THE BILLIONTH MAN

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11649, 13 October 1923, Page 14

THE BILLIONTH MAN

OUR “DOUBLES” IN LIFE TRICKS NATURE PLAYS. HOW THEY MAY BE COUNTED. Cases of mistaken identity are not j confined to any one class of humau beings; they are almost everyday occur rences in the lives of most of us (says the Auckland “Star”). Aucklanders know of tho incident that befell Archdeacon MacMurra-y when he went to the front. The diggers looked him over, and evidently struck by tho churchman’s likeness to the Prime Minister, exclaimed: “Why! Here’s Bill in gaiters.” Everyone has one or more doubles, and although it is not very common to meet one’s own double and recognise him oir her as such, it is by no meana unusual to recognise the doubles of one’s friends. A nowspaper man on one occasion was approached by a stranger who asked him if he was looking for “copy.” The pressman assented, whereupon the stranger said he was a great friend of his brother, Mr Tom Gray (or some such name). It was only with the greatest difficulty that the seeker after “copy” was able to convince the man that Tom Gray was no relation whatever. So persistent was the Torn Gray’s friend that he was almost persuaded to lend the pressman a pound on the strength of his identification. The suggestion of a loan came from the pressman (who, by the way, was a Scotchman), and it was probably refused only because Tom Gray’s friend happened to be a Jew! VOICES AND FACES OF THE FAST. It has been the experience of many new chums coming to New Zealand to find numerous doubles of friends, whom they have left in different parts of the Old Country. In some cases the likeness is extraordinary, not only in features, but also in voice and gesture, and it has seemed for the moment as if the former acquaintances had come out to New Zealand unknown to the new chums already here. They are voices and faces of the past. Some people make a hobby of identifying people whom they have just met with people whom they know. For instance, there is a class of theatre-going people who get “impressions” when looking at the actors and actresses on the stage. This one or that one reminds them of somebody that they know, and they Bit and puzzle out the matter till they find the solution. The voioe, the profile, or an idiosyncrasy in gait, stirs their recollection, and after a time they exclaim, “He reminds me of So-and-so.” In certain cases, of course, the likeness is so striking 'as to he instantly recognised. THE ROSE-BUD MOUTH.

There are undoubtedly many cases where there is a striking resemblance between people, where it is really difficult to differentiate, and it would ’ seem that Mother Nature has hut a limited variety of patterns for each race or kind of being. There are only a few stock noses upon which sho can draw for humanity, although she succeeds in varying these by a process of blending The “tilts” may be at any angle, tile base may vary, the bridge also lends itself to deviation, the nostrils may be large or small, oval or almost round, while the length ol the nose is another factor to be reckoned upon. A'gain the size, colour, aud position of the eyes have a range of variation. The ears may be pearl-like or big, with or without a lobe, and the mouth, particularly the lips, may vary from a rose-bud which seems eminently suited for kissing to something which is best hidden by a moustache. Differences in the size and shape of the head and in the colour of the hair are also open to Nature. But despite all this, the casual observer is frequently bamboozled by similarities. A FARMYARD ELETTSTR ATION. And yet, if a careful scrutiny is made, the number of “doubles,” that can be genuinely termed such, may he reduced very considerably. Most people declare that all Chinese are alike. This is quite a mistake, and is due to the fact that Western people think only of the race characteristics of the Mongolians, descending to the details of individuality. The same error is probably made by some nations in regard to the English or Scottish people. They look only at the race type, within which there are many variations. By way of illustration this idea, may be applied to the farmyard. If a town child goes on to a farm, the cows or calves that are practically alike m colour are to him absolutely alike in every respect. A pen of White Leghorns represents a lot of indistinguishable white pullets to him. But tho farmer’s littky eon knows everyone of these chickens separately and individually. He knows this brown calf and that one. He knows Bess the cow, or Queenie the cow, and can identify either or any other animal in the herd at a considerable dis- ' tance. Even a. litter of tiny pigs offers no difficulties to the trained eye. DOUBLES EVEN IN DEIATH. When all doubtful cases have been eliminated, however, there still remains an army of genuine “doubles” that has to be accounted for. _ Perhaps Kipling touched a hidden truth when fie described the Thousandth Man, who, if not a “double” in the physical sense, was indeed a double in the spiritual sense, making all his friend’s joys and sorrows and interests his own. If there be one in a thousand like that, then perhaps Mother Nature has a Billionth Man, who is our double in practically every respect. Seldom do we find our own Billionth Man, but cases have been recorded where the two have met. Some years ago there was an illusionist who appeared on the theatrical stage under tho name of The Great Lafeyette. Ho was the man who put on his door in Tavistock Square, London, “The more I know of men, the more I love my dog.” Lafeyette had a double named Richards, who repeatedly impersonated him on the stage, enabling him to perform many clever illusions. Both came to an untimely end in a disastrous fire in the Edinburgh Empire Theatre, along , with other members of their company and a lion and horse that took part in a remarkable item called “The Lion’s Bride.” Several days after the fateful fire the body of Lafeyette was recovered, and was Kent from Edinburgh to Glasgow for cremation. The remains had just been returned to Edinburgh ff when the sensational discovery was made that it was Richards’s body that had been. wrongly identified and cremated, for the Great Lafeyette’s body was found and recognised only by means of a ring on one of the fingers. Thus the Illusionist and his double carried their impersonation beyond life itself and literally to the grave.