Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-09-10

"'This is no child of mine, Mrs. Carlton
announced to her husband, nor OF yours
either. Take her over to the Courtcnays'
Immediately and try Bruce
"AIr. Carlton obcyed.
well, Mrs. Courtcnay got up and put on
a wrapper, and the nurse was awakened. and
little Bruce was brought in and tlcklcd in
state He smiled relaxed his toes, and
opened them as wide apart as possible.
Could anything be more convincing? The
babies were snapped, and MIR. Carlton
became Belle Courtcnay.
"Mrs. Courtcnay couldn't deny the force
of this test; yet she was so worried about it
that she nearly made herself i'll.
THE result was that one afternoon she
l took Bruce and drove over to the Carl
Ions in great excitement.
Mrs. Carlton began to trcmble ut sight of
her. Mercy. Mrs Courtcnav, what is it,
she asked. Have you discovered anything?
".Wcve got to get both children asleep
immediately said Mrs Courtenay. Belle
simply won't sleep on her back, and the
Courtcnays as a family are noted for that.
My husband always sleeps on his back; 50
did his father and grandfather. | don't;
but my father and all my brothers do. Do
you, Mrs Carilono' she asked anxiously
"'No, indeed. said Mrs. Carlton. 1t
makes one snore.
"'Oh, that's nothing. The Courtenays,
without exception, all snore, said Mrs.
Courtcnay My husband is simply dread
full. | always have to sleep two rooms away.
OF course Belle is too little to snorc; but she
won't sleep unless | lay her on her side
"'That is funny said Mrs. Carlton. I've
had lots of trouble getting Bruce to sleep:
| never tried to put him on his back. Some
doctors do say it's more hcalthful though,
that way. Well try it Immediately
"'rhe two children were rocked and cud-
died and sung to, and finally deposited on a
double bed, both on their sides Belle went
to sleep instantly: Bruce would not close
his eyes. Both babies were then laid upon
their backs. Bruce went instantly to sleep:
Belle walled. Belle was then made COM
Portable, and when both children were in
Dreamland the two mothers cried it out
Isn't it awful to have to decide such an
important question on such little thing as
that?' said Mrs. Courtcnay, gazing at the
babies.
@'Look at Bellies hand cried Mrs. CARL
Ion suddenly. Now that settles it. I'm
positive you're right! See, she holds the
thumb inside her fist, just like all the CARL
Ions! Bruce keeps his thumb outside. Don't
the oOurtenayS ana your people clcnch the
thumb outside their fists?'
"'Of course they do. said Mrs Courte-
nay. It's sign of a weak will to keep the
thumb inside.
"'PShaw. No one ever accused a Carlton
of having weak will; and I'm sure that
thumb doesn't mean anything of the kind.
But, at any rate, it proves pretty conclusive
ly that your inference was right from her
sleeping posture. When they get old enough
to roll over of themselves thcrc'll be no pos
sble doubt of it, You'd better take Bruce
right back with you, Mrs Courtenay, and
III take my girl
$50 Bruce Carlton became Bruce Courte-
nay again.
WELL, | can't begin to tell you all the
curious ms and outs of that ridiculous
case. Bruce was taken back from the Cour-
tenays' early one morning when he was seen
to wriggle his ears an immcmorial Carlton
characteristics; and Belle was proved to be a
true Carlton after that, upsctting all previ-
Gus evidence, on account of her fear of cats,
a trait for which the family had always been
noted.
"Of course, if the ladies had not been well
enough educated to know the doctrine of the
transmission of acquired characteristics had
been exploded, there would have been many
more complications as, for instance, in