Mnemonic - Articles

MENTAL PRODIGIES

Fred Barlow. 1951

147 CHAPTER XI FAMOUS MEMORIZERS I've a grand memory for forgetting, David. R. L. STEVENSON. IN modern medical and psychological text-books, the function of remembering is usually divided into three parts: registration, retention and recall. Registration of the material to be remembered necessitates a certain amount of concentration. Thus, a maniac will tend to remember only those things that especially impress him. In unconsciousness, we are told, nothing can be registered, and in a semi-conscious state only partial recollection may occur. Retention may be disturbed by various causes but such disturbance should only be assumed if it is certain that registration and recall are unaffected. Recall, according to the specialists, may be either automatic or voluntary. In abnormal mental conditions it is quite feasible that the capacity for voluntary recall may be impaired whilst automatic recall may be almost perfect. These phenomena, it is claimed, may often be observed in normal individuals who are fatigued, or in the aged, and the disturbance is most marked in the effort to recall names. The ability to recall is facilitated by richness and rapidity of association. In consequence, slowness of association may make memory disturbances appear more severe than is really the case.

148 "Repression" may play an important part in determining which material cannot be recollected although this does not, of course, apply to all memory disturbances. Total loss of memory, over a long period, is generally a hysterical symptom. A normal quality of remembering is that it tends to mould the past according to desire and to fill in defects in memory with facts which may have been there rather than with facts that are genuinely recollected. When there is a pathological loss of memory, the gap is often filled in with the most elaborate fabrications. Patients not infrequently get the sequence of past events all wrong. The problem of time perception is still very obscure. That individuals differ markedly in the way they think and imagine was proved by Francis Galton. When he questioned people about their power of conjuring up mental pictures of things they had seen, some maintained that they could picture an object in their mind's eye as vividly as if it were in front of them. Many disclaimed any such power and found it difficult to believe that others possessed it. In the achievements of calculating boys, the ability to memorize appears to have been restricted entirely to figures. If their ability had not been so restricted they might have become men of genius. It is by no means unusual to find in ,each individual considerable variation in the ability to remember different things. The ability to remember figures, however, to an unusual degree, is not exclusive to calculating boys. As an example, consider the amazing ability of the famous John Wallis, the teacher of Sir Isaac Newton. This English mathematician was born on 23 November 1616, and died in 1703. He was one of the founders of the Royal Society. In a letter to Thomas Smith of Magdalene College (quoted in the Spectator, 1879, Vol. III, p. ii) he writes:

149 "December 22nd 1669. - In a dark night, in bed, without pen, ink or paper, or anything equivalent, I did by memory extract the square root of 30000,00000,00000,00000,00000,00000,00000,00000 and did the next day commit it to writing." (Note by the author: the figures were grouped in fives, as indicated.) "February 18th, I670. Johannes Georgius Pelshower giving me a visit, and desiring an example of the like, I did that night propose to myself, in the dark without help to my memory, a number in 55 places: 2468135791011121411131516182017192122242628302325272931 of which I extracted the square root in 27 places: 157103016871482805817152171 proxime, which numbers I did not commit to paper till he gave me another visit, March following, when I did from memory dictate them to him. Yours etc, John Wallis." Reference has already been made to Shanks, an English mathematician who in 1873, determined the value of pi to 707 decimal places. Dagbert, the French mentalist, claims to have memorized pi to 707 places so he may have obtained his figures from this source. One cannot help feeling that to memorize endless strings of figures in this fashion seems an appalling waste of time and energy. It would be dangerous to make this observation to a "figure fiend", however, in case he should retaliate by asking whether it was considered that the millions of hours that have been spent on crossword puzzles, chess and the like were not an even more appalling waste of time! INHERITED ABILITY It would be difficult to cite a more typical example of inherited ability than that of Macaulay, to whose prodigious

