THE CZAR AND HIS DOUBLE.

Evening Post, Volume XLVII, Issue 59, 10 March 1894, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE CZAR AND HIS DOUBLE.

Most people remember the story of the conventional Jones, who, on being assured by Smith that he was the very picture of Robinson, hurried off to the latter's lodging and apprised him of the comparison. "Well, I'll punch Smith's stupid head for him when next I come across him," was Robinson's commentary. "Oh, I have already done that," was Jones' reply. It was in a very different spirit from this (says a special correspondent of the Daily Telegraph) that a well-to-do baker in Copenhagen, named Oarlsben, received the intimation of a friend that he looked like a tvrin brother of the Russian Czar. He had never seen the Czar himself, but, as far as he could judge by such portraits as were available, he found, as he looked in the mirror, that his friend had not exaggerated the resemblance in the slightest. The idea pleased biru. enormously, and from that day forwaid he left nothing undono to increase the likeness and to play the part oF '• doppelganger " to the Euijron-r Alexander 111. For instance, whereas lie had always belonged to the confraternityof the clean-shaven, he now allowed his beard to grow and wax bushy, and had it regularly trimmed like that of his model. Tho ardent desire of his heart, however, was to be presented to tho monarch. This-, too, he accomplished a year ago, when the Emperor was staying at Fredensborg; and the Autocrat of the Eussias is said to have been much amused at the striking resemblance between himself and his double. This was the acme of Herr Carlsben's happiness, compared to which all the other events of which his life was composed were vanity. From that time forth he studiously copied his Imperial model in everything, drove about through the streets of the city in four-in-hand, and was often saluted by policemen, soldiers, and civilians, in the belief that he was their monarch's guest. In a word, Carlsben played his role too well. He identified himself so completely with the Czar that he gradually began to experience the cares and dread the dangers to which the latter is exposed. Cne day he awoke with the fixed idea that he was Alexander 111. Soon afterwards his peace was disturbed by the infernal ma hn.ations of the Nihilists, and at last he had to be confined in a lunatic asylum. His death has ju«t heen announced from Copenhagen. It would have been infinitely better for Carlsben had he imitated Smith or Jones, and punched the head of the friend who first informed him that he was "the very picture" of the Czar of Russia.