MISTAKEN IDENTITY.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20710, 7 May 1929, Page 15

MISTAKEN IDENTITY.

SOME CURIOUS CASES. HEADMASTER’S' MISTAKE. Some curious cases of mistaken identity were recorded Turing ' the currency of a competition arranged by the London Spectator. There were not many historical stories quoted, though •: the never-failing Mr i Pepys provided two episodes; several 1 competitors told stories of mistakes made at Madame Tussaud’s, and there- were also a number of amusing instances given of the difficulties -which most: twins, experience. The first prize was awarded Mrs Bluett for her double example of mistaken identity quoted below:— A countrywoman who came into Truro one market oay stopped in the middle of the street to greet an old friend! “ Why, I havn’t seen you for a long time, my dear,” she said. “No, and I haven’t i seen you, my dear,” said the other, “ How are ,’ee keeping?” There was a pauselThen the first said “I don’t believe ’tis you after all,” and the other answered “ No, and I don’t believe ’tis you neither." Other interesting entries were;—lt 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 him and reported a boy for some- serious delinquency. “All right,” said the doctor, “ send him to .my room'in -a quarter of an hour.” Returning to his room before the quarter of an hour was up, the beadmaster 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. “ Pease, sir, I came to be prepared for Confirmation."—Mr Sydney T. Sharplcy, 27 Halifax road, Cambridge. • “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 I met my cousin, and questioned her about her maid’s extraordinary behaviour, ‘ Oh,’ said she, ‘ 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 well-known professor. It was told that he loved to spend his vacs, incognito among the different country people of various European nations, studying their characters and manners and speaking their language. A short time afterward I was on a walking tour in the Austrian Tyrol with three . French boys, and we stopped for a rest and refreshment iu 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 .1 smiled a sign of recognition and greeted him with the words, ‘How are you, Professor—?’ No sooner had the words escaped me that 1 recognised my ‘ faux pas.' He looked at me, smok•ing his long pipe, and shaking his head, said, ‘ Tch versteho nicht.’ Naturally T shrank back embarrassed to my com r panions, and hoped I had not spoilt his game. On my return to Oxford in October, I came across him again. And I began to apologise, and said, ‘ The last time I saw yon was seven weeks ago in that little estaminet in the Tyrol at 1 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. 1 mu not sure yet after these 30 years that that emineut professor told mo the truth,”—C. W.. Chastel de Boiuville, The Vicarage, Hytho, Kent. “In the year 1680 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 re-

cognition, and also relates an amusing incident in nliicli Charles IT was mistaken for Richard -Cromwell, his rival's sou. Charles, disguised as a serving man, in the company, of - a royalist, Colonel Gunter, was making for Shoreham, where a ship had been procured to

take him to France. On-the way they stayed a night at a place called Hanibleton, seven miles from Portsmouth, with

a certain man, Thomas Symons, who was not aware of. his royal guest’s identtiy. At supper Colonel Gunter talked, 4 very feelingly coaccruing Cromwell and nil his party 1 ; and Symons during the conversation wont and whispered in his (Colonel Gunter’s) car, and asked whether I (Charles) was not some round-headed rogue’s son; for I looked very suspiciously. Upon which Colonel Gunter, answering for me, that he might trust his life in my hands, he came and tooE me by the hand, and drinking a good glass of beer to me, called me brother roundhead.”—Clarion Francis Hamilton, The Vicarage, Windsor, Berks.