The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1890-11-09
ENTHUSIASTS FELL on THEIR KNEES.

| deed the production Of these forged curios
has become an industry in which are EN-
ployed many hundreds Of persons, and so
deity done is their work that the manu-
featured article is often hOnored with the
choicest recess in the cabinet, or finds a
place among the most valued treasures of
the picture gallery.
The subject is suggested by the recent
death of Constantine Simonides, one of the
most noted forgers Of Greek manuscripts
known in modern times, and he recalls, by
the way, the names of number of others
who in their day and generation have illus
trated the gullibility of human nature. If
his story be true, Simonides was born in
1923, somewhere in Greece, and in 1887 was
employed as a printer in Athens. His
uncle was the superior of convent near
by and great lover of Greek manuscripts.
Having access to these, the young fellows
literary taste was stimulated and the idea
formed that the fabrication of manuscripts
would pay better than setting type.
After the death of his uncle he travelled
extensively, and being a man of agreeable
manners and endowed with rare persua-
sive powers he was everywhere welcomed
by the enthusiasts. He even penetrated to
unlocked for discoveries that facilitated
his plans for the future. For instance,
once falling into the hands of brigand, he
found the latter an archeologist, who pre-
served in a cavern many choice antiquities,
and on parting with Simouides presented
him with valuable vases as a farewell gift.
Among the early works of Simonides
was the pretended will of Symia written
by monk of the Thirteenth century, and
he did not hesitate to attribute TO the devo-
tees of this school the greater part Of our
modern inventions-paper, printing, the
telescope and even the steamboat. At an
other time he prepared paper supposedly
of the Fifteenth century in which he intro
duced the discovery of the daguerreotype,
and among his productions were fragments
of the classical authors, Heeiod, Homer
and Anacreon. So we'll did he hoodwink
the authorities that he was even appointed
a committee to examine antiquities.
About the year 1850 he announced an
ancient Greek work on hieroglyphics and
a history of Armenia, for which he de-
manded the sum of one million dollars.
While in Constantinople he one day told
Ismael Pasha, the minister of public
works, that he must excavate a certain
spot in his garden, when he would be sure
to find valuable manuscript on parch-
ment that had been buried. Simonides
had put it there Subsequently, his tricks
were discovered and he was obliged to
leave Constantinople, but he found warm
welcome in England, where his reputation
had not preceded him, and reaped finan-
cial harvest The celebrated amateur
antiquarian, Sir Thomas Phillips, is said
to have given him $500 for portion of
his manuscripts, and the British museum
bought seven, refusing others only because
of missing links in their descent from
antiquity.
From London Simonides went TO Paris,
did rushing business among the savants,
and then journeyed on to Leipsic, where
he was destined to meet his Water
loo. Here he produced some leaves from
the text OF a writer of the Second century,
following it with history OF the kings Of
Egypt, said to have been written by an
Alexandrian. This was purchased by a