAldt IL II ItIlUHIEu IiuUuRIEDIt
France as wellnigh infallible. This
Frenchman Is not distinguished MEM
ber OF the Sorbonne. nor does he belong
to that highly selected group known as
the French Immortals. He is-but
there Is a story which tells this
much more effectively. You need only
revert to brilliant scene in a fash
ionable Paris salon OF another genera
ton.
Surprises Audience.
II Is nearly 40 years ago. A poetess
has just concluded recital OF one of
her latest unpublished poems before a
private gathering of illustrious residents
Of the French capital. She has selected
an unusually long effusion. and with
creative enthusiasm has obviously bored
even so courteous an audience.
At last she has finished, to the relief
Of all. But before the hostess can
thank her and turn to more happy
channels OF entertainment. an under
sized, wiry figure arises: probably the
least known and least liked person in
the room. His face is roughly pro-
portioned. intensely serious, almost an
tagonistic. His voice disagreeably high
pitched
Pardon my question. madame" he
says with annoying assurance. but are
/ SOu ACAtdAli AAidt ~ Suul am
sure have heard 1t before. even
know 1t BY heart
The lady celebrity expostulates in
dignantly. The hostess Is so chagrined
at this impertinence as to demand:
If that is so. let monsieur have the
kindness TO repeat the poem himself"
The guests are frankly pleased at this
turn OF affairs and echo the demand
So the arrogant young man bows
and launches forth into the seemingly
endless meters. For 10 minutes he
continues in squeaky nasals-without
break In rhythm or rhyme until the
? end Is reache d Then. before reseating
himself. he turns to the poetess again
L owe you an apology madame
This evening was the first time I ever
heard your splendid poem"
The young man who had taken this
method OF demonstrating his amazing
powers OF remembrance was a novice
In the Chamber of Deputies. scarcely
name. Raymond Poincare
Dominates Deputies.
Those not familiar with the fact tha,
the present premier of France f more
Of prodigy than a politician and are
therefore unfamiliar with his oft-re-
peated feats OF memory may hear this
story with reserve. Nevertheless. it is
credited in all It's principal details in
Paris. II the incident has been en-
bcllished with the years. there are
countless others of modern vintage that
have not, and 1t is in absolute keeping
with the character Of the man today.
Neither Poincarc nor his infallibls
memory has changed.
Turn, IL YOU will. 10 a session in the
French Chamber just few weeks ago.
rather than 20 years.
II Is the elimination Of the great de-
bate on the governments financial poll
Icy after iS months OF the ministry OF
National Union. Curiosity as To how
deity the Poincarian mind would dis
comfort and paralyge its critics has
drawn hundreds 10 the galleries Of the
PaiaiS Bourbon to see this same under
sized. pugnaciouS terrier Of man take
his stand on the roStr0m and answer
two weeks gis, OF fault finding from the
Left
For three and half hours he speaks.
For three and half hours he reviews
and sums up the colossal iabors which
in IS months have saved France from
almost certain bankruptcy. Taxation.
establishment Of the sinking fund.
eradication OF Short-ierin bonds bal
ancing OF two national budgets iii sue
ceSsion Uhe first IN France IL be bal
anced since the war;. consolidation OF
debts stabiliyation. holStering OF indus
try--one after another he presents them,
Facts and figures. figures and facts,
Never a pause never search for a oil-
lion-fraNc item, nor an item III 81, AS
francs
During three hours and half he
turns only once to the S-lach plle VI
documents on the table before him.
That once 10 read parts ot tereuiad
speech made by the Socialist, Vincent
Aur!ol. when the premier began his
financial reform IN July. ias6~~merelN
TO show how absurd AuriolS gloomy
prophecies have proved, Aside trom
that, every ngure and every item Is on
the tip of the speakers tongue, The
next day he addresses the Deputies for
four more hours S~~from first to last eN~
temporaneousiy, And whenever rad.-
cal dareS shout criticism the response
SizxleS back like TItden service striS-
Ing Il concrete wall az close range There
Is recurring laughter frcm the Chamber,
Hut Il is always at the expense of the
mterpellator,
Challenged by Few.
Average men cannot play With fire III
the cerrhelluM any more than chilarcn
can play with flre on the hearth, They
get badly burned SO do all thnSs who
attempt To match figures, velocity ~
thought and memory With NJ rcincare.
That is why the man who Was So au-
daeiouS as To make narlor ey~play NJ u
lNeteSS' work 10 years aso is Tor the
fourth time and At the ase et SS. pre-
mier ot France today, To-day, however,
few dare challenge what this bullet
, headed parliamentarianS mind may
hold,
| Historians and hiosrapherS Will never
heMoan lack of material With which tN
liyen the Stoitd undramatie march ct
Raymond poineare'S career, Nor vii,
they portray his greatness In les true