The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1917-11-26
ANNIVERSARY OF,
HOOKS HOAX IS
OBSERVED TODAY
Famous Classical Joke Was
Perpetrated Just 10Y
Years Ago.

Theodore Edward Hook, the Eng
fish novelist and dramatist, is all but
forgotten by the present generation
Of readers and playgoers. If for moth
ing else, Hook is deserving of immor-
ality, however, as the author of the
famous "Berners Street Hoax" which
ranks as a classic among practical
jokes. 1t was LOT years ago today,
Nov. 26, 1910, that all London was
convulsed with merriment-and 9TH
er emotions-by' the daring escapade
of Hook.
Hook and a friend were walking
down Berners street, Oxford Road,
London, when the attention of the
novelist was attracted to the extreme
ly neat and spick-and-span appear
ance of the house at No. 81 Berners
street, occupied by an old lady named
Mrs. Nottingham. Hook commented
on the quietness Of the neighborhood,
and added. And yet, I'll wager a
guinea that in a week that house
could be made the most notorious in
all London" The bet was made, and
the next few days Hook spent in his
rooms, busily writing letters. These
epistles were addressed to tradesmen
of every sort, in all parts of London
and were orders for all kinds of mer-
from TO pOldtOeS
It was specified that deliveries were
to be made at a certain hour on Nov.
t26.
A century ago Berners street was to
be reached only through narrow lanes
scarcely wide enough to permit two
vehicles to- pass. Mere language is
inadequate to describe the pandemon-
| jun that reigned in that once quiet
thoroughfare when a thousand trades
| mems carts and vans sought to reach
| the same house at the same time.
| Casks of liquor were spilled, costly
china and bric-a-brac smashed, and
merchandise of all kinds Uttered the
street. A vast crowd collected, and
pickpockets had the most profitable
day of their careers. The entire avail
able police force Of London was I'M
able to handle the excited hordes that
poured into Oxford road from every
part Of the city.
| Hooks audacity did not stop with
summoning tradesmen to the home
Of the innocent Mrs. Nottingham, who
was all but bereft of reason by the
strange onslaught on her house. The
Lord Mayor of London went hurrying
| to No. "a Berners street, summoned
with his chaplain to take the death
bed confession of a fictitious council
man, who, at the last, was reported
to have repented of his evil life. 9th
ers summoned included the Archbish-
cp of Canterbury, the governor of the
Bank of England, the Lord Chief JUS
tice, cabinet members, and even a
Royal eHighness. So convincing were
Hooks messages that none of the
great men doubted their authenticity,
and so found themselves part Of a
bowling mob. Physicians. surgeons,
c1ergymen, barristers, hair-dressers,
all hurried to No. 81 Berners street to
answer the insistent cali of the joker.
From a temporary lodging across the
street Hook gazed on the drama he
had staged, but after the tumult and
shouting had died-and it died hard
and it's last breath was profane-the
ldramatist decided that he need a
change Of air. His friends suspected
| him, but there was no proof, and not
| for years did Hook dare admit that
he was the author Of the hoax. He
died in 1S41, at the age Of fifty-two
and Berners street is his memorial