Mistakes Of Identity

Men, who in the fulhllment of their I profession, or for some special reason, ! have aseumed a role not really their j own, are often taken to be reully as they seeci, Sometimes the error ' proves to be sufficiently ludicrous. It is related. says the SaU Evening Post, that Baron Jamee De Rothsohild, who established the Paris branch of the great financial house, was eccentric in his outward appearance, and occasionally in his conduct He wa fond of art and a patrón of painters. He once consented to pose for Eugene Delacroix, as a beggar. AVhile Lhus occupied a pupil of the pafnter passed by. So touched was he by the seeming poverty and wret:hcdness of the ragged beggar that he Burreptitiously slipped a coin into the old man's hand - literally bestowing alms on a Rothschild. The financier kept the money, inquired about the giver, and shortly afterward paid back the charity with a princely present. A number of young Indian gentlemen were studying law in London some few years since. Dr. Vaughn, the Master of the Temple, invited them to spend a pleasant evening at his house. They accepted in nearly e.ery instance. But, though fhe host vv,.ited at the hour fixed, nobody ;i:-r:'.od. At laat the maid was called in. She was a new servant fresh to her duties in the house. The puzzled inquiry was made: "Have none of the gentlemen come?" "No, please, " said the girl, "but a lot of impudent Christy Minstrels have been a-ringing the bell, and I've been them away. " A 'capital story is told of the ready wit of aman of M; lesex, traveling in Germany. He was called upon, before being allowed to pass through the gates of a petty town, to describe himself. This was the red-tape rule for all strangers in the land. ■ ' I arè an elector of Middlesex," said the adroit John Buil. In Germany an elector is a person of importance; so word went forth, out came the guards, and not only was the visitor permitted to enter, but he was received with military honors. But sometimes the foreign blunder a out character of identity is of a different description. The merriment has been mixed. Humor is blended with inconvenience, and, perhaps, risk, in misadventures of arrest. A number oí these awkward incidenta are reported ooncerning notable men. Charles Kinjrsley was thrown into a Germán prison, when h;s only offense-" was a rather too reckless love of angling. He was nnconstrued in dress, character, and conduct by over-susüicious natives. His fishing rod was taken for some new fangled deadly weapon, and, to the stolid, rural ïnind, the wide-awake Italian hat he wore pointed him out as a follower of Mazzini, the troublesome southern revolutiomst. Dr. Hooker, of Kew, was on one occasion mistaken an intriguer during his travels in Hindoostan, and was summarily imprisoned, and kept in close quarters for six weeks together in the Himalayas by the Rajah of Sikkim. Kubinstein, the eminent pianist and composer, lound himself in a curious scrape, and one more amusing in retrospect than in the hour of crisis, in the storm year of 1848. The trouble of the time put an end to plans for concerts in Ilungary, and he turned his attention to Kussia. Buk on the frontier, Rubinstein was taken into custody. His looks were held to go against him. The official wiseacres considered him a person extremely likely to be meditating mischief to the state, and believed their euspicions conflrmed, when, upon searching his lugage a "score," in MS., was found. The head of the ' military command feit sure that a treacherous secret was hidden in the i notes of this unfortunate compos:'tion. Precaution was a safe policy, if. &lso, a harsh one. The prisoner was ordered off into Siberian exiie. His eaxnest protests were unheeded, and the absurd mistake mipfht have been carried through, but for the timely arrival on the scène of Count Weilhorsky. This noblein:in knew llubinetein, and w(as in time to prevent a cruel scandal. He answered for the composer's bona fides. and obtained his release. When Salvmi, the actor, was touring in Italy he carne to a small town, where the voice of fume s;;oke faintly. The great player was incognito, and studying up a new part. He was overheard using most bloodthirsty language wnen alone in his lodgings, and the 8candalised provincials carried news to the pólice office that an escaped lunatic was in the house. Salvini was arre.5ted, and kept under surveillance until he could persuade the local authorities that in spite of makinsr noise indoors, he was sane in the street