150 memory reference has already been made (p. 137). He was able to recall pages and pages of hundreds of volumes, a knowledge of which he had acquired by simply reading them through once only. His grandfather, the Rev. John Macaulay, was a minister who lived at Inverary. He was a most eloquent preacher and is mentioned in Dr. Johnson's Tour. Lord Macaulay's father, Zachary, the slave abolitionist, was also a very capable man and a lucid and rapid writer. Lord Macaulay's uncle, Colin Macaulay, was a famous general and the right-hand man of the Duke of Wellington, in his Indian campaigns. He governed for many years a large part of the Madras Presidency and in spite of his active life, was a first-rate scholar both in ancient and modern literature. He was constantly mentioned in contemporary literature as a wonder for his erudition and abilities. Another uncle, Aulay Macaulay-was a brilliant conversationalist and wrote much of value. He was tutor to Caroline of Brunswick but died in his prime. A cousin of Lord Macaulay was the Headmaster of Repton and a good scholar. Many other relatives and descendants were famous men. Other examples of hereditary influence are those of the father of Seneca, who had one of the greatest memories on record in ancient times, and Porson, the Greek scholar-what came to be known as the Porson memory was hereditary in his family. EXCEPTIONAL MEMORIES Seneca refers to a man who, after hearing a poet read a new poem, claimed it as his own, in proof of which he would repeat the poem from beginning to end, which was more than the author could do! Pascal is said never to have forgotten anything that he had ever known and read. Grotius, Leibnitz and Euler are also said to have been endowed with a similar power of memory.

151 Cyrus, it is stated, knew the name of every soldier in his army, and the Athenian, Themistocles, knew the name of every one of the twenty thousand inhabitants of Athens. In more recent days, Daniel Webster, the great American lawyer, was credited with knowing by heart, amongst other books, the whole of the Bible, all Shakespeare's plays and Paradise Lost. Until he reached his teens his memorizing ability was well below the average. The renowned South African statesman, General Smuts (1870-1950), as a child was far from being precocious in that he did not learn to read until he was twelve years of age. Whether this was a handicap or not would be difficult to prove since he eventually memorized the whole of the contents of his library of 5000 books and could give immediately chapter and verse references of any quoted passage. Ripley, of "Believe it or not" fame, says that Elijah, the Gaon, one time Chief Rabbi of Lithuania, possessed such a wonderful memory that he never forgot a book once he had read it. Professor Graetz, the noted contemporary historian, stated that Elijah committed to memory some 2500 volumes. He knew these by heart and could quote any passage at will. This venerable scholar resided at Vilna, the ancient capital of Lithuania which, at the time, was the largest Jewish settlement in the world. Ripley says that his memory is revered to the present day by the Jews of Eastern Europe and his portrait is prominently displayed on the eastern wall of almost every orthodox dwelling. Dr. Johnson, it is said, never forgot anything that he had seen, heard or read. Burke, Clarendon, Gibbon, Locke, Tillotson, were all distinguished for strength of memory. In allusion to this subject, Sir W. Hamilton observed that for intellectual power of the highest order, none was distinguished above Grotius and Pascal both of whom forgot nothing they had ever read or thought. Leibnitz and Euler were not less celebrated for their

