The Jeffersonian Democrat. [volume] (Chardon, Ohio) 1854-1865, 1859-11-18
For the Jeffersonian Democrat.
Wayside Thoughts.
'Dcsultory rs our way
Ranged unconiusd, from grave to gny"

Scott.
PHILOSOPHY OF HUnBUG.
Originally this seems to have consisted
rather in acting than in telling q falsehood;
and rather for tho purpose of raising simple
wonder, instead ot making money. A won
der Icing in great demand, it was quietly
supplied, and eagerly accepted.
AS mn instance take the example Of Will
liam Henry ireland.
Having noticed that his father and his
associates wore great enthusiasts in tho
search for Shakespeare memorials, he placed
in their way rudo portrait, accompanied
BY letter, purporting to DO addressed
to Shaksperc's friend, .Hoiire Richard
COwley AS this was taken with aviGity, he
followed it with antiquated manuscripts OF
plays, which were taken as genuine and
hitherto undiscovered plays Of tho great
dramatist; and We can readily sympnthize
with, though We disuprove of. his enjoyment
of the osgornoss with which his dupos took
tho imposition.
Aftcr this much dispute arose among lit
crary mon, respecting tho genuinoness of
Shakespeare portraits, and many spurious
oues wore sold for largo sums of money.
I reco!lect reading an account Of expert,
mcnts made with bottles to ascertain tho
currents of tho ocean by setting bottle
adrift, containing a paper stating the lati.
tuGc, longitude, and date of the commence
mcnt of the bottles voyage, and thon
noticing tho same data, when il was picked
up. In connection with these accounts, n
story was tod, as if Incidentally, of some
mariners picking up what appeared to be n
mass Of shcllhsh cou;ented together. In
the contor of tho cluster they found tho
identical cask committed to tho sea bv Co
Iumbus, containing an account of his discov.
cry of America, whle on his homcward
voyage, aud whom in danger of laundering
at sea.
Large sorpents, and moteoric rocks, in
Western New York, will rccur to the mind:
of newspaper readers.
Tho wit arising from raising wonder
comes from tho fact that the ono who OK.
cites it, in that particular has somo informa,
ton unknown to his dupos and is childish
and vulgar, Nobility Of character would
scorn TO sock amusement from the igno
rance of its fellows, but rather seek to re-
move it. A porson might be amused, who
should throw stones at monkeys in q tree
and seo thom, in their initiative rago, senC
back cocoa nuts in return because in theil
anger thoy would unwittiugIy facilitate bis
nut gathering; but who would be willing to
thus dupo friend or companion?
Modern ingenuity perpctuates tho double
imposition of creating demand, and thon
supplying spurious article for gain and
so bargain hunters arc piled with glowing
accounts of money TO be made on Western
city lots, or claims in gold regions DOGGY
ing the unwary to part with their hard
earned treasure.
All amusement or gain arising from tho
practice of humbug, must be considered as
unworthy the character of gentleman or
good citizen. Let every man speak truth
with his noghbor.
How prothly does Whittier give the anti
dotes to those evils of society-skepticism,
and bigotry-as being founded on inteli-
gencc and religion:
"Nor fears the skeptc's puny hands,
While, rear the school, the church spire stands.
| Nor breads the bigot's iron rule,
While near the church spiGe stands the school,"