So-and-so, he will get what was wanted. The obliging,
yet unsuspecting carrier receives the note, and trudges off to the
person designated, only to be treated by him in the same manner; and so
he goes from one to another, until some one, taking pity on him, gives
him a gentle hint of the trick that has been practiced upon him. A
successful affair of this kind will furnish great amusement to an
entire neighborhood for a week at a time, during which time the person
who has been victimized can hardly show his face. The Scotch employ the
term "gowk" to express a fool in general, but more especially an April
fool; and among them the practice which we have described is called
"hunting the gowk."
Sometimes the First of April has been employed by persons wishing to
perpetrate an extensive joke upon society. Among those which have come
to our knowledge the most remarkable one occurred in the city of London
in 1860. Towards the close of March a large number of persons received
through the post-office a card upon which the following was printed:
"TOWER OF LONDON.
ADMIT THE BEARER AND FRIEND
to view the
ANNUAL CEREMONY OF WASHING THE WHITE LIONS,
on
SUNDAY, APRIL 1ST, 1860.
_Admitted only at the White Gate._
* * * * *
It is particularly requested that no gratuities be
given to the wardens or their assistants.
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