Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1852-12-01
About the siamcse Twins.

4 III
Many persons who, in days gone by ,hav,
taken q lively interest in the welfare O
Messrs. Eng and Chang Bunkers, the eel
ebrated Siamese Twins, may be glad t
Learn that those gentlemen are well an
live at Mount Airy, in this (Surry) county
surrounded by their wives and children.
Mr.. Eng has six, and Mr.. Chang fiv
children, all whom are apt scholars and re
markably well behaved-manifesting tn
strongest possible desire to learn their les
sons and to secure the good will ofthei
teacher. They all partake strongly of th'
most refined Siamese cast of countenance
form and manner of deporting themselves
in truth they are credit to their parents
and the community in which they live.
Messrs. Eng and Chang are alike remark
able for their industry and belligerent dis
position. They are strict and thorough GO
ing business men, and woe TO the unfortu
nate wight who dares to insult them.
Formerly they resided In Wllks county
but in consequence the numerous action,
for assault and battery brought against then
in the county, they removed into the ad,
joining county, shortly after which they
were fined fifteen dollars and costs at Rock
ford, the county seats. for splitting board
into splinters over the head of man who
had insulted them.
AS regards the supposed sympathy exist
ing between them, ,itmay be stated that their
most intimate acquaintance deem them to
be entirely independent of everything of
the kind, and give as instances to sustain
their opinion, that not long since they at
tended an auction sale of hogs and bid a.
gainst each other till they ran up the prices
altogether above the market rates-also, that
on one occasion Mr.. Eng or Chang was
taken ill and took to his bed, where he lay
complaining for some time, although his
brother scolded him severely all the while
for OBTAINING him in bed when he ought to
have been attending to the business Of their
plantation.
On another occcasion,as they were passing
up the road, gentleman inquired ofthem
where they were goIng,---whereupon MIR.
Chang replied,"I am going owe: the Blue
Ridge in the STAGE" and at the same instant
Mr. Eng, looking over his shoulder, replied,
with an arch smile, 81 am going back home
to look after our wives and children. y
When questioned about their mother some
time since by an acquaintance, they sta
ted that they formerly received letters from
her, but latterly they had heard no tidings
of her, and even if they were to receive
letters from her witten in the Siamese lam
guage, they would not be able to read them,
as they had forgotten their mother tongue.
They are excellent hands 10 carry up
corner of log house-exceeding all OF their
neighbors in cutting saddles and notches in
corner logs-both Of them welding the axe
with power and dexterity superior to any
Of the most expert wood cutters in this
wooden county. When they chop or fight,
they do SO double handed and in driving
horse, or chastisng their negroes, both of
them use the lash without mercy.
A gentleman who purchased black
man short time ago from them informed
he writer that he was "the worst whipped
negro he ever saw" They are lnveter-
ate smokers and chewers of tobacco-each
chewing his own quid and smoking his own
pipe 1T has been remarked, however, in
support of the sympathy supposed to pre-
vail throughout their systems, that as gen.
,ral rule, when one takes fresh quId, the
,ther does the same. 1t is also generally
admitted there is a marked difference in
he systems and temperament of the gen.
lemen, and still they almost invariably
haw the same differences from topics sub.
ntted to their consideration, and arrive at
similar conclusions. MIR. Eng not unfre-
luently gives serious offence to Mr.. Chang
" testing hlm about his having one more
hid than he has. When shooting Ia sport
hey are very fond Of one sights or takes
i'm, and the other (it is said) pulls the trig-
,er; now If this be true it would 60 far to
,rove the doctrine of supposed sympathy
existing between the brothers, but it is ques-
ioned by most of their neighbors.
They readily admit and acknowledge
themselves to entertain strong Christian
aith or belief, and are regular attendants
t church and other religious meetings,
where they deport themselves as becomes
.ood citizens of the land of their adoption.
rbey are strong politicians, and take live
v interest in all elections that occur in
heir district. As the writer was informed
W lady of Mount Airy. "they are mighty
tay at home people"-rarely ever going
rom home unless called away by business
Greensboro (N. CO. Patriot.