Waterbury evening Democrat., 1890-04-23
A CURIOUS STORY.
On livery Particular It Is Far
 Stranger Than Fiction.
The Truth Concerning Rich old Boston Merchant Comes to Light at Last Msartless Indifference Toward
 One of His Twin Sons.

An old Boston lawyer tells curious story of an older Boston family which Illustrates tho material for fiction that is always afloat in community, writes Arlo Bates in the Chicago Tribune. It has more than once occurred to mo that instead of saying that truth is stranger than fiction 1t would be more exact to say that fiction is tho moro credible part of truth. To attempt to repro duco in fiction tho things which really happen Is to attempt tho impossible, and especially since the so-called real lsts have been drawing the lines closer; 1t would havo no effect save to make one's whole work distrustcd.
 This story is to tho effect that in tho early part of this century, at tho time when tho idea of founding a family had an especially strong hold upon tho inn aginations of a certain class, as it camo later to have upon the Vanderbilts and tho Astors, thero lived in Boston Q wealthy merchant who had no children. He was possessed of tho notion of the grandeur of standing in history as the founder of Q distinguished line, but the difficulty of assuming this role when there was not even an heir to hand down his name was severe blow It was when he was already well advanc- ed in life that tho joyful fact that he might expect child at last came to fill to the brim his cup of joy, already we'll filled by the lucky turns ho had made in certain speculations requiring much financial shrewdness.
 Great preparations were made for the expected infant, and tho merchant de- clared to his friends with the greatest confidence that the child would be aboy. Tho newcomer was to bear tho name of his grandfather and father, and from the start was to be regarded as the pros pective head of tho business house and heir apparent, to whom could not bo paid too much honor. In course of time tho child was born; it was indeed Q boy, but with him there was another boy. Tho mother, who was already woman of middle age, died within week after the birth of the twins.
 Tho merchant was a man accustomed to having his will respected, and he could not be reconciled to this whimsi- cal trick of fate, whereby she gave him not only what he asked, but so much moro. He seemed almost as much dis appointed at having two sons as he had been before at having none. A month or two after the death of his wife he took his two infant sons and their nurse, and in ono of his finest vessels sailed for Europe, then, of course, q good deal farther from America than it is at present. At the end of six months he returned with a new nurse and only the elder of tho twins, the other having died, he said, in France.
 In tho course of time the merchant {c 1nu hn fnf of, WI informant, and made his will. He con- fided to tho lawyer that his other son was alive in France, and ho placed in his hands the papers necessary for trac- ing him in case the death of the elder should render the extintion of the fam fly imminent. Ho also put into tho hands of the lawyer certain funds in trust of which the income was to be re- mitted annually to certain address in France. This done, the merchant, whose conscience is not reported to have troubled him in the least in this matter, lived out his appointed time and was gathered to his fathers, and his son, by this time young man, reigned in his stead.
 Things went on undisturbed until the death of tho lawyer, when his son, who tells the story, came into possession ot the facts as part of his legacy in the way of his fathers business. IIo felt 1t his duty to toll tho whole to tho head of the wealthy house which tho depart ed merchant had succeeded in founding, the elder twin, now Q man of middle age, with family of his own. Tho lat ter was not unnaturally startled to be told that he had a brother alive on the other aide of the world, but he set out to Europe to find him. He followed ur the clews given him by the lawyer, and on his return he confided to the latter that he had found the missing twin.
 ''He does not know that he is not French" he said. "He is perfectly con tented, and he has all that he needs. Il Is too late to undo what my father did l have invested in his name fund. enough to make him comfortable fol the rest of his life. Now we will burr the papers and forget that he ever ex isted."
 So said. and. as far as possible, SC done. Tho merchant died long ago and the lawyer who tells the tale say! he is careful there shall be no chance O. identification. The present generation arc absolutely ignorant of tho existence of an uncle in the world or out of it, an( very likely do not even remember tha their father was born Q twin, the fac being one which tho grandfather tool the world wags.
 A Debate in Kentucky.
 A debate was held in tho school-houst at Barboursville, Ky, the other even ing, the proposition being: Resolved