The Pickens sentinel. [volume] (Pickens, S.C.) 1871-1903, 1883-08-09
The Two Marthens,

Exact similarity OF names between two
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 moro or less nearly
every day of his lifo for the reason that
there was another man of exactly the
same name who also lived in Now 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 pleasing
number of dollars every year, and always
paid his bills as soon rs they were pre-
Bented; his nominal double never earned
penny and never paid bill when he
could avoid it, and as his popularity had
become prominent enough to be talked
about, it occasionally subjected the
honest Marthen to cxasperating indig-
mites from persons who knew tho namc,
but not the men who bore it. The dis
honest Marthon, on tho contrary, got all
necessary credit Mt tailors' shops, livery
stables, and oven hotels whore the exist
enco of the two Marthens was not known:
he had merely to devise somo excuse to
talk of railroad md engineering to be
taken for his entirely reputable double.
His bills, in tho course of time, reached
the engineers Office, and were tho cause
of much profane language from the
wrong Marthcn and much fun among the
two or three clerks and draughtsmcn
whom the busy railroad builder en-
ployed.
Worse still, the honest Marthen was
sometimes chillingly received by persons
to whom he was introduced and who
had heard of tho other bearer of tho
same name. Worst of all, ladies' some
times seemed disappointed when he was
presented to them, for his rascally
double was handsome enough to be
talked about, while the engineer, al
though of perfect manner, unfortunately
had rugged and disproportionato foa-
tures. When, finally, he was arrested
one afternoon on n charge of obtaining
goods under false pretenscs, tho COM
plainant being the father Of lady to
whom he had just been presented, and
the officers catching him IA he emerged
from her house, the lady herself bohold-
ing the affair from window, he went in
his wrath to his lawyer and prepared a
petition to the Legislature, that for
reasons already stated in this story, he
might be permitted to assume his
mothers family name as o middle name.
But even this relief he could not ex-
pect, until more than half year later
for the arrest occurred in June and the
Legislature would not meet again until
January. One thing, however, he could
and would do; he would manage to see
his troublesome double so that he might
Rfterward know him by sight and defend
himself against him whenever he found
himself in close social or business prox-
unity to the rascal. To find the dishonest
Marthen was no easy task; it required
1ortmghts effort on the part of two diff.
ferent detectives, but at last Marthcn
was Informed that the man who lived
upon the engineers reputation was at
Saratoga, so the indignant man hastily
packed his trunk and hurried off TO that
crowded village.
On the train he chanced to find plea
SAINT and entirely innocent travelling ac-
quaintance. A we'll l-dressed, not I'm.
comely lady who sat in front of him en-
deaVored to raise q window and Marthon
hastened to assist her, getting pleasant
smile and word of thanks in payment.
Marthen skillfully involved the lady in
conversation, and finding, to his great
delight, that she was amiable but not
smart, quite susceptible, yet not in
cllned to flirt, he became very devoted,
lie detested smart women; several of his
friends had mnrried such beings and
never ceased to rogres the step; smart
women had often tried to "catch" Mar.
then himself, for an income of q thou.
sand a month was not to be despised, and
he had not always escaped with ease.
Marthen' fully intended to marry some
day, hut he had been determined that he
would be entirely satisfied with o plain,
rather stupid woman if only he could
lind one who was amiable.
The trip to Saratoga consumed six
hours when Marthen first made it; and
as one-sixth of this time has often been
Iufficient to the birth Of violent admira
ions of men for women, it is not remark.
Ible that when the journey ended Mar
han was 80 favorably impressed by his
new acquaintance that he regretted, or
eaving the train, that he had not straineG
lis habituai courtesy enough to learn
Ter name, and ask the honor of beinc
'gain allowed to meet her, for she haG
ct drop the fact that she was widow
= was now too late to do this, but no
90 late to hope; he was sure of findiny
riends at Saratoga; he could hardly hel,
eeing her somewhere. somehow. if j
for she had intimated that sh
xpected to spend month with oo,,oo ,nf