Smyrna times., 1876-01-26
Twins,

Mr.. Francis Galton has in the November
number of Fraser's Magazine, an English
publication, very interesting article emit
tied the History of Twins, as Criterion
of the Relative Powers Of Nature and
Nurture" The materials on which the
article were based were obtained bv send.
ing circulars containing thirteen groups of
questions to twins or persons Intimately
acquainted with twins. Mr.. Galton dis.
tinguishes three classes, those strongly
alike, moderately alike and extremely dis
similar, adding that when the twins are of
different sexes they are never closely alike.
In eighty reported cases of close similarity,
thlrty-tve entering very fully into detail,
there were few where not single point
OF difference could be specified; in the re-
mainder the hair and eyes were almost
always identical, and the height, weight
and strength generally very nearly so.
The manner and address are usually very
similar; the intonation, when speaking
commonly, the same, though it frequently
happens that the twins sing in different
keys. Similarity is very rare in the hand.
writing
Mr.. Galton cites many mistakes made by
near relatives. Notwithstanding the tying
of distinguishing ribbons to them one is
often fed, physicked or whipped by mistake
for the other. In one case a doubt
xuha L.
changed in their bath in another. an
artist engaged to paint the portraits of
twins, had to lay aside his work, and when
he resumed it could not sag to which
child the respective ikenesses belonged.
In many instances tutors could not dis
tingHish between their pupils. 4 twin
sister would take two music lessons on the
same day to give the other holiday, Two
twins were fond of playing tricks, and COM
plants were frequently made; but the boys
would never own which was the guilty one,
and the complainants were never certain
which of the two he was. One head master
used to say he would never fog the inno-
cent for the guilty, and another used to
fog both, One twin brother visited
another at college, and the porter refused
TO let him out because he did not know
which was entitled to depart. Other
brothers constantly changed partners at
balls without discovery.
Children are usually quick in distinguish.
ing between thoir parent and his or her
twin but Mr.. Galton found two cases to
the contrary. He knows four or five in
stances Of doubt during an engagement of
marriage. Thus: "a. married first, but
both twins met the lady together for the |
first time, and fell in love with her there |
and then. A. managed to see her home !
and to gain her affection, though B. went |
sometimes courting in his place, and neither
the lady nor her parents could tell which |
vas which," One lady remarks that
kissing her twin sister was like kissing part !
of herself, as her hand, and not like kissing
another person. The author suggests an
experiment-to try how far dogs could |
distinguished between twins by scent. Of |
strange mistakes between twins in middle |
life two cases are cited-one where an officer
returned from India after four years
absence was addressed by his father: " |
thought you were in London;" another,
gheFe an aged mosheF bad neFYoHsly ez
pected the return of her son from India, |
his ship being overdue, and when he en-.
tered said to him, mistaking him for the
brother who lived with hers g No, no it's
bad joke, you know how anxious ann
As curious feature Mr.. Galton notgs the
apparent neutrality-suspicious., both If ex-
preston and character.
In seven Of the thirty-fye cases Of close
similarity both twins suffered from some
special ailment or had some exceptional
peculiarly. Two sisters had the defect Of
not being able to come down stairs quickly,
which was not born with them, but came
en- at the age Of twenty. Another pair Of
twins have a Slight congeritial aexure Of
one of the joints of the little finger Il was
Inherited from grandmother, bpt neither
parents. brothers npsF sisters shoE The least
trace of it. I'm another case one was born
ruptured and the other became so at six