April Fool's Day

Today is April Fool's Day, and, for the occasion, Gossips offers excerpts from an article that appeared in the Hudson Daily Evening Register on the eve of April Fool's Day in 1891. It's evidence that the late 19th-century sense of humor was a little different from ours today. 

All Fools' Day, by common consent during the centuries, has been dedicated to the God of Laughter, rose-lipped Son of Joy. . . . 

Gray haired men of affairs take as much delight in playing practical jokes on their contemporaries as their scions. A distingushed New York editor called up the office boy on April 1 and handing him a basket, told the boy to take it to a rival editor and ask for a bushel basket full of editorials. The boy went and returned in a short time with a small parcel in the bottom of the basket. The editor proceeded to unroll the small bundle, which resembled an Egyptian mummy in the number of its wrappings. At last there lay exposed before him the stump of a half consumed cigar. Carefully wrapping the cigar stump in its manifold covers again, the editor called up the boy, and as he handed him the basket, said:

"Take this back where you got it and tell the man that I did not send for the editor." Thus the humorous sender of stump was answered according to his folly.

Practical joking is very properly condemned when it has the tendency to do injury to life or limb. All forms of practical joking are frowned upon by those whose vanity or pride is injured. But who is there among us so dignified and reserved that he could restrain a smile while walking down Warren street behind a man upon whose back hung the sign: "For rent--Vacant room. Inquire in basement." It is doubtful, however, if the man who is awakened at 5 o'clock on April 1 by a loud and continued ringing of his doorbell will feel like cracking jokes when he finds an unfortunate yellow dog tied to the bell handle. But, after all, he might reflect that it is a much rougher joke on the dog.