The New Orleans daily Democrat. [volume] (New Orleans, La.) 1877-1880, 1880-03-28
AN ANCIENT HOAX.
A Trick Of Theodore Hooks Which Probn-
bly, Suggested to Gentleman Joe"
How 10 Prosecute Dr. Dix.
IN. 7. Trlbune.l

Il has been suggested In tho tribune that
tho author ~ tho ahnoyances ID Dir. DIX may
be actuated by desire to psrpetuats y hoax,
Id Imitation Of that prince ~ practical Jykuta,
Theodore Hook. who thrce.ql,arters u " cen.
fury ago kept England laughing ~ his Gun.
ming md his W.T.. The tnasterplece ~ tbis
lins was what ID known ~ "lhe Borners
street Hoax" In 1900, II "uentletnan joe"
WINS prompted by, u Wish 10 emulate that ex-
ample, he has produced u worry weak ltnlta-
tlon.
Tho hoax was conceived In malice. having
been III outxr0wth of q gradge entertained
against its victim, MIRA. T,ttsHhau. a
wealthy lady living At No. D. Derlers street.
uOuka Aoovtnpllpss were oertalu Mr.
H." who had also been concerned III many
uf Hook's previous J0kes, and y oelebraiad
actress Ut the time Together they sent out
1000 letters to persons Ol every station Uf
llta purpUrtinR ~ bs orders, appointments Or
Invitations from Mrs. Tottenhain. They all
named the sAtla day, aud an hour was ap.
polluted for each appropriate TO hls calling.
Thua, NJ IN tho morning, tho streets re-
sounded with the peculiar cries III ali army
u chimney sweeps. who, with their lnasters,
numbered upon tho k1ooksr Of No. D.. Do
flro they had gpns this pOndsroua coal
wagons fretn The uharvaa we1., driven 10
10 tha house, each with q load pf coal
to deliver NJ the same house, blocking the
street, aud causing y great holse Of wheels
and clamor of blaotened drivers. Later, u
bAVkG uuIBVHN w GtNbba AVHSNbtstS SNtIy Oue
carrying "A huge weiiilnx oako for Tho fss-
t,vlties that were never 10 take place. Then
followed tnilUrs with suits of clothes; uphul-
stsrers With samples; undertatkers with upf-
tins rcndy.fnatle: BARRIERS with wigs to tlt:
,nilliners with arms iilod with bAndboxeH,
tlme the family NJ No, b. were nearly beside
themselves with distreBs ut their situation
aud fear from the ruRa Of tho disappointed
tratleanen,
d
vans rolled up to tho house with oontohte TO
I'LL u hundred honses; organs aid plano
fortea came, each with u number Of men to
oarry.them In: linen drnpers brought large
rolls OF HODda, and jewelers. produced their
rarast Roins ~ the command u the wealthy
aud fashionable lady of Dcrners street. Al
noon forty fshmonRsrs appeared. oil bring
Ing "cod aud lohater," and butchers followed,
every man with u Icy OF mutton.
Alta fashionable hour :he carriages Of many
persons who moved ID tho best circles began
toarrlve, and while they were stlll there sew
eral coaches aud four gAily decorated for n
bridal Journey, wheeled iuto the strtot. No
blemen, princes aud persons In high station
came u pay thcir respects. Lawyers. stun
moned TO consult on important matters;
lists, eager for the, patronage of the great,
came In numbers together. Surgeons. too,
arrived III hot haste. and finding that their
carriages could not pass for the crowd, and
seeing tho multitude, apparently drawn by
some accident III tho house. they descended
and forced their way on foot through the
throng. And finally, when the crowd WAS at
Its greatest fitting to crown the Joke, the
Lord Mayor himself, In his robe Of state aud
seated In his official chariot, was driven to the
door.
London was excited for many days over
this affair. Hook avoided trouble by leaving
the country for time. The tradeamen were
eager 10 recover damages for their losses,
and others 10 obtain revenge for their annoy
NnctaA