The Kalida venture. [volume] (Kalida, Ohio) 1841-1865, 1854-04-07
ORIGIN. oF aAPRIL FooLn DAY

OKtGlN OE "AfhiL FULL DAl
The New York Tribune has the fol-
lowing remarks on this noted day:
"Aprl Fool" "April Fool!" is shout
ed oil aver Chrislendom to-day. or all
The days in The Calender, the human inn
agination is most active on this parlicu-
lar day. Truth is generally considered
stranger than Fiction, but to-day Fiction
bewiders Truth with the abundance Of
her resources. All the million tricks OF
the preceding years have grown familiar
and stale, and no longer ehtrap us; each
year must invent new stories and build
more intricate fabrics Of mischief. One
must be wary, indeed, il he goes from
sunIise till sunse, without falling into
some skillful snare.
Few persons are aware Of the antiquity
of this peculiar feature Of the day. The
old writer, As;llias, who fiourished in the
second century Of our era, speaks OF a
similar custom among the ancient Greeks.
A certain day in the month of April vas
devoted to The worship of Mercury, the
patron Of liars as we'll as thieves, and he
who prac,ised the greatest deception or
others, or was most skillful at flchine,
was considered as mos, favored by the
god. This worship,in the natural course
Of things, was transferred TO Rome. II
is one Of those few customs which, like
the Carnival, the Celebration Of Easter
Day, aud others, can be traced back for
a period oftwo thousand years.
The late researches in Asiatic liiera-
lure have revealed many similar usages
in the old and remote races Of that con-
tinent. A curious work by the late Dr..
Mar, Of NergeRda, in Germany, on the
history Of the Chinese Empire, anterior
10 the Christian Era, contains a passage
in reference TO an ancient Chinese law
which is slrikingly analogous TO our first
of April celebration. We are indebted
to Mr., Neimand, of this city, for the COPY
from which we translate:
"Fubg Ho was the second Of this (he
Hjng) dynasty. II is related tha. in bis
youth he was wholly addicted TO pleasure,
and neglected the business Of the EN-
piFe il. such wise thai the Government
OF the Provinces fell into unworthy hands,
disorder arose, and The Complete over
throw Of the dynasty seemed almost al
hand. Tic ministers Of Fung. Ho, among
them the wise and venerable Fut.see, ,cx'
posiulated with him in vain. Given VI
10 luxurious excesses, he fell into an ap
athy which il seemed nothing could a
rouse. In this dilemma Fut-see bethough
him of a stratagem TO Grouse the imperia
mind. Messengers,carefull trained ant
clad in soiled garments, some Of them
bleeding with many wounds, came in
quick succession TO the great Fung Ho
as from all the provinces Of tho Empire
announcing the overthrow Of the Higl
Governors, and the victorious march o.
Lo, Chief of The Whang faction, upor
the Capital. Fung- Ho raised his impe
rial head from the lap Of his mistres
Tsnip. threw off his womanly robes, pu
himself at the head of such forces as b
could hastily raise, and marched into th
Provinces. Here he found no encmy
and after making the round Of The EN-
pire he returned 10 the Capital. On hi
Journey, however, he aaw and removed
the abuses Of his subordihaies, and prof
tied by the lesson TO such extent that h'
. relnqushed his former vices, Fu,-see
received the imperial pardon,and in com
remuneration Of the wise s,ratagem, on
day iii each year was appointed wherein
it was lawful for all the subjects Of Fung
!, flo TO deceive each other"