Illinois Magazine
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CP Jfr' !&( %%' IP Y* fc «r< ttr' •/^. 7 im^wsi^^^s^&m > * #T V^Wmw: ** Jl^/a^rsa jA."V~ ^K.-r»AHf >-r>uni-.^..^., .. Fee lor Library Materia.*. The Minimum NOTtce: Return or renew all each Lost Book is $50.00. responsible for person charging this material is The w.thdrawn from wh.ch it was its refurn to the library Date stamped below. on or before the Latest for d.scph- of books are reasons mutilation, and underlining Theft, Univer,*,. in a—Mrom the Tr, action and ma, result Center. 333-8400 To renew call Telephone AT URBANA-CHAMPAIGN nunTFRSfTY OF ILLINOIS LIBRARY The person charging this material is re- sponsible for its return to the library from which it was withdrawn on or before the Latest Date stamped below. Theft, mutilation, and underlining of books are reasons for disciplinary action and may result in dismissal from the University. UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS LIBRARY AT URBANACHAMPAIGN MAR 1 1 197S FEB 2 5 197* * I 8 1)91 L161— O-1096 i m This nut^ixm^h^. ' T h ( / / / i a " i 8 1/ </ .'/ a : i a \ r ~>v APOLLO Confectionery OUR MALTED MILKS ARE AX ASSET OF HEALTH Mouyios Bros. URBANA f i The I 1 1 i n a s M a g a sine •\ AFTER THE GAME Visit The Wright Sweet Shop "The right place for sweets" How refreshing a cool drink is after a close game! You will find our Bostons an agreeable sur- prise, our Malteds a revela- tion, and our candies of uniform excellence. f Wright street on the way to the Gym i z i « The I 1 1 a o i 8 1/ " .'/ a n ['resident David Kinley, Ph.D., LLD. i 1920) 7 // i lilt n n i s M a g n : i ii i On Remembering Names 1'>y Thomas Akkle Clare HAVE for many years been known as one who re- of inborn talents, or of both. In my own case I think members names easily, so much so in fact that my it came firsl from an interest in people. It has always I reputation not infrequently proves a source of em- annoyed me to meet a face from day to day and not be barrassment to me. I must live up io it or lose standing. able to attach the proper name to it. just as I do not like No one who passes me in a reception line, if he has met in my reading repeatedly to meet a word with whose me before even in the most casual way. ever thinks it meaning and whose pronunciation I am unfamiliar. I necessary to tell me his name. generally keep a dictionary at hand. From childhood I ••You know me," he will say. "I know your reputa- have had the habit of running down lost names until I tion for remembering names." The men who come into could get hold of them, or of ferreting out those that my office, even though I may not have seen them for eluded me and took refuge in the remote or unfrequented twenty years, always expect me to recall them instantly. interstices of my brain. If I started in pursuit of a name and I Try to be on the alert not to disappoinl them. 1 never gave it up until 1 had caught it, so that now, if I Usually, it is true, by some happy combination of come upon a familiar face and have forgotten the name circumstances and associations or chance 1 am able to re- of the person who bears it. 1 have no peace of mind night member either the first or the last name of (lie individual, or day until 1 have recalled the name. I gather up every ami J greet him familiarly in my office, or I pass him on stray association ami scan it carefully. I ask questions to Nancy who ordinarily stands beside me. if we arc at and use all sorts of devices. 1 goad my memory, until a reception, with a distinct utterance of his name. Hut finally the name pops into my mind. at other times all associations fail me; struggle as I will What joy it is after one has wrestled with a stubborn during the interval between the moment when 1 see him recalcitrant name that will not yield, suddenly to have coming down the line or up the front walk until I grasp it come to you as quietly and submissively as an obedient his hand, the name of the man sticks in my throat, and I child! It is like getting the answer to a hard problem in am forced to "stall" as my erudite students in composi- mathematics that seemed insoluble or finding a lost collar tion would say. button that has been hidden among the debris in the If I forget his name 1 may recall some other associa- closet. Necessity also has driven me to the task of remem- tion like his business- or his home town, so 1 ask him how is official duty to do business with the people are in Sidney or if the hardware business is bering names. It my If I should all thriving, camouflage my failure absolutely to locate him thousands of undergraduate men. learn during the year, each recurring September at first, and "spar for time" as it were, directing the con the names or two new freshmen whose versation along such skilful lines as, if possible, to bring would bring me a thousand 1 must come to know, out the name for which I am groping. identity must be established, whom and who expect me soon to know them. "You remember Mrs. Clark." I murmur, as I turn to my wife. And Nancy, who is herself no tyro in recalling I could do business with them, it is true, without re- names, very often helps me out of my difficulty by calling membering their names as many officials in college and the man by name, or if she cannot do so covers up my out of it do. but with much lessened effect. I feel; though lapse of memory by a show of social tinesse such as wo many people think the trouble of learning names in ex- men find it easy to make. I have learned that it is not cess of the benefit which accrues to them after the task the best policy often to admit that I do nol remember a is accomplished. I know a college professor, a very learn- man's name. ed and talented man too. who had a young fellow in his I do not know whether this ability of putting togeth- classes for four years and yet who could not call him by er without too many misfits the names and the faces of name on his commencement day. I know another who the people one has met is a matter largely of training or can not recall the names of the instructors in his own de- — '/' he I 1 1 i a a i 8 1/ a ij n : i )i e partmenl most of them have been his associates for years, him how his name was spelled, that I got his home town, I found out that he is a friend of a young man who once .mil I was acquainted nine with the father of a family worked for me. that lie is registered in engineering, and ii nmsi be admitted thai it was no ordinary-sized, family that he drives a Buick car. The name also suggested .Met/, who not infrequently became confused in recalling the ler to me, and through frequent interviews. I know Metz- of hi-- own children. names easily the boy whom 1 have met but once, in fact will But it seems to me a great assel i<> be able to call by make it almost impossible for me to forget him. il<> business name the man who comes into your office to I know Collins because he lives at the Alpha Delt vim whether he he the workman wit" is tu tinker with house: I remember Joe Crandell from the fact that lie of traction system witli the plumbing or the president the was born in my native town; Lockwood and Thomas have whose road runs through your town. You pay him a red hair. It is the association that fixes the name. I have when remember his name. The slighter compliment you not found that an unusual name is remembered either the for the accomplishment of this feat. contacl necessary more easily or with more difficulty than a common "ordi- ami the re humble the individual, the greater the effect nary one: I am as likely to remember or to forget Smith mi him. ' as Salzenstein. George Fitzhugh I could never call by If Browkowski's father, visiting the University in name until it occurred to me to associate him with Fitz- August, brings his son in to see me ami I am able when hugh Delaney whose name never confused me. For years call I run into the boy on the campus iu October to him 1 had difficulty in speaking Will Hepburn's name, though 1 rise in his at 1 by name. estimation once, am looked I knew him intimately. It was only when 1 made a defin- upon as something of a real wonder, the hoy himself feels ite and quite silly association with his name, the "hep, flattered ami of some real importance, ami he is not slow hep" of the soldier matching, that I was able without in telling the story.