Democratic Sentinel, Volume 17, Number 50, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 29 December 1893 — They Were Brothers. [ARTICLE]

They Were Brothers.

Two brothers were once at Count von Moltke’s house at an evening party; both were captains of the general staff. The general came up to the group of gentlemen, one of whom was one of the brothers. After joining in conversation, he asked the latter: “Just tell me who is that tali officer, near the fire-place ou the other side—l forget his name.” “That's my brother, your excellency, ” was the answer. A smile stealing over the general’s face suggested the idea that he had not obtained the information he wished. Some time after, the general went to another group of people, and there joined the officer whose name he had inquired. Suddenly the others saw him turning away, with the same smile on his face. Afterward, when they inquired from the young officer what the general had asked him, he replied: “He asked me who that officer was over there.” “And what did you say?” “I said that he was my brother.” The general gave up inquiring the name of the two brothers for that evening.