Weekly expositor. (Brockway Centre, Mich.) 1882-1894, 1893-07-28
DOUBLES OF GREAT MEN.
A SECOND SARAH BERNHARDT
LIVES IN FRANCE.
She Appeared on the stage but Once and
Proved Herself Great Actress The
Sad story of the Cars Double Who Be
came Insane on the Subject.

ago have "dOubles. OF these some
are doubles" by nature, while
others are impelled to pose as
'doubles" through vanity or a Grim
inal instinct Several doubles" of
the latter type have recently created
a sensation in Europe.
Every one in Copenhagen has
heard of the cars double" Carlson
his name is, and only as a retired
banker was he known to his COUNT Y
men until the car ami his family be-
gan TO spend the summer months at
their favorite resorts near the Dan
ish capital. Then people began to
notice the strange likeness of Carl
sen to the Russian ruler, and really it
was remarkable.
Banker AM emperor were of the
same height, OF similar physique,
anu as to the eyes, beard, hair and
strongly marked countenance each
was almost IN exact counterpart Of
the other.
The consequence was that on many
occasions Carlson was mistaken for
the car, and was so vastly pleased
at hearing himself checred and
eulogIzed by enthusiastic crowds
that he gradually adopted the manner
and dress of the real ear, and finally
gave full ZEN to his vanity, and
made it the rule OF his life TO counter
felt the ar in all respects. When
it was announced that Alexander was
on his way TO Copenhagen Garrison
mould 81
procession in n bunch exactly like
the cars, and later on would drive
his four INLAND through the crowded
streets, bowling right and Lett to the
cheering populace.
1t pleased him to receive petitions
for help on such occasions, an as he
was known to be very wealthy,
many people gratifiel his vanity in
this way and received substantial
assistance from him.
The newspapers also encouraged
HIM in his craze by reporting all his
movements and treating him as
though he was the real car.
All this adulation and homage was
too much for the poor man. He who
had successfully counterfeited the
real car now felt that he and not
Alexander was the ruler of Russia
and being of timorous nature he
has lived since then the life OF a man
condemned TO eternal torture.
Appalled, at the thought that Nihi-
lists were plotting against him. he
shut himself up in his villa, where he
surrounded himself with a body
guard, whose duty was to see that no
dynamiters or NihilIsts should APP
proach the stronghold.
Even with these pre- cautions he
was not satisfied. Unable TO rest
night or day, and seeing an assassin
in every stranger, he gradually lost
his reason, ana when he issued an
edict coniiscating all the farms sur
rounding his villa on the ground that
Nihilists were harbored on them the
authorities inter cred, and removed
him to q mad-house.
There he now is, and there he will
remain while life lasts
Sarah Bernhard, on one occasion,
came face TO face with born actress
of whom the world has never heard,
but who appears to have been both
in appearance and manner strikingly
like the famous French actress.
On her way home from a long tour
Sarah stopped one day at little sea-
coast village in the south Of Europe,
and the fancy seized her TO give
performance of "Ruy Bias" there.
She was told that there was no thea
ter in the village, and that even If
there were, the shepherds and hus-
bandmen, who were the only resi-
dents o. the district, were too poor
to pay even a trihing sum for admis-
sion, but her reply was that tenn
porary stage must be erected in any
available building, and that since the
villagers could not afford to pay for
the privilege of seeing and hearing
her act. she would not only admit
them free of charge, but would give
to every one after the performance
gold piece as souvenir of her visit
Her orders were carried out to the
letter.
A barn-like building was rented for
the evening, q stage was erected, one
corner was draped off as dressing
room and in this room Sarah was
being attired by her maid when sud-
denly the curtain was pushed aside
and a tall, poorly-dressed, pale-iaced
girl entered.
Madame" she said to Sarah, Twill
you permit me to take your place on
the stage this EVENING" This is an
extraordinary request, but l have
good reason for asking it. ] be-
lieve that | have great dramatic tai
ent, and desire to find out whether
am vain fool or born actress.
know all your roles by heart. and
you may rest assured that | will not
break down. Grant me this favor,
madame, and | will be eternally
grateful to you"
Sarah pondered a minute or two
and then said brusquely: "All right.
You may take my place. My maid
will dress you"
The girl, who was the daughter Of
a poor vlllager, stepped on the stage,
and at once revealed herself as a
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