The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-04-01
Medieval Observance of All
Fools Day Stopped by
Courts of Europe.


{ ND World monarchs have ceased to
celebrate All Fools Day as they
used to do III medieval times, and
there will be no observance to-day or
the first OF April az any of the courts
of Europe
Peter the Great of Russia introduced
the April Fool custom quite forcibIy
among his people. by erecting In 1919
an immense pile of wood and timber,
garnished with tar and other innam-
mablc materials. on the opcn square in
front OF his palace at ST Petersburg.
ana setting II on fire during the early
mornin" hours of April /. The flames
Sh"t up hi"h In the air, and ii looked
from q distance as If the palace and
the entire city were afinme pconln
came from all sides. some OF the peas
ants travelling miles in their sleI,hs
from tn, villages in the vicinity of the
capital, TO help in putting out the fire.
when nnally they reached the seat OF
ne coniiaeration, they were met by
troops formed up round tho SQUARE
Shcepslicads, pigs. swine, Donkevsv'
The soldiers shouted Fall back by
order OF the Gear. Fan back Can't
you understand that tie Little Father
has fooled YOU? 1t is the FIRST of
April,
Nhother historic piece OF April fool
ing was the occasion, OF a bet between
Duke Philip OF Burgundy and his cour,
fool III laos. The wnger was 10 the
eject that If the jester succeeded in
hoaNing the duk" on tho first OF April
he was TO have his foors cap filled with
golden ducats, whereas II the duke
succeeded in hoaXing the Jester, tho
latter was TO pas the penalty with his
life.
The duke at once set TO work to
make the Jester Very drunk. and sue
cceded IN his efforts. Ia fact, the jes-
ter was rendered unconscious. Ear,y
on the following morning, soldiers
seized him, brought him into a room
hung with black. where :: mock trial
resulted In his being sentenced In
death. The block and axecutioner were
brought I'm. The jester having been
duly shrivcn by a pseudo priest. had
his eyes bandaged. ana WAS forced
with his head down on the block. The
cN"cut!oner swung his sword. but 1T
that moment substituted long san
sage. filled with warm blood. for the
steel and struck the Jester Il terrific
blow across the neck. whcrcupon the
snusaEc-skin burst. tho warm blood
flowing freely over the head and face
OF the proStrat. victim.
At this moment the duke thought II
vas time To laugh. so did all those
present. But their hlarity stopped
snort Ni'b lI' Jester remained SUN
and stark, ANA apparently lifclcss. In
the position in which he had been
placed. "Terrcr has killed him.' cried
the duke. Then he sent for the doctor.
who laborcd over the body for some
time before tho Jester opened his eyes.
and lauEhingly cried, April fools all
Of YOU! Sow, duke. pa" me my gold"
when Francis. Duke of Lorraine. and
his duchess escaped from Nantes on
an April nrst in the fifteenth century,
disguised as peasants, woman rccog
uizcd them. and told tho sen;ri WHO
they were April fool" quoth tho
sentry, with q wink. when he WAS
relieved. and told tho story IN the
guardroom, there was q general burs'
of laughter, ana lie was congratulated
On his disccrnmcn; in not arrcsting
the peasants. The Governor WAS also
told tho story. and he too laughed. But
in the mids; OF his luirth came the ON
ciul announcement that the royal pri-
scncrs had really escaped, and were
beyond his reach.