FACIAL MEMORY AND VOICES.
[To THE EDITOR OP THE " SPECTATOR.")
Sm,—The letter of the Vicar of Knowsley on " Facial- Memory " in the issue of February 9th is most interesting. I never forget a face, but have the greatest difficulty with names. Sometimes I have quite a long chat with some one whose face I remember and to whom I am known, but whose name has escaped me. For- tunately, I rarely allow it to be seen that I have forgotten the name.
It would be interesting to hear what can be said about voices. A voice once heard I rarely forget; the name and voice are linked together. Some years ago I met a gentleman ou a matter of busi- ness for a few minutes, but did not see him again for quite teu years. When he came in I did not recognize him, and thought him to be an entire stranger, but immediately he spoke I men- tioned his name. He looked surprised at this and inquired how I knew his name, seeing that he did not send it in. On my reply- ing that I remembered his voice he was interested and surprised. On one occasion I was speaking to a business man, when his voice reminded me of a man whom I had not seen for twenty years, and I asked him if he knew Mr. So-and-so. He was curious to know why I asked the question. The person I referred to was his father. Of this I had no idea.
A personal reference. Some years ago I was a guest at the house of a lady, who was extremely kind to me, and who told me she knew my family—the people she referred to were important mer- chants. On my expressing surprise, she said : " I am sure you are a descendant of that family; I recognized it immediately I heard you speak." She was on intimate terms with that family. At a conference some time since I bad occasion to say a few words. At the close of the meeting a gentleman in front came and spoke to me, telling me that although my name was not given, he recog- nized my voice. I had not spoken to him for quite thirty years, and did not know him when he spoke to me.—I am, Sir, &c.,
H. D.
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