Two Icks For The Price Of One

I saw the plaster cast of Chang and Eng after death at the Mutter Museum in Philadelphia. Did you know they each owned a plantation? And owned slaves? And that each had a son who fought for the Confederacy? Those guys were crazy.

(Chang died first — possibly hastened to death by Eng. Chang lived fast and loose, and was the less healthy of the two. He developed a terrible cough and was told by his doctor that it would be best to remain in bed and not move anywhere. However, Chang and Eng had an agreement: they would stay part of the week at Chang’s house, where Chang could stay up late drinking and playing cards. The rest of the week would be spent at Eng’s pad. Eng didn’t like late nights, liked going to bed at a reasonable hour, and was the less rowdy of the two. Anyway — Chang is told he shouldn’t move; however, it was Eng’s turn for some time at home, and he sort of insisted on forcing Chang to make the trip. On one hand: Eng is kind of awesome. On the other: well, they both died because of it.)