| Show THE NAME CAME BACK and for awhile the doctor could no see the humor of it it is a familiar contention among psychologists that an incident once thoroughly presented to the human mind cannot be effaced from the memory in this connection dr hyrns hamlin tho well known missionary to turkey and the founder of robert college is reported hythe washington star as telling a humorous story among dr hamkins hamlins Ham lins friends and substantial helpers was a philadelphia gentleman whose name could not be recalled by the doctor who was then in turkey every incident connected with their interviews even to the street and number of the house in which his benefactor had lived was as plain to the doctor as if the events had occurred but yesterday but to save his life he could cot think of name As time went on this failure of memory caused him serious annoyance and ho adopted all sorts of expedients to bring back the name he would take the letters of the alphabet one at a time and think over all the surnames he had ever heard but to no avail then in his imagination he would start down the street where his friend had lived enter the house go through the ceremony of introduction and repeat word for word t as nearly as he could remember it the conversation which biad taken place between them but still he could not recall the name when after 30 years he returned to his native land on a visit ho took the trouble to go to philadelphia in order to settle the question which had been puzzling him so long he visited tho house but found only strangers who could tell him nothing of tho people who had lived there so many years before so finally dr hamlin abandoned the search thinking that hero at last was a caso where something had been thoroughly presented to the human mind and as thoroughly effaced one night after ho had returned permanently manent ly to this country ho attended a largo dinner where were several distinguished psychologists during the evening the conversation turned upon the subject of memory and the well known scientific principle was discussed this was too good an opportunity to bo lost and dr hamlin proceeded to relate his experience at length as an example of the opposite kind he was of course listened to with great interest and as he approached tho end of his story he said with great impressiveness veness gentlemen there was an incident presented to ray mind moro than 40 years ago and I 1 havo not been able to think of the namo of captain bodinson Bo binson from that day to this when his climax was greeted by a hearty burst of laughter the worthy doctor looked round in great astonishment for he thought he had told a pretty good story and could BOO nothing in it to provoke mirth it was some time before the truth of the matter dawned upon him |