152 intelligence than for their memory; and both could repeat the whole of the Aeneid. Donellus knew the Corpus Juris by heart, and yet he was one of the most profound and original speculators in jurisprudence. Ben Jonson tells us that he could repeat all that he had ever written, and whole books that he had read. Niebuhr, the historian, was not less distinguished for his memory than for his acuteness. In his youth he was employed in one of the public offices of Denmark. An account book having been destroyed by fire, he restored it by an effort of memory. Dante was, perhaps, more than any man of his age, skilled in the learning of his times. He sustained, at the University of Paris, an argument against fourteen disputants. It is claimed that he was conqueror in all. Many extraordinary things are related of James Crichton - surnamed the Admirable Crichton (1560-1585)). He took his M.A. degree when he was 15. Whilst still a boy he could answer his professors in any of twelve languages. Before his 20th year he had gone through the whole circle of the sciences and was distinguished for his skill in singing and playing upon all sorts of instruments. In Paris, he disputed in Hebrew, Syriac, Arabic, Greek, Latin, Spanish, French, Italian, English, Dutch, Flemish and Slavonic and, what is more extraordinary, in either prose or verse. He was killed in a brawl. THE VALUE OF CONCENTRATION There appears to be considerable difference of opinion as to the value, or otherwise, of concentration as an aid to memory. A study of the statements and examples of calculators goes to show that concentration is not an important feature in their performances. By way of explaining the conflicting views for and against concentration, it would be fair to say that mental gymnastics of an automatic nature,

153 such as the multiplication of two numbers, do not necessitate concentration. In fact, in such cases concentration might well be more of a hindrance than a help. A good car driver is one who eventually goes through all the actions of driving quite automatically. Like a good pianist, when he has become experienced, if he endeavours to think out the various processes as he goes along he will become confused. On the other hand, a creator-whether it be in music, poetry or science-must of necessity concentrate his whole attention on the occupation on which he is engaged. Mental giants of the past have exercised this power of concentration to a degree which may appear marvellous. It is said of Socrates that he would frequently remain an entire day and night in the same attitude-absorbed in meditation. La Fontaine and Descartes experienced the same abstraction. Mercator, the celebrated geographer, found such delight in the progression of his studies that it was only with difficulty he could be persuaded to leave his maps for such mundane purposes as eating and sleeping. In Cicero's On Old Age, Cato applauds Callus*who, when he sat down to write in the morning, was surprised by the evening; and when he took up his pen in the evening was surprised by the appearance of the morning. It is said of' Marini, the Italian poet, that when absorbed in revising his Adonis, he suffered his leg to be burnt for some time, without experiencing any sensation of discomfort. Poggious relates of Dante, that he indulged his meditations more strongly than any man he knew. When the first idea of the Essay on the Arts and Sciences overwhelmed the mind of Rousseau, his agitation was such as almost to approach a delirium. It is related that when he was questioned respecting the mental qualities which formed the peculiarity of his character he referred it entirely to the power he had acquired of continuous attention.

154 Writing of himself, Hamilton said: "Men give me some credit for genius. When I have a subject in hand, I study it profoundly. Day and night it is before me and I explore it in all its bearings. My mind becomes pervaded with it. People are pleased to call these efforts the fruits of genius. Genius is the fruit of labour and of thought." It would seem that a perfect memory can be a mixed blessing. The famous Dr. Leyden could repeat correctly a long act of parliament, or any other similar document, after having once read it. On one occasion when congratulated by a friend on his remarkable power in this respect he maintained that instead of being an advantage his memory was often a source of much inconvenience. If he wished to recollect a particular point in anything which he had read, he could only do it by repeating to himself the whole, from the beginning, until he reached the point which he wished to recall. All the arithmetical prodigies possessed a remarkable impressibility in that they were able to grasp large numbers of figures on only once seeing or hearing them. Dase's memory, in this respect, was remarkable: "Twelve figures being written down . . . he would just dip his eye on them, not allowing his glance to rest on them for more than half a second. He would then repeat them, backwards and forwards, and name any one, such as the ninth or the fourth, at command." Perception must not be confused with concentration, the meaning can better be covered by the use of the colloquialism "quick on the uptake". This ability to grasp immediately any matter concerning figures is well illustrated by Buxton who would allow two people to propose different questions, one immediately after the other, and give each their respective answers, without the least confusion. He would also talk freely while working out his questions, as if it were no hindrance at all.

