The daily citizen. [volume] (Asheville, N.C.) 1889-1890, 1889-10-30
THE MOON HOAX.
A YANKEE EDITOR RUNS A
JOKE ON THE. WORLD.
Scientists Made to Believe That
the Moon was Not Made OfGreen
Cheese, But a Very Lively Planet
Filled with Intelligent Beings.

| Scientists Made TO bel1eNe lhht
the Moon was Not Made OfGreen
Cheese, But a Very Lively Planet,
Filled With Intelligent BeinGs.
Mr.. NJ. Y. Beach, of the State of New
York, is in the city, having brought his
wife some weeks ago for treatmentin the
sanitarium of DR.. Won Ruck. Mr.. Beach
is a journalist, and very bright one.
| His name struck our ear with familiar
ring and upon inquiry we found he was
grandson of Moses Y. Beach, an edi-
itor of distinction in the city of New
York away back in the thirtics, publish
ing daily, the name ofwhich escapes us.
But the name recalled what made deep
impression upon our boyish credulity,
when the elder Beach originated the ia
nous Moon Hoax, the most perfect ore
ever perpetrated in America.
We cannot recall The exact year; but it
was made famons to science by the COM
pletion, by Sir John Herschell, of the
largest and finest telescope that had ever
been made up to that period. The con-
structor had unbounded faith in its
strength and believed through its great
magnitying power he would make such
discoveries as would astound the world
and solve many mysteries in the plane
tary bodies. Scientists partook OF his
faith and it was determined that he
should be sent to the Cape OF Good Hope
to make observationsin the brilliant and
unclouded sky of the Southern hemis-
phcre. And SO he embarked with his tel
escope and safely reached his desti-
nation.
So far it was all veritable history. And
the fact was known to all the civilized
world that the famous astronomer had
gone abroad with his giant telescope,
and marvellous things might be ex-
pected.
: In those days there were no steam
ships, no submarine telegraph lines. The
sailing ship was the universal vehicle on
the sea. Now, vessel homeward bound
from China or British India, and stop
ping at the Cape on the way, as many OF
> them did for supplies or repairs,
wasquite as apt to make the
run as quick from the Cape to
: New York, if so bound, as one from
d the Cape to London; and it might
" not be unreasonable that the latter
= might receive by way of the former it's
Il Asiatic and South African news sooner
! than by vessels sailing direct.
II This was the hint on which Mr.. Beach
acted. He, as well as all intelligent
Americans, knew of Herschell's expedi-
X tion and its objects, and he was on the
y qui vive for something marvellous. Sud
I, denly it occurred to his lively imagina-
N ton that he would forestall the official
., reports of the astronomer and appeast
u the impatience of the cxpectant world.
One morning, Just after the arrival Of
ship which possibly had touched at th'
e Cape, his paper came out with flaming
!" headings, announcing the reception of {
report received from the Cape giving I
full, account of the unexampled powers o
h the new telescope. Sir John Herschell hat
ne set it up where it commanded the Who'll
ce heavens. He had turned it upon the fuI
he moon, and what revelation That orb
n, shining by reflected light, adjudged by a
Ie- previous observation to be without al
1g mosphere, without water, without veg'
tation, without animal life, was brough
at within forty miles, and what chang
met the eve. the dead planet had sprun
n INTO life, seas rolled their waves and bea
in against the shores of continents, thos
rn continents were refreshed and interlaCe
d. with numerous flowing rivers, the Ian
,r was clothed in luXuriant forest, or els
pi- opened up to skilful cultivation, habit;
ed tions could be seen and their forms
llu fined, but the power of the instrument d
H. not suffice to reveal the presence of al
= NAL life. But where there were hous
there must be intelligent beings to ha
built and occupy them where there we
fields, there must be beasts to Cultiva
them. And so it was safe to announ
,. that another world, filled with immort
rem creatures, was i'll a state of being not u
the like our own and if in the moon, then
n9- other planets that roll their cours
oid through the heavens.
= it The details of the lunar discover
list. were given without extravaganza, i'll ia
cue with moderation that bespoke tn
. of authenticity. The vraiSembLance w
The complete The common reader and t
side scientific man were alike deceived. W
I,te ri.e it not what had been predicted of
EFT Herschell telescope? England swallow
er a the hoax as greedily as did the Unit
vii. States; more so perhaps because it "
'hr h,t an English discovery.
,e of Mr. Beach enjoyed his triumph foI
rible much longer time than he could do nc
was adavs, where steamship and telegri
II oe could trip him upin few days or hou
and when the truth at last came out,
world Joined in hearty laugh at the
re- genuty and success of the marvel
i b;cb JOKE.
,g a Hon. Dan Voorhees, has left for WI
team ington City. He intended to have {
ihe to Caesars Head this week, but SON
y ssnd d advised weather prophet frightened
ding, by predictions OF pad weather. oec'
dirg, il was somewhat cloudy and glot