Washington telegraph., 1852-11-03
Matrimonial Hoax.

On Tuesday evening last. clever hoax was
played upon gentleman at the Bull and Mouth
Hotel in Briggafe Leeds. Some six weeks or 50
ago several matrimonial advertisements appeared
in the London newspapers from gentlemen want
ing wives. Some members of the Leeds Stocl
Exchange took it into their heads 70 hoax some
of these advenurers, and they accordingly entered
into correspondence with the parties advertis-
ing, adopting for the purpose the name of Miss
Bailey. After some correspondence, two of the
parties sent down Photographic likenesses of
themselves. and the third intimated that 'he
thought the substance better than the shadow
and suggested personal interview. Miss Bail
ey,i' thought SO too, and wrote accordingly, Ia
menting the awkward position she n but
adding, that she had mentioned the matter to her
brother who had reluctantly consented to the in
terview and had promised to be present at the
interview as her protector. She also intmated
that cousin of hers kept the inn above named
and that she and her brother would call at the
hotel and remain there until the arrvalof the
stranger who was to ask for her by name.
By the next post the anguishng swain wrote
to say that he would be in Leeds by the train ar
irving there at $50, p. m. on Tuesday, and would
at once drive to the hotel named in cab. All
this arranged one of the party here, stockholder
undertook to play the guardian, and clerk from
the office was selected to personate the lady, Miss
Bailey; no expense being spared to adorn the lady
with suitable and lady like apparel. At the APP
pointed hour Miss Bailey and her brother were
in private room. when at seven O'Clock. cab
drove up. Miss Bailey and her brothar took their
places sofa, and on the stranger inquiring for
Miss Bailey. he was shown into the room. He
was a gentleman of about As. ruddy complexion
and thin hair. He introduced himself as Mr.. H.,
of Atherstone," In certain midland county.-
The young Iady's brother introduced her as his
sister Mr. II. was smitten at first sight, for the
lody nd +bo do,
cast eyes, commanding figure, and rich flowing
ringlets, would have been too much for
stouter heart than he could boast Of especially
when it was made known that the proprietor OF
this graceful form had 81 500 in her right.
The trio at once proceeded to business, the
brother putting a number OF questions to Mr.. H.,
all of which were cheerfuly and unsuspiciously
answered Having satisfied the brother that he
was pretty well to do in the world, he added that
he was wdower with three children, but in or
der that they might not annoy the mother-in- law
they were to be sent to boarding g-schooI; and as
the young lady's fortune which he was happy to
find she possessed. it should be settled upon her
and her children. With these explanations Miss
Bailey and her brother were satisiiel-in fact it
was a settled thing. The brother retired for a
few minutes, when Mr.. X. at once drew his chair
close to his ladY-love and became very sentiment
tai giving full vent to the feelings of his heart
Miss Bailey. with becoming modesty, rebuked
him for 'such ioolishnessn and his too familiar
advances.
In short time the brother returned, and said
he had met with a few meal5ers of the family.
whom he proposed to introduce at once. Mr. II.
was in laptures and desired him to introduce them
forthwith. but he was somewhat astonished to
find that in few minutes not less than one hun
dred jovial souls, who had been waiting below,
rushed into the room to laugh at him and the
hoax which had been played. In an instant Miss
Bailey disappeared. while unces, cousins, and
other relatives shook him by the hand, one after
another AS soon as he found he was hoaxed,
Mr. H. made rush az the staircase, but mstcoll
his way and got into the bar OF the house instead
of to the outer door He was instantly penned in
on all sides, so that he could not escape but was
compelled to listen to the reading OF the whole
correspondence and, at last, in reply to the health
of Miss Bailey gentlemahly- looking young
man, who had been sitting beside Mr.. H. smoking
a cigar, rose and acknowledged the compliment,
and described the scene in the room when her
brother left her. Eventually the Atherstone
lover decamped, and has not since been heard of.
LOuIOu SUu