Milford chronicle., 1883-06-29
The Two NIarthens.

49, Il w - VI GlI IIl6IlS
Exact similarity of names between twc
individuals who are not related in any
way is generally cause for considerable
= amusement to those who know of it. but
Anson Marthen, civil engineer and rail
way builder, whose Headquarters were
In New York, suffered more or less nearly
every day of his life for the reason that
there was another man of exactly the
same name who also lived in New York.
but had no business or profession what
ever. The men were unlike in almost
every particular, except that both were
bachelors and fond of ladies. Anson
Marthen, the engineer, earned a pleasing
number OF dollars every year, and always
pad his bills as soon as they were pre-
sented; his nominal double never earned
penny and never paid a bill when he
could avoid it, and as his peculiarly had
become prominent enough to be talked !
about, it occasionally subjected tbe
honest Marthen to exasperating indio- |
mites from persons who knew the name. |
but not the men who bore it. The dis
honest Marthen, on the contrary. got all
necessary credit at tailors' shops. livery
staples, and even hotels where the exist
ence of the two Marthens was NOT known.
he had merely to devise some excuse to
talk OF railroad and engineering TO be
taken for his entirely reputable double.
His bills, in the course of time, reached
the engineers office, and were the couse
OF much profane language from the ]
wrong Marthen and much fun among the
two or three clerks and draughtsmen
whom the busy railroad builder EN-
ployed.
Worse still, the honest MartheD was a
sometimes chillingly received by persons L
to whom he was introduced and who il
had heard of the other bearer of the 1
same name. Worst of all, ladies' some t
times seemed disappointed when he was n
to them, for his rascallv a
iouble was handsome enough to be d
alked about, while the engineer. al n
hough OF perfect manner. unfortunately
lad rugged and disproportionate fea- N
ures. When, finally, he was arrested de
me afternoon on a charge of obtaining q
'oods under false pretenses, the COM W
'lainant being the father of a lady TO fl;
'hom he had just been presented. and
he officers catching him as he emerged in
rom her house, the lady herself behold III
l9 the affair from a window, he went in
is wrath to his lawyer and prepared a Cl
etltion to the Legislature, that for In,
sasons already stated in this story he M
nght be permitted to assume lis
lother's family name as a middle name. ca
But even this relief he could not ex-
ect, until more than half year later. Nh
T the arrest occurred in June and the "g
legislature would not meet again until al
nuary One thing, however, he could pr
Id would do; he would manage to see an
s troublesome double so that he might ls
terward know him by sight and defend L.,
mselt against him whenever he found At,
mself in close social or business prox-
lty to the rascal. To find the dishonest lad
Tthen was no easy task; it required oue
'tnight's effort on the part of two diff :
ent detectives, but at last Marthen Ma
S informed that the man who lived bur
on the engineers reputation was at roo
ratoga, so the indignant man hastily five
'ked his trunk and hurried off to that The
wded village. bee
IN the train he CHANGED to find a plea hon
t and entirely innocent travelling ac- paif
'intance. A well-dressed not I'M ten
nely lady who sat in front of him en- vnl,
vOred to raise a window and NIarthen was
tened to assist her, getting a pleasant and
lie and word of thanks in payment. tbor
,then skillfully involved the lady in even
versation, and finding, to his great that
ght, that she was amiable but not lv-lo
1T, quite susceptible, yet not in seen
ed to tiirt, he became very devoted. Mari
detested smart women; several of his even
ids had married such beings and gard
T ceased to regret the step; smart ding,
len had often tried to "catch" Mar dress
himself, for an income of a thou with
a month was not to be despised and Ma
ad not always escaped with ease. rage,
hen fully intended to marry some to en-
but he had been determined that he negro
d be entirely satisfied with plain, hat, '
r stupid woman if only he could on an
'ne who was amiable. after
e trip to Saratoga consumed six fully
S when Marthen first made it, and ance