The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-12-23
SWaleS Owes 1t All to the
Barber.
A ROMANCE NOT IN BOOKS.
He Looked Like Another Fellow Who
Turned Out to Be His Twin
Brother.

mourne ed as dead. and two twin brothers
who had almost forgotten each other have
found twin brother apiece.
And Ii all came about through the curios-
| ity of Geary-street barber. His name is
Charles Baron, and his Christmas will Lave
| an added merriment from the consciousness
| of having been the instrument through
! which the three relatives were united again
| after So many years.
1t all reads like a romance from one of the
books. but it is all very real. and no JOY is
greater than that of its actors.
Twenty years ago the plot began in the
Pennsylvania coal-mining center Of Maueh
Chunk. Two boys were born to Mrs. Mary
Kerr SwaIes, the eomely wife of a mine
foreman, who met his death in a coal-gas
explosion two days after the twins came
into the world.
His sudden and terrible death had most
unfortunate effect upon the widow and
mother. Reason left her entirely, and Ter
many weeks her life was despared of.
Her brother, Nathaniel Kerr, took one OF
the boys to his home in Vermont, while
near friend of tile mothers cared for the
| other child.
Thus the twins became separated. to be
united after twenty years by the merest
| chance in the world in San Francisco.
For many years Mrs. SwaleS was an in
valid and remained in Maueh Chunk. The
boy that remained with her took his
| fathers name of Frederick, and in after
| years became an expert mechanic.
The mothers means were scant enough,
| and for that reason she could make no OBJ
| lection TO the adoption of the other boy by
| her brother 10 Vermont Yet she heard
! from him regularly by letter for a few
years. Then all letters stopped aud all in
| QuiTies as 10 the whereabouts OF her boy
were fruitleSs.
Now the scene properly shifts 10 San
| francisco. and for dramatic effect as well
| as to accomm odate the facts Of the story
| you must imagine that il is nearly Christ
mas of 1892, and instead of the frost and
| snow of tie Lehigh Valley there are orange
| blossoms and chrysanthemums for the
| setting.
A tall. well-built young fellow enters the
| baTbeI-s hop on GeaTy street.
You're shaving every day now, / see"
| says Barber Baron. as he tucks in the towel.
Not much" says tie young fellow.
| This is Thursday. and l haven't been
shaved since Monday"
Il shaved you yesterday" says Barber
| Baron.
Guess you're little off," says the young
! fellow.
Never more positive of anything In my
| lie. says the barber.
Guess | know " len was here last, don't
| ]? '' says the other.
'Well, I'll leave it to Tom" says Barber
/ Baron. Tom. wasn't SWales in here yes
terday RfternoOn?"
That's what be was" says Tom. who
runs the next chair.
You fellows are both crazy. see," says
| the Young fellow. Il was in San Jose yes
| terday."
Then the bootblack is appealed to- "Bet
| dollar l gave you shine yesterday, he
| Gays.
"Pll go you" says Swaes.
| But the bet isn't made, because the boot.
| black has only % cents, and he's saving that
/ for Christmas presents.
| The quarrel is gnod-natured one, but
! young Sw2les leaves the shop vowng all its
! inmates are crazy, and all its inmates are
| inclined to think thai young Swales Is
! little of to-day.
Two hours later the same young fellow
| apparenty-enters the shop and goes 10
Ion s chair Tor haircut.
We'll, Is your memory any better now 2"
| says Tom. between clips
Didn't know as it was affected particu-
| lariy," says the other.
! Si5ut YOU do remember being IN here yes
| terday? persists Tom.
Never forgot ii, ;" replies the other. Got
shave yesterday and the hair cut to-day.
Was too busy to wait yesterday. Who says
| / wasn't in here yesterday P'
Nobody said so but you" puts in Baron.
| And tie controversy might have gone on
| IN this fashion TIL doOmsday had not Toms
| penetrating eye caught the day old stubble
| on the chin of his subject.
See here, Baron" says Tom. this is not
| the fellow you shaved iittls while ago.
| He's got days growth on his face"
| WHAT saws Baron.
And they all take a good look at Toms
| subject WHO now turns red and wonders
mentally and audibly what in the world it
! all means.
lit means just this" says Tom, "thatyou
are the living image of some other fellow
| "How long have You been coming in here ?"
| Yesterday was the FIRST time ever struck
this shop | thought you fellows were
| mighty familiar on short acquaintance"
says the young fellow, who resem bes an
| old customer, and he adds, "My name is
Kerr. What's the other fellows nameP''
| 'Swaes," says Baron.
| Now, keTr's hair is cut and Joke or two
! cracked about the fellow who locks ike
| me paying my BILL" and then Baron ar
ranges meeting of the two. EFF you'll
drop in al 8 tonight I'll try to have Swales
| here" says Baron.
That is not a difficult matter to arrange.
| Tor Swales is employed in a big faney-goods
| house near by.
| When the two meet everybody is struck
at the remarkable resemblance between
them. Even their clothes are very nearly
| alike IN color and cut and both wear derby
| hats.
That's my mothers name, Kerr" saws
Swales as he shakes hands with his double.
Where were you born?" he asks.
| In Mauch Chunk. | believe" saws
such matters. My uncle. who adopted me
when i was quite small, died when was
too Young TO remember anything like that,
and I've never had the good luck since TO
| run across anybody who could tell me any,
thing about my parents.
We'll think ! can tell you something
about your parents, said Swales. II Thick
| can show you mother and twin brother
| What was your uncle's first nameP"
| Richard, and | was named after him. I
know Kerr is not my right name; but was
| brought up In the orphan asylum at Boston
as Richard Kerr, and have never been able
| to ind out what the other name is. Fact is.
| I've been rather negligent in searching out
my relatives, though suppose I've got a
| bushel OF them somewhere.
| but never heard | had mother living
| l always thought Of her as dead And [
didn't even know that / ever had a twin
| brother"
But he knows it all now.
He went home with Swales last Thursday
night and has been living there ever since.
lie has given mp his cherries room on Ellis
street aud has gone TO live In a cottage in
the Mission.
All. but that meeting between mother and
s0nl
Fred Swales says his mother Is twenty
years younger now, and that makes her 80
instead of 90.
why, do you know that woman kept Ms
up all night last Thursday, and kent
a-hugging and a-hanging on Dick till she
fell asleep In bis arms just before the no iIk-
man came, and we two had to carry her in
and lay her OH the bed-sbe was that de ad
| with sleep.
But she was out before either of us In
the morning. And now, do you know. she
won't let Dick 60 to work again till after
the holidays. She won't let him out of her
sight. why. had to smuggle him out of
the house this evening or he wouldn't be
here now to prove my story"
And DICK Swales--it is Kerr no longer
wears look SO radiant these DAYS that you
couldn't possibly mistake him for Fred.
There is only one thing to be explained
yet, and that is how Dick got to San Fran
| cisco.