Audubon Republican. [volume] (Audubon, Iowa) 1894-1925, 1902-04-03
April Fools Day
IN Literature.

%, yes, you were. Only that low.
in broad daylight, you are loath to
confess it.
"Albubi wept and raved and cursed
his fate until at last his companion
said:
The Giaours call yesterday April
Fool. 1t is our Feast of Franks. You
had forgotten. remembered. To
teach you prudence took it from you.
Here 1t ISL
so, putting his hand into Albubi's
turban, where he had deposited 1t, he
proceeded to draw 1t forth A look
of CONSERVATION, cry of establishment
gave he forth.
It's gone. It's gone. Your gold is
gone
His comrade stared at him incredu-
ously; then angrily cried: DO you
waste your foolishness on me! You
took my money, you confess. Where
is it,
~ know not. / only know that
while you slept L took it from your
bosom and placed it in your turban.
somebody has stolen it.
THE other scoffed and sneered. The
Night Of Franks, indeed! You yourself
stole 1t. You are a thief. Where is it?
Give it to me or will take you before
the cadi'
Biskoonah's remonstrances were in
vain. Albubi himself repaired to the
caliph, who on hearing his story sum-
moned the other man and babe him
speak in his own behalf.
While he looked not said Bis
koonah, 4 poured a mild sleeping por-
ton into his coffee at the confection-
er's, and when it began to work
softly took his purse and put It into
the fold of his turban. Further con-
corning It know nothing; unless it be
the two strangers that stopped US, as
i took him home, one of them asked
him the way; the other might then
have taken the money
"'You shall have it, said Haroun.
You are right. 1t was taken from
you. My grand vizier has it.
II! Your Sacred Highness! have
1t. l know nothing whatever about
It,, demonstrated that officer.
Yes laughed Haroun, 1t is in
your chest. Go fetch Il hitherr
The officer did as he was bid and
returned open-mouthed. but full-hand-
ed and gave the money to its owner.
Count it, said Haroun. 1t was all
there.
1t was the Feast Of Franks. as
Biskoonah hath said,' Haroun re-
marked. T remembered 1t when
saw you through the confectioner's
shop window. taking your comrades
purse. We were the strangers who
met you afterward, and while my
vizier spoke took the money from
the turban to teach you the lesson you
were teaching your friend. And let
us hereafter abstain from all such
tricks until the next year. Arabian
Nights. 1.002d Night
Charles Dickins could hardly have
omitted to make use of this date In
the calendar of comedy. His readers
will remember his references to April
l in his Christmas story:
Then there appeared before the ter
rified Scrooge the Ghost of Honest
Trade and Fair Dealing. You have
Knocked and insulted me- 1t said In
tones that made even the icy blood
OF Scrooge run colder. 'Beguiling
yourself with the delusion that for
you every day in the year might
rightfully be an All Fools Day, you
laid your heavy hand upon the scales,
while you weighed out your moldy
-four to the hungry widow. And
sanded your sugar for the wretched
orphan. You sold your honest wares,
your mustard mixed with flour and
tumeric; and your coffee, made half
tinted plaster. You gave your hapless
customers glucose when they paid for
syrup, and syrup when they asked
for honey. Your weights were hollow;
your scales tipping always in your
favor and against your HELPLESS miser-
able patrons. You mingled cheap
meal with your best family flour. and
your sweetmeats were colored with
deadly poisons. Worms always cud-
died at the core Of your apples. and
even your water was adulterated with
chalk and a little milk. Flies and
cockroaches not only grew fat on youi
insect powder, but were poisoned by
feeding on your confectionery and
candies. You have fooled Others, con-
cluded the Ghost, In terrorizing tones,
but most of all you have fooled your
self. You have been fool not only
in April, but in May, June. July and
during all the other months OF the
full round year. But you have neve'
fooled me!"-Christmas Chimes.
Shakespeare does not seem to have
been impressed with the advantages
that the day afforded for some OF his
comedy characters. like Tombstone
and Dogberry, but II anyone would
know what Falstaff has to say about
April Fools, let him find 1t in Henry
w." act s, scene s.
All that the Bible has to say on the
subject will be found in /. Samuel.
xvi, "a.