Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1879-04-07
sllonth's Column.
Arm FOOLS AND OTHER FOOLS.

APRIL FOOLS AND OTHER FOOLS.
The custom of playing q joke upon
ones neighbor upon the the first of April
is of very ancient origin, dating SO far
back in the past that we are unable to
tell just when or with what nation it
had its birth.
Among the Hindoos there is feast
which is still observed, called the "Huli''
which, continuing several days, termi-
mates on the thirty-6rst of March. One
of the distinctive features of this feast
is, that every one endeavors to send his
neighbor upon some errand to some i'm.
aginary person, or to persons whom he
knows are not at home and then ali
enjoy good laugh at the disappoint-
ment of the messenger. The observance
of this custom by this peculiar people
seems to indicate that it had a very
early origin among mankind. In fact,
it is not impossible that the manner in
which the day is observed by US may
have been suggested by some Pagan GUS
tom. But whatever or whenever its ORR
gin may have been, we find it so widely
prevalent over the earth, and with so
very near coincidence of day, as to be
proof of its great antiquity.
In England, the custom of April-fool-
ing is practiced very much as it is in the
United stOtcs. IA knowing boy will
despatch younger brother to see a
public statue descend from its pedestal
at particular appointed hour. A crew
of giggling servant-maids will get hold
of some simple swain. and send him to
booksellers shop for the History of
Ewes Grandmother, or to a chemists
for pennyworth of pigeons milk or
to the cobbler's for little 'strap-oil, in
which last case the messenger secures a
hearty application of the strap to his
shoulders, and is sent home in a state of
bewilderment as to what the affair means.
The urchins in the street make a sport
of calling to some passing beau to look
to his coat-skirts; when he either finds
them with a piece of paper pinned to
them or not; in either of which cases
he is saluted as an 'April-fool p"
1t has been said that "what compound
is to simple addition, so is Scotch to
English April-foolipg." The people liv-
ing in Scotland are not content with
making neighbor believe some single
piece of absurdity, but practice jokes
upon him adintfnitum. Having found
some unsuspectiug person, the individual
playing the joke sends him away with a
letter to some friend residing two or
three miles off, for the purpose of asking
for some useful information, or request
ing loan of some article, while in
reality the letter contains only the words:
This is the first day of April,
Hunt the gowk another mile"
The person to whom the letter is sent
at once catches the idea of the person
sending it, and informs the carrier with
a very grave face that he is unable tt
grant his friend the favor asked, but il
he will take second note to Mr.. So
and-so. he will get what was wanted
The oblIging, yet unsuspecting carrier
receives the note, and trudges off to thu
person designated, only to be treated by
him in the same manner; and so he goeI
from one to another, until some one
taking pity on him, gives him a gentl
hint as the trick that has been practiceC
upon him. A successful affair of thi
kind will furnish great amusement to al
entire neighborhood for week at
time, during which time the person VIII
has been victimized can hardly show hi
face. The Scotch employ the term ''gowk'
to express fool in general, but NOR
especially an April fool; and anon
them the practice which we have de
scribed is called hunting the gowk."
Sometimes the First of April has bee
employed by persons wishing to pene
trate an extensive joke upon society
Among those which have come to GU
knowledge the most remarkable one OF
CURED in the city of London in 1866
Towards the close of March a larg
number of persons received through tn
post-ofice a card upon which the follow
ing was printed:
{ Tower of London, admit the beare
aud friend to view the annual ceremon
of washing the white lions, on Sunday
April lst, 1860. Admitted only at th
!, white gate.
, 1t is particularly requested that L
D gratuities be given to the wardens {
D their assistants.
= To give the card an official appearanc
o there was seal placed at the corner
Q it, marked on by inverted sixpens
0 There were but few persons receivir
o the cards who saw through the trio
. and hence it was highly successful. 4
o soon as the first streaks of gray we
0 seen in the east cabs began to raft
o about Tower Hill, and continued to
o SO all that Sunday morning, vainly e