The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-10-28
A BOY sETsIE.
And Troubles Which Beset Him Be-
cause of a Msname.

marlborough Correspondent of the New
York Times.
This is the simple story of a boy who
has staggered for ten years under the
name of Betsie, and what came of it. 1t
is a true story, and the boy still lives. al
though many have been his tribulations.
When Luther S. Bailey was married,
about twelve years ago, his sister, Mrs.
Betsie Chase, called him in one day, and
confided to him a wish she had long
cherished in secret 1t was that the
name Betse Chase should be perpetuated
in the family. Mrs. Chase had goodly
means, but she was unhappy because she
had no children
II believe the name Betse is a beauti-
full one. and | would like to have it live"
she said. why can't you name your
firstborn Betse?"
Mr.. Bailey might have been moved by
his love for his sister to follow her
wishes. even though he might not have
had the same ideas about the perpetua-
tion OF her name. But there were other
powers to consider. So Mrs. Bailey was
consulted. To clinch the plan, Mrs.
Chase said that she would leave $500 TO
the tllllu IL Tie udiiit was given W II,
and that was an argument that could not
be gansaid.
About ten years ago all was ready in
the house of the Baileys for the visit of
the stork Aunt Betsie, of course, was
intensely interested, as were many others
of the family and neighborhood, who
knew of the good fortune under which
the child was to come into the world.
Nobody had thought for moment but
that the child would be a girl Imagine
the CONSERVATION then when the doctor
came out to those who We're waiting, and
announced:
It's a boy"
Here was Il problem over which heads
wagged for many weeks. Diplomatic me-
Gotiations were opened with Mrs. Chase
with the idea of having her offer ex-
tended to the next child. if that should
be a girl, or If not to the next. But Aunt
BetSie was firm
II said your first child" she declared,
decisively. II meant your first child.
That is all l have to say"
Mr.. Bailey was for letting the whole
thing go, but Mrs. Bailey took the other
side. To her $500 was not a matter to be
treated lightly. The family lined up in
hostile camps, and the whole neighbour
hood divided over it wherever two or
three CHANGED to gather. Mrs. Bailey in
the end stood on the prerogatives of
womanhood and had her way. COM
promise was reached, however, in that,
in addition to the name Betsie, the child
had several manly names in Edward Lu-
Their Chase Beverly.
While he was an infant in arms 1t was
not so bad. But when he was turned
out to play with his fellows he soon
learned the full effect of parental eccen-
tricity.
"Ah. g'wan, Betsle, and play with the
girls he was told.
Because his hair was long because he
cried when the torment became unendur-
able, the taunts increased, and he had
many a tale of woe to tell to his parents.
Mr. Bailey at times was tempted to go
back and have the whole thing done over
again. but Aunt Betsie deposited the $500
in the savings bank and the father could
never screw up his courage to let that
go.
One day Mrs Chase died. Here, at
last was to be vindication for the par
ents. They were present when the will
was read. expectantly waiting to hear
the sentence which should give the $500
to the boy. Other persons were waiting
for the same sentence. The lawyer fin
ishd the reading and looked up. Not
a word was in the will about Betsie Ed
ward Luther Chase Beverly. Aunt Bet
sic had simply forgotten it.
There was only one hope. The $500
was III lut Ddllh, anu nus VI POlhOho
knew why it had been put there. The
heirs were asked to surrender it. Not
they. They said Aunt Betsie had prob
ably changed her mind. So the case
was taken to the courts, and there 1t
has been fought out for several years.
First it would appear that Betsie would
win then that he wouldn't Finally the
state supreme court has sat in delib
Grafton over the matter and has decided
that the boy will get nothing. AS he
was not mentioned in the will the $500
put in the savings bank will be turned
over to the administrator.
And Betsie? Ever since he has been
in school he has had to fight for ms
name. Many a bumped forehead. black
eve and bruised knuckle has been taken
home by him to pain his mother and
cause his father to speak homilies on the
virtue of turning the other cheek. And
now Betsie must continue to fight it
out, without reward and with the knowl-
edge that money he might have had for
a college education has been spent on
lawyers fees. There is talk in the FAM