155 Again, "cramming" is not the same thing as concentration. It is much easier to learn something by going over it twice a day for a week than by reading it over fourteen times consecutively. Tests conducted by Dr. H. M. Johnson are said to have proved conclusively that the best time to memorize anything is just before going to sleep. According to Popular Science 1Ylonthly (Bib. 20), in the Johnson experiments "bedtime memorizers" scored consistently twenty to thirty per cent higher than the rest. Apparently, material that has just been memorized "sinks in" more effectively in the drowsy period before actual slumber. The benefit was lost, Dr. Johnson observed, if even as little as two hours intervened between the time of study and bedtime. Condorcet related of himself, that, when engaged in some profound and obscure calculations, he was often obliged to leave them in an incomplete state, and retire to rest; and that the remaining steps, and the conclusion of his calculations, had more than once presented themselves in his dreams. In further evidence of the ability of most calculators to do two things at once, reference may be made to Fuller (see p. I7) who would suffer interruptions without the least discomfort and then go on from where he had left off, if desired, giving any or all of the stages through which the calculation had passed. Dirichlet, the mathematician, says that he "established the solution of one of the most difficult problems of the theory of numbers, with which he had for a long time striven in vain, in the Sistine Chapel in Rome, while listening to the Easter music". INDIAN EXPERTS IN CONCENTRATION The reader who would like to pursue the matter further is referred to a little book by Professor Ernest W. Wood

156 (Bib. 2I). This book has an interesting chapter on the Memory men of India. It tells of an expert who did the following eleven things in his mind (at one time) and afterwards correctly repeated the whole: 1. Played a game of chess, without seeing the board. 2. Carried on a conversation upon various subjects. 3. Completed a Sanskrit verse from the first line given him. 4. Multiplied five figures by a multiplier of four figures. 5. Added a sum of three columns, each of eight rows of figures. 6. Committed to memory a Sanskrit verse of sixteen words-the words being given to him out of their order, and at the option of the tester. 7. Completed a "magic square" in which the separate sums in the several squares added to a total named, whether tried horizontally or vertically. 8. Without seeing a chess board, directed the movements of a knight so that it should make the circuit of the board within the outline of a horse traced on it, and enter no other squares than those. 9. Completed a second "magic square" with a different number from that in the above named. 10. Kept count of the strokes of a bell rung by a gentleman present. 11. Committed to memory two sentences of Spanish, given on the same system as No. 6. Of even greater interest and importance, however, was an exhibition personally witnessed and vouched for by Professor Wood, in the State of Morvi in Kathiawar. In this case, the memory expert, Mr. Nathuram P. Shukla,

157 remembered a hundred items. There was a large gathering of people, seated on carpets in a big hall. Twenty people were selected and seated directly in front of the pandit.. He attended to each of the twenty people in turn, and went along the line five times. Several gave him sentences composed of five words, each person using a different language Gujarati, English, Sanskrit, Persian, Hindi, Mahratti, French and Latin-and the words were given out of order. One sitter gave him moves in a game of chess. Two others gave him figures to be multiplied and added together. Another carried on little conversations with the pandit on various topics. Another struck a little bell a number of times on each round. There were calculations of dates, completion of short poems and other items. After a hundred points had been made, the pandit meditated for a little while; then answered questions relating to the items, and finally repeated the whole. Professor Wood had the good fortune to obtain from the pandit details of the method of memory culture in vogue in his profession. Professor Wood is also of the opinion that anyone who cares to do so may, with comparative ease, perform many of the feats of the Ashtavadhanis with a reasonable amount of practice. Various suggestions and methods of training are given by Professor Wood in his book. Professor T. I-i. Pear (Bib. 22) makes the following interesting remarks on the subject: "Experiment upon memory has made it clear that, whatever the relation between rapidity of learning and permanence of retention may be, it is certainly not simple and inverse. Some of the talents which make it easy for a person to learn quickly also contribute to subsequent ease and precision of recall. In this case, as in many others, the sentence which most nearly expresses the truth is "To him that hath, shall be given". The suggestion that either quick learning or prompt recall must invariably be paid for by

