New-York tribune., 1909-01-24

posed upon a large number of people, and
made neat income by his predictions and
astrological works. He was only one of a con-
siderable number of such public nuISanCeS,
but was more respectable than many were
But Swift determined to expose such hum
bugs, and pounCed upon Partridge. Ills hTSt
move was to publish a nock-ser1ouS almanac
for 7oS full OF predictions of the sort that
had filled Partridge's pamphlets. He assumed
for the purpose the name Isaac Blckerstatte,
which he had seen on a sign over lOCkSmlth
shop. In the opening lines OF the almanac
Bickerstaffe denounced the gross abuse OF
astrology in the kingdom, especially as seen III
the work of Partridge. and profeSSed himself 70
be the only true student of the science Ills
predictions during the preceding two years had
all been fulfilled. he said, which gave the fore
casts he was about to make additional weight
Then with much mock astrological serious
ness. Bickerstatfe continues. My hrst predIc-
tion is but a tritle; yet | will mention It. %
show how ignorant those scottish pretenderS TO
astrOlogy are in their own concerns: It relates
to Partridge the Almanack Maker. have con-
suited the star of his nativity by nv own rule.
and find he will infallibly die upon the 10th of
March next about eleven at night, OF raging
fever: therefore, advise him to consider 81 It
and settle his affairs in time He then pro-
ceeds to other prophecIeS.-StcrrlS, deaths. ac-
CidentS, etc.
When March 30 came around. there ap-
peared in print a Letter 70 = Person OF Hon
our" describing minutely the manner OF Part
ridges death as seen by an eye witness IhlS
was Of course also fabrication from swift $
pen. The letter states that Partridge did not
really die at eleven o'clock, but at five minutes
after seven, and that he made full confession
of his knavery in his dying hours. All this had
an immediate effect. Many people who knew
Partridge believed he was really dead. The
poor man himself took serious OttenSe at all
this, as well he might. and proclaimed loudly
that he was not dead at all, but still al1ve. and
in good health. Then the wits OF the day took
up the Joke. Some of them pretended TO come
to PartridgeS assistance, others sided with the
'astrologer" Bickerstaffe. The hoax was soon
perceived, especially after Swift published a
pamphlet giving five good reasons why Part
ridge could not be alive, As he said he was
The most important of these reasons was that
everyone who bought a copy OF Partridge
new almanac. in which he earnestly asserted
that he was not dead. would lit UP their
eyes and cry out, betwixt rage and laughter,
they were sure no man alive ever wit such
damned stuff as thiS!
Swifts talents were not always arrayed on
the side of truth, however. In The Battle
of the Books he ridiCuled men who had
shown their disbelief IN the spurious classical
Letters of Phalaris. though It has sometimes
been suspected that his satire was more subtle
than it seems, and that he was really laughing
on the sly at his own allies. II this Is SO, it
calls Defoe'S Shortest Way with the Dis
SenterS," which, while avowedly attacking the
Nonconfornists really burlesqued the eX-
trcrnc hostility OF their opponents Ills mean
ing was yelled that the DiSScnterS IT
first frightened, and the High Churchmen
pleased. The price Defoe paid for this little
Joke was three days in the Pillory
History Is Full of Fakes
FROM the earliest times, literary history Is
full of the records of fakes and forgeries.
Spurious works supposed to antedate Homer
were read in classical times, aPocryPhal writ
ings sPrang up in imitation of the Gospels, and
III the Middle Ages the monks found 1t easy TO
make the widest tictions pass current His
tories and chronicles were full of romancing.
like the History of the Kings of Britain" by
Godfrey of Monmouth. which contains the sto-
rieS of Lear Of Cog and Magog. and of Old
King Cole. to mention no others. The Noy-
ages and Travels of Sir John Mandeville" " IS u
book typical of the works that were written
to satisfy the popular demand for tales of un-
known lands. Although prcfaced by an ap-
parently sober bit of autobiography, it is one
great imposture. only a small part of 1t possibly
rejecting actual experience. To this dav. no
one knows exactly the facts of its composition.
The "Casket Letters" in which the unhappy
Mary Queen of Scots is supposed to have
poured out her love for Boutwell,, are perhaps
only forgeries All admirers of the unfortunate
Queen will hope so. The Eilon Basiike"
published the work of Charles l., and in