The Massachusetts spy, and Worcester County advertiser. [volume] ([Worcester, Mass.]) 1825-1831, 1830-02-24
From the London Literary Gazette of Dec &c
ANECDOTES OF THE sIAMESE
YOUTHS.


traordinary boys since our first notice, We
nave not been inattentive observers of
5 phenomenon so unexampled in the annals O
the human species.
The acquisitions of these lads seem Il
proceed nearly pari paSsu they have boil
learned good deal of English, and speaI
it very nearly alike. They have also, o
late, been taught whist, at which they play
tolerably well, and of which they are very
fond. And one of the remarkable traits at
tending this is, that they play the game
against each other. and most honorably 1--WE
have seen single-bodied players not quite
so correct) abstain from looking into each
others hands. The other day Chang play
ed dumby against Eng and partner; and
a very interesting contest it was.
! Recently, when they were indisposed,
! they took medicine together, and were af,
fected precisely in the same manner; but
when medicine was administered to the one
and not to the other, no effect was produced
on the exempt.
A curious exemplifcation of their sep
arate state is afforded by the grand mystery
OF dreaming. Not long since, the individu-
! al who sleeps in the room with them OBJ
served one extremely disturbed in his sleep,
and the other so violently agitated that he
screamed out. He fastened to awake them.
and on inquirlng what was the matter, the
I one that was disturbed told him he had
dreamed he had met his mother; the other,
who was more agitated, thought somebody
was cutting off his hair. The hair, by the
way, is cherished ornament. In sleeping
they lie on their backs, with their heads.
generally, as far apart as possible or con-
venient.
While asleep, if you touch one, you also
awake the other. Bat it appears that though
sensation is communicated, it is not the
same sensation. For example, if one is
tlckled to cause laughter, the other knows
you are tickling his brother, bat he does not
feel 1t. This is the case whether he sees
what is done or not.
They are smart in their remarks, and very
excellent mimics and imitators. The other
day Sir A. Carlisle was enforcing the expe-
diency of their being taught to read; and,
by way of demonstrating the thing, he mark
ed big A on a card to shew them. This
he did, pronouncing in sound pedagogue
style A "a. The boys Immediately sound
ed the letter so like their instructor as to
create considerable merriment. He then
went to and c.; but while doing so. thew
had got a little impatient, las schoolbovs
will do with their tcachcrel and one of thnn,
Interrupted him upon ~shioh no or.olan1ed,
"Pshaw, pshaw, attend to me-" So the les
son continued, till Chang took the pencil to
make the letters, and held it in his hand in
the most awkward way; upon which Sir
Anthony interfered to set him right but
the scholar was close in all, and in his turn
exclaimed the very same "Pshaw, pshaw,
attend to me !" He nevertheless drew the
A capitally in his own mode.
On another occasion a visiter, impressed
with the idea that their religious instruction
ought to be attended to, spoke to them on
this subject. In his investigation of their
condition, he asked, Do you know where
you would go if you were to die?" To
which they replied quickly, pointing up with
their fingers, eyes, yes, up dere." Their
friend, unluckily for himself persevered in
catechising; and questioned them, Do
you know where / should go if were to
die ?" to which they as promptly answered,
pointing downwards, " Yes, yes, down dere."
We are afraid that the laugh which follow
ed was likely to efface the memory of the
well-meant attempt to Undue their minds
with Christian knowledge.
With regard to their speaking to each
other, though they do not do so often, yet
they occasionally converse. 1t has, also,
singular effect to witness the two speaking
| together at the same time on different top
les to different persons. This they will do
if two beautiful females happen to address
| them together for they have taste enough
to be very partial to beauty in the other sex.
! They are much attached to the wife of Mr..
-, one of the individuals who brought
| them to Europe.
! They almost always eat alone, and we
understand have dislike to being looked
at while they take their meals.
There was, according to tradition, union
of this kind in Scotland, in the age of the
third James, and they (males) lived to be
men. We have also seen an etching of two
remarkable Hungarian girls who lived to
maturity. They were united by the hips,
and died within few seconds of each other.
We have just received an effusion on the
Siamese youths from a poetcal correspond
ent; and though we have not room for il
all, we shall insert few of the lines.
If in the page of holy writ we find
That man should not divide what God hath
join'd,
o why, with incest skill, should science dare
To separate this Heaven united pair'
United by more than legal band,
A wonder wrought by the Creators hand
Poor guiSless boys let not the eye of pride
That views its perfect self, your form deride
Nor call those Z" monstrous," who model prove
OF hearts conjoined in harmony and love
And ye were happy in your native soil;
The morning ray awoke you to one toll,
One bark was yours-at once ye climbed one
mast;
One simple couch was yours-and one repast.
And doubtless He who joined you at your birth
Would grant one death-One grave in mother
earth.
J CAUSE OF MORNING FOG OVER RIVERS
A fog is formed whenever watery vapoI
arising from the earth meets with colder