The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1894-02-28
A Wholesale Hoax.

harry " eaVer, Gue FcIoiaA "S0oA,
referring to his acquaintance with
Artemas Ward, says:
"My "reminiscences of Cleveland in
1860 would not be complete it l did
not mention sell perpetrated by
Artemas Ward, which had the effect
of depopulating the whole city for
few hours, and the inhabitants thereof
were compelled to acknowledge them
selves completely sold. On March
31st in that year Ward published in
the columns of the Plain Dealer
glowing account Of gypsy encamp-
ment, placing it a few miles outside
of Cleveland. The king and queen
were represented to be lineal descend
ants of the Pharaohs. They had
travelled all over the world and their
tent was adorned with articles picked
up on their journeys, forming col
lection so rare and picturesque, from
its very oddity and 'orientalism, it
could not be duplicated in any part of
the world. The description Of the
aged king and queen and their progeny
was at once ingenious and romantic.
Their powers of divination were said
to be wonderful in the extreme. 1t
was averred that they had renewed
their youth from time to time and did
not really know how old they we're
they had passed through all the great
events of the world for the centuries.
They were in possession of the secrets
of the lost arts.
"The gypsy kings appearance was
venerable to a degree, his flowing
white beard trailing on the ground.
And then the daughter was married to
another descendant of the Pharaohs,
one of the finest specimens Of manly
beauty the eye had ever looked upon !;
they were ftly mated, for the bride
was described as dream Of loveliness,
in fact, another Cleopatra, and, after
seeing this dusky divinity, the en-
slayement of Mark Antony was made
clear and comprehensive. The many
valuable horses they possessed came
in for due share of notice, many OF
pure Arabian breed, one especially, a
pure milk white steed, for which fabu-
lous sums had been offered, but with
out avail, superstition prevailing
among the tribe to part with Selim
would be to bring misfortune on them
all. The inhabitants o. Cleveland and
its environs were strongly advised not
to miss the opportunity of visiting the
camp on the morrow, for the following
day the gypsies were to strike their
tents and continue their nomadic life,
travelling round the globe.
"The morning of April 1st dawned
upon lovely day, and from sunrise
to sunset Cleveland was all astir
shoals of people wended their way to
the outskirts, some in carriages, many
on horseback, and the great majority
on foot. Of course no signs OF
gypsy encampment were to be seen
After making inquiries in every direc
tion it occurred to some of the brighter
minds that the day being April Isl
they had been made April fools Of
and as they had been sold they deter
mined to sell others in their turn
doing their neighbors as they had beer
done by Artemas Ward.
"a steady stream Of people going
out would meet like number coming
in. Many would stop, and, after ex
changing greetings, would ask II tne!
had seen the gypsies, and if the whole
affair was really as wonderful as it wa'
reported in the paper to be. U
course, they replied to the effect tha
it was the most wonderful sight thai
had ever come under their observation
and they would not have missed it fol
anything. Nor did the matter stoI
there. Numbers on their return went
from house to house advising theil
/ friends and acquaintances to take
holiday and participate in this inter
esting event. And thus all that
pleasant April day the merry work
went on, until the shades of evening
+orminated the greatest hoax perhaps