The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1896-07-20
STRANGE STORY OF IMPOSITION
WITH A sORROWFUL AND
TRAGIC ENDING.
TWO ROBERTSON COUSINS.
THEIR HISTORY RECALLS THH
TOUCHING STORY OF ENOCH
ARDEN.
And Their Fatal Consequences
Strange Tale Whose Truth IL
VOuched For.


beautiful Bayou Teche, in southern
ger than this Is the new Arcadia made
immortal by Longfellow in his exqui-
site poem Of 'Evangeline"
Longfellow claimed that his story
was founded in fact, and that every
incident of it, from the cruel Danish
ment Of the French settlers in Nova
Scotia by the English to the meeting
of the lovers Gabriel and Evangeline
In the hospital near the old Swedes'
church in Philadelphia, is historic, and
we must believe him.
But more startling than the story Of
Evangeline, and with 1t the added
advantage of its absolute truthfulness.
is that Of the Robertson cousins, lone
born and both raised" between New
Siberia and Vermilion, in the Western
Teche country.
Early in the century a handsome
young man came to the Teche country
and established a school at New Ibe-
ria. He was reticent as to his past.
1t was said that he was an English
showed that he had taken a degree at
Harvard.
Prof" Robinson, as he was called,
soon made friends, and being active
and handsome as well as cultured, he
soon became great favorite among
the French and English speaking Of
that rich and beautiful land
After three years Of successful teach
ing, during which time he had read
law and was admitted to the bar,
Prof. Robertson, then twenty-seven
years of age, was married to Louise
Sabal, the only daughter Of M. Sabal,
a widower, and one Of the richest
sugar planters and largest slave-own-
ers in that part of the state.
M. Sabal was an invalid, but the
cares of the large estate that had
broken him down were assumed by
his son-in-law who worked with an
energy and intelligence that delighted
the older man and surprised ali the
neighbors, who in that land Of the
lotus eaters delight in what the Ital-
ians call dolce far niente or the JOY of
doing nothing.
Hermosilla, or the beautiful place."
was the Spanish name Of M. Sabal's
estate, and no matter the original rea-
son for the naming, 1t soon deserved
it under the energetic control Of Prof
Robertson.
M. Sabal, while keeping the title to
the estate still in his own name, took
his son-in-law into partnership, and
from his earnings the latter secured
an interest in the great salt islands
and at one time owned much Of the
land purchased after the war by the
popular actor Joseph Jefferson as a
winter residence.
M. Sabal, eased of all care, grew
younger and stronger Professor Rob-
ertson had not only taken his father
1n-law's place as a tireless executive
but he soon became an invalid, as the
senior had been for he lacked the ex-
perience to harmonic his efforts with
climatic conditions-a mistake many
northern men make in southern latf-
tudes. When Prof Robertson died in
1S47, he left a son, George, an only
child, on whom M. Sabal dotted. The
boy was born April Is, 1910. and the
mother and grandfather insisted that
he should take the fathers name.
George.
But here comes in the complication.
Prof. Robertson's only living relative
was a twin brother, Henry, who had
been lecturer at Harvard Henry died
in 1912 at Woburn near Boston He was
widower, his wife having died In
childbirth, and he named his only
child George, after his brother
Before his marriage Henry Robert
son had visited his brother on the
Teche; so when he died M. Sabal in
sisted that his orphaned son should be
brought down and made one Of the
family.
There Is enough for ALL explained
the old man. sT have but few rela-
tives, and 1t will be far better that our
George should have boy Of his own
kin for a companion"
This was agreed to. And the little
boy. George Robertson, was brought
down from Woburr., Mass, to become
the brother of his cousin near New
Iberia.
The newcomer was lovely child and
soon won his way Tito the hearts Of all
who met him. There was only four
months difference in the ages of the
cousins, and they looked as much alike
as did their fathers, who, as has been
said, were twins. In order that the
children might be distinguished when
talking Of them. It was agreed that the
Louisiana cousin should be called
Georgy and the one from Massachu-
sets George, an arrangement that
worked very well.
The boys were taught by the best
private tutors till 1860, when together
they were sent to the State Military
school, Of which William Tecumseh
Sherman, afterward the famous Union
general, was superintendent.
About this time M Sabal, full OF
years, rich and honored, died He pro-
vided handsomely for the nephew Of
his dead son-in-law. but the bulk Of
his property was left to his grandson,
the will providing that his daughter
should have life interest in the es-
tate.
Early fl 1861. when Louisiana seced-
ed, Superintendent Sherman resigned
his post and went north. This broke up
the school, and the cadets FASTENED
home to join regiments which were
then being raised for tne Confederacy
all over the South.
Although southern IN her sympa-
tf1ies, as were all her slaveholding
neigfbors, Mrs Robertson was bitterly
opposed to having her son go into the
army. But there was no resisting the
earnestness of the young man or the
fervid enthusiasm of the hour
AS it transpired afterward, Mrs. Rob-
ertson was quite willing that her
nephew should go to the war. The
cousins had been like brothers up to