The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1911-09-07
GENE FIELDS HOAX.
Played on Edward Box, of the Ladies'
Homo Journal,

Homo Journal.
miss the advertisements of Lydie
Pinkham. The sweet, sad face of that
lady has disappeared from the adver-
Using columns Of the newspapers and
no one is able to tell me why. Many
years ago Eugene Field announced in
his columns Of the Chicago Record the
engagement and approaching marriage
Home Journal to Miss Lydia Pinkham,
daughter and namesake OF the friend
or women" whom everybody supposed
to be myth. Field gave so many
plausible and interesting details con-
corning the young lady and the ap-
preaching wedding that many people
who read his columns, and scores Of
editors who reprinted his paragraphs,
were actually convinced that she was
J real person living with her grand
mother in a splendid villa In a New
England village; that the engagement
was the elimination Of a fascinating
romance, and that Mr.. Box had made
a great catch.
1t so happened that while this par
agraph was going the rounds of the
papers that Mr.. Box visited Boston,
and reporter who had the hotel as
Segment asked for an interview. At
.er obtaining Mr.. Boks views concern
ing the literary situation in Boston and
Dther subjects, the reporter hesitating-
" remarked that the people OF New
England had been considerably inter-
ssted in his Forthcoming marriage to
the daughter of Lydia Pinkham, and
inquired If he expected to spend any
time with the family.
Mr.. Box replied with some temper
that he was not engaged to the lady;
that he did not enjoy the honor of her
acquaintance; that he had never heard
pr her outside Of Eugene Fields COL
aims; that he did not want to know
aer; that he did not want to hear any
thing more Of her and that he was
tired Of the joke.
The reporter assured Mr Box that he
could not throw a bluff like that, for
lydia Pinkham was an actual person;
she had residence in Boston and a
villa in the country; she had son
who managed her business, a man of
reputation and large wealth. and that
ne had a daughter who was very at
,ractive and popular in the circle in
which the family moved. If Mr.. Box
supposed he could throw reporters of
the scent Of matrimonial events he was
very much mistaken y.
IF you don't believe me-" said Mr..
Box, smiling. "go and ask Mr.. Pink
ham, II there Is such a man. whether
[ am engaged to marry his daughter.
Or you might hunt up the young lady
and ask her. would like to see what
she thinks about 1t.
The mystifled reporter went Off with
look of determination on his face,
telling Mr. Box that he would return
shortly. The first thing he did was to
look In the city directory, and then he
started for street car which carried
him to the steps Of a comfortable man.
sion on one of the principal streets Of
Boston. He rang the bell and inquired
for Mr.. Pinkham. A gentleman an
swering to that name received him po-
litely and admitted that he had
daughter The reporter asked IL his
daughter was engaged to marry the
editor OF the Ladies' Home Journal
Mr.. Pinkham replied that the young
lady could speak for herself, and. ring
ing a bell. told the servant that he
wanted his daughter. Presently a nurse
appeared, carrying babe In her arms.
ALLOW me to present you to Miss
Lydia Pinkham," he remarked to the
reporter. "She Is the only girl In the
family and Is named after her grand
mother. / have read in the newspa-
pers that she Is engaged to marry Mr..
Box, Of the Ladies' Home Journal, but
l have never interferred with her love
affairs 1 have trusted her to look af-
ter them herself. with the expectation
that she would take me into her con-
fidence at the proper time. You are
at liberty to ask her all the questions
you like"
Half an hour later an excited report
err was back in Mr.. Boks room at the
hotel telling his experience with great
gusto, and the editor was not only
deeply interested in learning Of his
alleged fiancee, who he supposed until
that moment existed only in the imag-.
nation Of Eugene Field but at the same
time was considerably relieved. because
he was intending to propose to the
young lady who is now Mrs. Box