The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-12-02
LoCKE's MOON HOAX.
Satire on Astronomy That Was TAX
en- Seriously.

en- Seriously.
John F. Coy,e. in Washington Post.
Conversing with a friend. who is I'M
usually we'll read, 1 was greatly sur
prised to hear he had never seen or
heared of the celebrated moon hoax by
Richard Adam Locke; and others, pref
ty well informed men, too, admitted
that they had never read it, and sup
posed it to be some trivial matter. Think
ing it might interest some of your readers,
l refreshed my memory by obtaining
copy of il at the congressional library.
Mr. Locke was led to satTlze the
theories of DR.. Dick, whose work upon
Celestial Scenery had attracted his at
tention. and the opportunity was afforded
him. when, in 1S34-35, Sir John Herschell,
with an improved and enlarged telescope
went to the Cape of Good Hope Tor the
purpose of making certain astronomer
observations, the results of which were
awaited with anxious impatlehce ny the
scientific world.
In September, 1895, by an arrival from
Europe of the usual packet ship, MT
Locke purported to have received a copy
of a supplement to the Edinburgh JoqrhaI
of Science. containing an account OF
.tCSreat Astronomical Discoveries Made by
Sir John F1ersche,i at the Cape OF Coca
Hone" The enlarged and improved re-
Aecting telescope by which these discoV-
cries were made was detailed most minute
Iv The moon had been brought almost
within speaking distance, ana the Ioch
formations, trees, flowers, streams ldhes'
birds. animals and the inhabitants were
dascri,ed in the most graphic style.
The public was intensely interested IN
the 1unatics, as many called them They
were described as having huge bat-hke
wings. which folded, when they walken'
behind the shoulders; very pleasant Iea-
lures: and the upper part or the pouy
oouerad with a downy hair. The minute
dissertation given by Mr.. Locke was rn-
dered more plausible by his knowledge OF
astronomy and the sciences, Wnlch en-
abled him to make the report so exact ii
details that 1t was universally recelVe1 as
the truth The excitement caused by the
publication caused the ONCE OF the view
York Sun, then a very small paper, to pc
surrounded by inquiring multttudes. Inc
lengthy reports of these discoveries were
continued daily for a week. The presses
were run day and night to supply the de-
mand for copies of the sun. ana at the
end of the week, when the whole was pup
lished in pamphlet, an edltloh Oh zo'VVV was
exhausted in a day. Il
HOaxed the Whole World.
Not a do,ht was entertained of the gen
uineness of the reported discovery, ana, 4
before 1t could be refuted by Sir john
Herscheu from the Cape of Good Hope. 1
the learned societies of this country ana
Europe had accepted it in some measure
as correct and debates followed aus IN
PRODUCTION. The universal acceptance as
tonished Mr.. Locke more than any one
else. as he acknowledged.
Edgar A. Poe, then editing the Southern
Literary Messenger at Richmond, says
that a learned professor of mathematics
In a Southern college declared that ne
had no doubt of it's truth. 1t was trans
lated into all the European languages, and
was acknowledged, when the hoax was
discovered, to have been the greatest hit
ever made Professors from eminent col
leges called upon Mr.. Locke to see the
original, but as IL had been used an the
course Of business, he was unable to graf
ify their curiosity. Arago the great as
tronomer, while admitting it's plausiblity,
regarded 1t as reflection upon Sir john
Herschell who, on the contrary, was
amused and astonished at the knowledge
displayed in its production-the whole
press of this country and Europe acknowl-
edging Mr.. Locke as one of the most m
ventiye. accomplished and brilliant writ
ers of the age.
Miss Martineau in her sketches of
"yYestern Travels" said the ladies Of
Springfield Mass, interested themselves
with all speed in obtaining liberal sub
scriptions to send missionaries TO the lum-
mary. The name OF MT. Iocke dS Tue
author Of this remarkable hoax was first
made known by James Gordon Bennett, in
the Herald who said they had discussed
it before its publication. This, Mr.. Locke
denied in a humorous article, which silenc-
cd Mr.. Bennett
Caleb Weeks of New York, who was at
that time In Africa, obtaining animals Tor
his rnenegerie, gave Sir John Herscheii
a COPY of the hoax, who expressed aston
ishment at the knowledge of astronomy
displayed in the article Sir John Her
schen however, disclaimed that part Of
the article which attributed 10 William ~
the royal munifcence of providing the ex-
penses OF the telescope and the expedition,
for Sir John himself paid all the expenses.
on his return to England the Queen ten
dered him the amount he had expended
100000, which he declined.
Mr. Locke also published the Lost
Manuscript of Mungo Park but the moon
hoax remains as one of the most success
ful literary impostures Of the age II
ranks with MacPherson's forgeries Of
"Ossian," Chatterton's forgeries OF Rod
gers, and Ireland forgsres Of Shakes
peare, with this difference: These forger-
les were perperated for money. whereas
Mr.. Locke's moon hoax was never consld-
cred serious BY hlmsefE