158 a lack of "depth" betrays an inability to distinguish between the raw materials of thought and the finished article, and is probably dictated by sentimental factors." "DATAS" In June 1901, a fresh arrival in the entertainment world was the occasion of much speculation. The name of this new attraction was W. J. M. Bottle but it was as "Datas" that he rapidly became publicly known. As the name indicates, "Datas" specialized in dates. He claimed that the power of memorizing was a natural gift and in proof of this he expanded this power to such an extent that in the particular sphere of his operations he eventually reached a stage almost of infallibility. "Datas" was born on 20 July, 1875, at Newnham, Kent, where his father kept a small shoe-maker's shop. As an infant, he was very delicate and was unable to walk until he reached his sixth birthday. It will be readily understood that the education of a young sickly child of poor working parents, who had a family of eleven to support, left much to be desired. By the time he had received sufficient schooling to enable him to read, the family removed to London and at the age of eleven "Datas" was working as a newspaper boy. Some eight months later he became a parcel boy at Lordship Lane station and remained there for three years. Then followed a short period as errand boy and in November, 1891, at the age of sixteen, he obtained employment at the Crystal Palace Gas Works. For a period of five years he was occupied in various ways at the gas works, eventually landing in the blacksmith's shop as a striker, for which he was paid twenty-four shillings a week. From the time he was able to read, "Datas" began habitually to commit items of information to memory with the object of repeating them afterwards at leisure. From

159 memorizing shopkeepers' names he got to cabbies' and policemen's numbers and then to reading Lloyd's newspaper. Writing of himself, "Datas" said: "Paper in hand, I would sit down on a little stool in a cosy corner by the fireside, and, my head resting against the chimney-piece, I would concentrate all my attention on the matter I wished to learn. I soon exhausted Lloyd's, and, though continuing to read it weekly, went further afield. A copy of Tussaud's calendar of events came into my possession. The mention of famous names therein whetted my appetite for works of history and adventure." This process of acquiring information was carried on in the little spare time that was available and it would appear that "Datas" took particular care to ensure that each impression was sufficiently vivid to enable him to retain it indefinitely and to recall it at will. It was not until after he began his stage career that he knew anything of mnemonics but what he describes as "mental pictures" were undoubtedly of this nature, as witness: "Suppose I am asked the date of the Great Fire in London. I give the correct answer - 1666 - and immediately there rises before me a panoramic scene, as it were, of that calamity, from its start in Pudding Lane, to its finish in Pie Corner. The picture that is thus marvellously and so expeditiously drawn for me is one of my own fashioning entirely. The pencils are Nature's and the materials are the suggestions conveyed to the optical nerves by the facts hidden safely away in my mind. In what precise manner they act I know not. Suffice to say, I have the vision, and it materially assists me in narrating my version of the facts, acting as an allpowerful mentor. When in the future you are called upon to answer any questions, endeavour to call up at the same time some `mind pictures', for you will find their help of immense value. Remember that failure is the result of a weak mental impression due in the first place to lack of

160 concentration of thought on the subject matter you are endeavouring to commit to memory. Make up your mind always to create the strongest impression you are capable of creating and eventual success will not be wanting. To me, it is now all the same, whether it is a matter of trivial or great importance. Practice has enabled me to store and reproduce each fact, mentally and visually; with practice, lengthy and constant, you can do the same." This is how "Datas" described the events of a day in June, 1901, that launched him on the successful career of a memorizer: "I had been working on the night shift, from ten o'clock till six and reaching home about 6.30, I went to bed. By mid-day I was up again, had dinner, and then took a walk to the Crystal Palace where fate had much in store for me. While taking a little refreshment, I overhead two gentlemen discussing the date of the finish of the great Tichborne trial. Neither knew the correct date so I ventured to give this. Finding how surprised they were at my knowledge, I felt encouraged, and continued with a number of dates of events in English history, etc. Quite unnoticed by me, a third gentleman was a listener to our conversation and when I had finished my long string of dates, he quietly came up to me and put the momentous question: "Would you like to go upon the stage?" He then and there took me to the Standard Music Hall, Victoria where I gave my first performance." The new form of entertainment became an immediate success and "Datas" left the gas works for the stage. He travelled throughout the British Isles and eventually acquired a world-wide reputation. During his performances, many curious and unusual questions were put to him and it is said that only on rare occasions did he fail to give a correct or satisfactory answer. As in mnemonics, "Datas" claimed that what he described as the "law of association" was the only real help in memorizing. He goes on to say:

