Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1874-02-25
Sixty Years Ago.

One of the most annoying hoaxes ever
recorded was that which, about sixty
years ago, was known in London as the
Berners street hoax. 1t drew the atten-
tion of the newspapers at the time; then
of the magazines and the annual Regis
ter; many years afterward lin connec-
tion with biographical notice of the
hoaxer), of the Quarterly Reriel0;; and
more recently, if we remember rightly,
of the "Ingoldsby Legends"
Berners street is a quiet street of
hotels and shops, with private-looking
windows in 1910, it was still more
quiet, inhabited by well-to-do families
living in genteel way. One morning,
soon after breakfast, a wagon-load of
Goals drew up before the door of a
widow lady in that street, and soon
afterward a van-load of furniture then
came a hearse with coffin, and train
of mourning coaches. Presently ar
rived two fashionable physicians,a a den
tist, and an accoucheur, driving up as
near as they could to the door, and
wondering why so many numbering
vehicles were so near at hand. Six men
broughta great chamber-organ coach
maker, a clock-maker, a carpet-manu-
facturer, and wine-merchant sent
specimens of their goods a brewer
brought several barrels of ale; curl
osity-dealers brought sundry knick-
knacks. A piano-forte, linen, iewelry.
wigs and head-dresses, a cart-load of
potatoes, books, prints, coniuring tricks,
feathers, ices, jellies, were among the
things brought to (or left near the
house while mantua-mahers came with
baskets of millinery and fancy articles,
and opticians with telescopes. Then,
after time, trooped in form all omar
ters grocers, coachmen, footmen, cooks,
house-maids, nursery-maids, and other
servants, come In quest of situations.
To crown all, persons of distinction
came in their carriages the comman-
der-in- chief, the archbishop of Canter-
bury, cabinet minister, the lord chief
justice, the governor of the bank OF
England, the chairman of directors of
the East India company, an eminent
parliamentary philanthropist, and the
lord mayor. The last-named function
ary-One among those who speedily saw
that all had been victimized by gigan-
tic hoax-drove to Marlborough street
police-office, and told the sitting magis-
trate that he had received a letter from
lady in Berners street, to the effect
that she had been summoned to attend
at the Mansion house, that she was ex-
tremely i'll, that she wished to make a
deposition upon oath, and that she
would deem it great favor If his lord
ship would call upon her. All the other
persons of eminence had had their CON-
miseration appealed to in similar way.
Police officers there were no police
men in those days. were sent to keep
order in Berners street, which was nearly
choked with vehicles, jammed and inter
locked one with another; the drivers
were irriated, the disappointed trades
men were exasperated, and large crowd
enjoyed the malicious fun. Some OF
the vans and goods were overturned
and broken while few casks of ale
became a prey to the populace. All
through the day, until late at night,
did this extraordinary state of things
continue, of the terror and dismay of
the poor lady and the other inmates OF
the house.
OuC AOuAN lldt II was
a hoax; but the name of the hoaxer was
not known till long afterward. This,
it appeared, was Theodore Hook, one of
the most inveterate punsters and iokers
of the day. He had noticed the very
quiet character of Berners street, and
the name of Mrs. on brass plate
on one of the doors he laid wager
with a brother. who accompanied
him, that he would make that particu-
lar house the talk of the whole town.
And he assuredly did it. He devoted
three and four days to writing letters,
in the name of Mrs. -, to tradesmen
of all kinds, professional men, distin-
guished personages, and servants out
of place all couched in a lady-like
style. and requesting the persons ad-
dressed to come to Berners street on
the appointed day, for reasons specially
stated. Hook took furnished lodging
Just opposite the house; and there posted
himself with two or three companions
on the day in question, to enjoy the
scene. He deemed it expedient, how
ever, to go off quickly into the country,
and there remain incOg. for time. Ii
he had been publicly known as the
author of the hoax, it is probable he
would have Jared badly.