The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1877-03-31
THE FEAST OF FOOLS.

They are not all dead Oh. no, sapient reader; the
tribe 10 still large enough 70 make the observance
Of Its annual festival respectable. IL Is remark
able pcculiarity about this first year Of the
second century Of tho great Republic that VIC arc
blessed or cursed with unusual number OF double
festivals Whether this be IN advantage is. no DOUBT
debatable subject Those who engrossed IN busi'
ness avocatlons and begrudge every moment that 10
not spent in the pursuit Of the almighty dollar will
feel glad that their occupations less intcrfered
with, and they thus able to kill two birds with ono
stone. as tho old adage tritely expresses it But
the other hand, those OF light temperament
those who yearn after occasional relief
from their daily toll will regret that by this
circumstance they deprived OF moro holidays than
they would otherwise enjoy. However, the fact re.
mains that in this year greater number OF festivals
the day than has been he case for many
years Astrologers will, doubt, predict what this
porcuds after great fatality unusual good for
tune shall have bealen tho country at largo and thus
have gwen basis for their predictions we have had
ST. Valentines Day. which came on Ash WEDNESDAY;
yesterday was Emancipation Day and Good Friday,
and tomorrow We are 10 have April FOOLS Day aid
Easter. At&
APRIL POOLS DAY.
April FOOLS Day Will DO hailed by all the young and
risky members OF all tho households in the land, and
execa,ed by all the grur old bachelors sentimental
old maids or others whose personal pecuarties make
them the butt OF the more II is useless for
them 10 protest The custom Will be kept up. StaId
old ladies' Will continue to be walking down our
fashionable avenues with grotcsque dcneatons OF
paper cuts, and old gentlemen will be continually trip
ping up aud wondering what makes the streets so slip
perry. Odd maids Will be chalkmarked s'tor sac'
with disregard OF their ideas OF propriey, and
green youths the country will clutch in vain for
the nicely odcd package that has been dropped ON the
sidewalk Tho tricks that continue to be played each
year bear witness TO the general progress OF human
ingenuity. The irate cabman will no longer stop 10
listen the information that his 'cab wheel Is going
round" Will even little children deign to
eat flannel pancakes. A grave old gentleman,
passing along tho street after maiulina experience
OF April FOODS Day at home, will only notice
by passing glance the pr0uson OF valuable articles
scattered around the sidewalk. He cannot even be
tempted TO pick up bran new high hat lying in his
path. Angered, however, by this last temptation, he
out OF the overturned hat, and he goes mping away
n close observer Will notice that 'change OF
countcnance's remarked by the disciples OF
Contucus in tho visage OF their master on similar
occasion. The greatest OF tho deceptive games
INDUCED in thus far Is called the handkerchief trick
man, q crowd, small boy and handkerchief Asst
unthinkng individual proceeds along the street tho
small boy walks slowly up 10 him with the handker.
chief in his hand. This he appears to pull from the
gentleman's pocket by a brisk movement, and then
dashes of as fast he IL trick we'll cal
culated TO deceive. The man, suddenly awakened
from his revere, the disappearing handkerchief
and the flying boy, and starts IN pursuit.
He finds after having run along for several blocks.
much the of the pedestrians that he has
been made April fool of aud that he has his own
handkerchief safe in his pocket 1,
This year extraordinary activity will sbe mani.
tested 10 celebrating April FOOLS Day. The Stock
Gold Exchanges viii be closed, we'll the Produce
and Cotton Exchanges Business will be generally
Suspended thrOu gh0ut the city. 4iti ..af