161 "One idea begets another; therefore, when memorizing one idea, kill two birds with one stone, and also memorize the corresponding idea. It may be that you will not at once discover the associated idea, or ideas. Here you will again perceive the necessity for a searching analysis of your subject-matter. Suppose you wish to remember the date of the opening of the first railway line in England. Instantly the figure of George Stephenson arises before you. You recall the date of his birth, etc., the year of the great financial railway bubble, the opening of the Mont Cenis and Simplon tunnels, the dates of notable collisions, etc. A host of things come to mind, the mine of recollection fired by the magic word "railways". "Where you have ideas which are, so to speak, unconnected, it is essential that in order to commit them to memory successfully, you should establish an intermediary idea as a connecting link, an idea which although not directly associated with either one of the two ideas you wish to memorize, is nevertheless indirectly associated with both so that in remembering either, the link manifests itself which binds the two together. You wish to remember Newtongravitation, the link is the word "apple". You say to yourself an apple falls from the tree to the ground; falling is an act of gravitation. Who watched a similar action and noted the result?-Newton. You also have an extra aid by reason of a certain sort of apple being named after the great scientist." "Datas" insisted that all questions put to him should be brief and definite. His replies, whilst giving the dates asked for frequently included additional information associated with the replies. For example, if he were asked: "When was Big Ben set up at Westminster?" he would, in addition to the actual date include other items of interest concerning Westminster and Big Ben. The following is a selection from the many thousands of questions he was asked to answer:

162 When did Lord Beaconsfield make his maiden speech? When was Rugby School founded? When was the Isle of Man purchased? When was an observatory built on the top of St. Paul's? When was the magic lantern invented? When was Elizabeth Gaunt burnt at Tyburn for treason? When was the first cannon cast in England? When was Alexander the Great born? On what date was Queen Elizabeth crowned? When did Nero set Rome on fire? When was Aristotle born? When was the first Prince of Wales created? When did the Married Woman's Property Act come into operation? When was the first stone of Blackfriars Bridge laid? When did a steamship first cross the Atlantic? When was Manchester first made a city? What was the date of the first parachute descent in England? When was the Metropolitan Railway opened'? When did the Glasgow Bank suspend payment? When was Queen Anne's Bounty established? When was Toronto University destroyed by fire? When was Chambers' Journal first published? Who was the first Jew to receive the honour of knighthood and when? When was Kensal Green cemetery consecrated? When was a duty imposed upon soap? When did Captain Blood try to steal the Crown jewels? When were Corinth and Carthage destroyed by the Romans? When were top-hats invented? When was the first theatre built?

