MISTAKEN IDENTITY

Hokitika Guardian, 11 May 1929, Page 7

MISTAKEN IDENTITY

SOME CURIOUS CASES. Some curious cases of mistaken identity were recorded during the currency of a competition arranged by the London Spectator. There were not many historical stor ies quoted, though the never-failin. Air Pepys provided to episodes sever ill competitors told stories of mistake made at Madame Tussaud’s and there were also a number of amusing instances given of the difficulties which mosl twins experience. The first pri«e was awarded to Mrs Bluett for her double example of mistaken identity quoted below:—

A countrywoman who came into Truro one market day stopped in the middle of the street to greet ail old friend. “Why, I havn’t seen you foi a long time my dear,” she said. “No and I haven’t seen you my dear,” said the other, “How are ’ee keeping?” There was a pause. Then the first said “I don’t believe ’tis you after all,” and the other answered “No, and 1 don’t believe ’tis you neither.” Other interesting entries were : It is recorded of Dr. Keate the’ famous “flogging” headmaster of Eton, that as he was passing through the school one day a form-master approached hini 1 and reported a boy ifor some serious delinquency. “All right, said the doc tor, “send him to my room in a quater of an hour.” Returning before the quarter of an hour was up, the headmaster found a boy waiting, whom he promptly collared and heartily thrashed. When the operation was over the boy still lingered. “Well, what are you waiting for?” snapped the headmaster. “Please sir, I came to be prepared for conformation.” —Mr Sydney Sharpley, 27 Halifax Road, Cambridge, ridge.

“I called one day on a married cousin in town. Her maid came to the door and, on seeing me, opened her mouth wide, gasped, swayed to and fro, and but for my friendly arm round her waist would undoubtedly have fallen. She soon came to and informed me her mistress was out. Some weeks later 1 met my cousin, and questioned her about her maid’s extraordinary behaviour. ‘Oh,’ she said, ‘I meant to have written to tell you about it—Edith thought you were the King!!!’”— Vice-Admiral Wade Caulfield, Empire House, 175 Piccadilly. “When I was up at Oxford I made the acquaintance of a certain wellknow professor, it was told that he loved to spend the vacs, incognito among the different country people ol various European nations, studying their characters and manners and speaking their language. A short time afterwards I was on a walking tour in the Austrian Tyrol with three French boys, and we stopped for a rest and refreshment in a wayside restaurant one morning in August. To my astonishment, sitting at a table surrounded by companions,, was my friend at Oxford. In my folly I smiled a sign of recognition and greeted him with the words, ‘How are you, Professor—? No sooner had the words escaped me that I recognised the ‘faux pas.’ He looked at me, smoking his long pipe, and shaking his head, said ‘lch verstehe niclit.’Naturally I shrank back embarrassed to my companions, and hoped I had not spoilt his game. On my return to Oxford in October I came across him again. And I began xo apologise, and said, ‘The last time 1 saw you was seven weeks ago in that little estaminet in the Tyrol at— ’ ‘No’, said he, I’m sure you didn’t. For I was spending my vac. in Spain!’ I have never seen two men so alike. I am not sure yet after these 3D years that that eminent professor told me tne truth.”—C. W. Chastel de Boinville, The Vicarage, Hytlie, Kent. . “In the year lfi Q 0 Charles 11. dictated to Samuel Pepys an account of his adventures in his escape from the battle of Worcester in 1651. The story is full of miraculous deliverances from fatal recognition, and also relates an amusing incident in which Charles II was mistaken for Richard Cromwell, his rival’s son. Charles disguised as a serving man, in the company of a royalist, Colonel Gunter was making for Shoreman, where a ship had been procured to take him to France. On the way they stayed a night at a place called Hambleton, seven miles from Portsmouth, with a a certain man, Thomas Symons, who was not aware of his royal guests identity. At supper Colonel Gunter talked, ‘ very feelingly concerning Cromwell and all his party ’; and Symons during the conversation went and whispered in his (Colonel Guntei s) oar, and asked whether I (Charles) was not some round-headed rogue s son; for I looked very suspiciously. Upon which Colonel Gunter, answeiing for me, that he might trust his life .in my hands, he came took me by the hand, and drinking a good glass of beer to me, called me brother roundhead.” —Marion Francis Hamilton, The Vicarage, Windsor, Berks.