St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1884-04-08
APRIL FOOL.

No authentic account of the origin of the
CMstOm-A Practice Widely Prevalent
Orer the Earth.
The 1st of April, of all days in the year,
enjoys a character of its own, in as far as it,
and it alone, is concentrated to practical jok-
ing. On this day it becomes the business of
younger sort, to practice innocent impost-
ures upon their unsuspicious neighbors, by
way of making them what in France are
pOisSoats d. Aa1rI, and with us April fools.
Sometimes the opportunity is taken by I'LL
ira jocular persons to carry out some extern
sive hoax upon society For example in
March, in 1860, a vast multitude of people
received through the post card having the
following inscription with a seal marked by
an inverted siXpence at one of the angles,
thus having to superficial observation an Off
cal appearance: Glover of London-Ad-
nit the bearer and friend to view the annual
ceremony Of washing the White Lions, on
Sunday, April l, 1860. Admitted only at the
White Gate. 1t is particular requested that
no gratuities be given to the wardens of their
assistants.n The trick is said to have been
highly successful. Cabs were rafting about
Tower hill all that Sunday morning, Vainly
endeavoring to discover the White gate. 1t
is the more remarkable that any such trick
should have succeeded, when we reflect how
identified the first of April has become with
the idea of imposture and unreality. So
much is this the case, that if one were about
to be married, or to launch some new and
speculative proposition or enterprise, one
would hesitate to select April l for the pur-
pose. On the other hand, if one had to issue
mock document of any kind with the de-
sire of its being accepted in the proper char
acter, he could not better insure the joke be-
ing seen than by dating it the LIST of April
The literature of the last century, from The
Spectator downward, has many illusions to
April fooling; no reference to it in our ear
her literature have as yet been pointed out.
English antiquaries appear unable to trace
the origin of the custom or to say how long it
has existed among us. In the Catholic church
there was the Feast of the Ass on the Twelfth
Day and.various mummings about Christmas,
but April-fooling stands apart from these
dates. There is but one plausible-loolling
suggestion from Mr.. Pegge, to the effect that
the 25th of March being in one respect New
Years day, the 1st of April was its octave and
the ending of its celebrations but this idea is
not very satisfactory. There is much more
importance in the fact that the Hindoos have
in their Hull, which terminates with the 31st
of March, a precisely similar festival, during
which the great aim is to send persons away
with messages to ideal individuals or indi-
viduals sure to be from home, and enjoy a
laugh at their disappointment. To find the
practise Sd widey prevalent over the earth,
and with so near coincidence of day, seems
to i'll dictate that it had a very early origin
among mankind.
A"ri.-fo ling is very noted practice in
France, and we get traces of its prevalence
there at an earlier period than in the case of
England. For instance, it is related that
Francis duke of Lorraine, and his wife, being
in captivity at Nantes, effected their escape
in consequence of the attempt being made
on the list of April" Disguised as peas
ants, the one bearing hod on his shoulders,
the other carrying basket of rubbish at her
back, they both at an early hour of the day
passed through the gates of the city, A
woman, having knowledge of their persons,
ran to the guard to give notice to the sentry.
''April Foolr' cried the soldier; and all the
guard, to man, shouted out: "April fool !
beginning with the sergeant in charge of the
post. The governor to whom the story was
told as jest conceived some suspicion, and
ordered the fact to be proved; but it was too
late, for in the meantime the duke and his
wife were well on their way. The 1st of
ADril covad them