163 It should be placed on record that when asked how he was able to remember dates so accurately, "Datas" would frequently claim that he had no idea how it was done. Nor could the usual arrangements obtaining at a music-hall be described as anywhere approaching "test conditions". When inviting questions in the ordinary way, these would be fired at him from various parts of the building so that, to some extent, he had a choice from which to make his selection or to ignore awkward questions. It is also quite possible that to increase the entertainment value of his show a "stooge" or "stooges" were employed. To such a question as "When was Kruger vaccinated?" his answer "On March 15, 1826 and it took in four places-is that right, sir?" scarcely ever failed to bring down the house. This does not affect the genuine nature of his gift of which there was no question. On one occasion the Lord Chief Justice of England was an occupant of the stalls. He put three questions: "When was the Utopia wrecked?" "When were the Corn Laws repealed?" and "When did Mr. Low propose to put a tax on matches?" "Datas" did not know until afterwards who was his questioner. After his '-turn", however, whilst in the dressing-room his Lordship visited him and congratulated him stating that the correct answer had been given to each of the three queries. On another occasion, Sir Edward Clarke put a series of difficult questions to which "Datas" gave the correct replies. A lengthy notice in the Evening News said of him: "The dark, well-knit young man who is appearing under the nom du theatre of `Datas' at the Palace is a human Haydn's Dictionary brought up to date. For six weeks he has answered, quick as thought, all sorts and kinds of questions on subjects of historical or public interest. He predicts nothing, but forgets nothing that he has ever heard or read. . . ." "Datas" did not confine himself to a knowledge of worldwide events. His acquaintance with the local history of the

164 towns he visited was equally thorough. When visiting a fresh town this was his procedure: "I would first visit the police headquarters, where I could generally obtain a great deal of information regarding famous crimes and criminals associated with the place, big accidents, and so forth. Then I proceeded to the fire station to learn all that I could about important fires that had occurred in the neighbourhood. The remainder of the time I would fill in by inspecting local cathedrals, churches, museums etc., from all of which I managed to extract a great deal of valuable information. A few hours spent in the manner described, used to suffice to give me all the history of the place I wished for." LESLIE WELCH - THE MEMORY MAN The nearest approach to "Datas" at the present day is the well-known memorizer, Leslie Welch-the Memory Man. The many thousands who have both heard him on the radio and seen him on the television screen have been impressed alike by his ability and modest bearing. In his radio demonstrations, Mr. Welch has given many proofs of his phenomenal memory of sporting events and, it is said, he is equally at home in replying to questions of a geographical or historical nature. His responses to the questions set him are spontaneous and are frequently accompanied by many additional items of information. For example, if he was asked the name of the winner of the Eclipse Stakes in 1947, he would probably include in his reply the horses in the second and third places and the number of runners, etc. On the rare occasions when he is caught napping his failure, as often as not, is due to the fact that the information sought was not of sufficient importance for him to memorize; e.g. if asked to name the billiards champion for Wales in 1923 he would promptly admit that he did not know the

165 answer. When he could not give the reply he would ask the questioner for the necessary information and when this was forthcoming would say: "I shall know the answer next time!" This indicates that his registration and recollection are practically automatic. In following his procedure one gets the impression that all the information he has acquired has been neatly docketed in a card-index mind and that it is immediately available when it is wanted. Mr. Welch was good enough to reply to a long list of questions, concerning his gift, put to him by the author. He was born in Edmonton, London, on 29 December, 1907, and, in due course, attended the Latymer Secondary School. Mathematics was one of his best subjects at school but he does not claim to have possessed any outstanding ability in that direction. There does not appear, in his case, to be any indication of extraordinary memorizing ability during childhood and adolescence, apart from the fact that over these periods he always knew that he had a good memory. As already indicated, Mr. Welch appears to possess an automatic memory but he states that this applies mainly to those subjects in which he is interested. In his case, his memory is of considerable practical use, apart altogether from its entertainment value, because in addition to giving memory demonstrations he is the general manager of a weekly sporting review and it is part of his job to study all forms of sport. His recollections are of an auditory nature. He does not employ mnemonics and does not claim to be able to do more than one thing at a time. There is no question of his making use of any magical "stunts", nor does telepathy play any part whatever in his exhibitions. So far as he is aware, Mr. Welch has no physical or psychological peculiarities. In fact, Mr. Welch is a very ordinary man with a very extraordinary memory. His answer to the question "How do you do it?" is "a well-trained memory, a genuine interest (this is most important) and an expert knowledge on the subject".