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Full text of "A few memories"

172                            A  FEW MEMORIES
had described his emotions when he saw Romeo swallow the poison. He was tempted, he said, to cry out and awaken Juliet, that she might have one farewell word with her lover before the poison did its fatal work. It is extraordinary what a stage-director Shakespeare is. Study him closely enough, and he will tell even what "business" to use. Besides, his lines were easier for me to memorize than those of any other dramatist To learn a Shakespeare part I generally read it two or three times, wrote it out as often, and—it was mine. I recall an amusing discussion between Professor Max Muller and a celebrated London physician on the subject of memory. The former remarked that he looked upon me with wonder, "for," said he (and here he pointed to my forehead), " you carry there so many of Shakespeare's thoughts and words." The doctor, overhearing this, quickly answered, " She does nothing of the kind;" whereupon followed a controversy as to where the words were lodged, or whether they were lodged at all. In the end, try as I would to find from what part of my head they did come, I could not remember a single line to illustrate either theory. And yet I have always been blessed with an excellent memory. After giving