The Humbugs of the World: An Account of Humbugs, Delusions, Impositions, Quackeries, Deceits and Deceivers Generally, in All AgesBarnum, P. T. (Phineas Taylor)
General
The Humbugs of the World: An Account of Humbugs, Delusions, Impositions, Quackeries, Deceits and Deceivers Generally, in All Ages
Barnum, P. T. (Phineas Taylor)
Impostors and imposture
In 1805, a shoemaker named Tozer built her a chapel in Exeter at his
own expense, and it was, from the first, constantly filled on
service-days with eager worshipers. Here she gave exhortations, and
prophesied in a species of religious frenzy or convulsion, sometimes
uttering very heavy prose, and sometimes the most fearful doggerel
rhyme resembling--well--perhaps our album effusions here at home!
Indeed, I can think of nothing else equally fearful. In these
paroxysms, Joanna raved like an ancient Pythoness whirling on her
tripod, and to just about the same purpose. Yet, it was astonishing to
see how the thing went down. Crowds of intelligent people came from all
parts of the United Kingdom to listen, be converted, and to receive
the "seals" (as they were called) that secured their fortunate
possessor unimpeded and immediate admission to heaven. Of course,
tickets so precious could not be given away for nothing, and the seal
trade in this new form proved very lucrative.
The most remarkable of all these conversions was that of the celebrated
engraver, William Sharp, who, notwithstanding his eminent position as an
artist, by no means bore out his name in other things. He had previously
become thoroughly imbued with the notions of Swedenborg, Mesmer, and the
famous Richard Brothers, and was quite ripe for anything fantastic. Such
a convert was a perfect godsend to Joanna, and she was easily persuaded
to accompany him to London, where her congregations rapidly increased to
enormous proportions, even rivaling those now summoned by the "drum
ecclesiastical" and orthodox of the Rev. Mr. Spurgeon.
The whole sect extended until, in 1813, it numbered no less than one
hundred thousand members, signed and "sealed"--Mr. Sharp occupying a
most conspicuous position at the very footstool of the Prophetess. Late
in 1813, appeared the "Book of Wonders," "in five parts," and it was a
clincher. Poor Sharp came in largely for the expenses, but valiantly
stood his ground against it all. At length, in 1814, the great Joanna
dazzled the eyes of her adherents and the world at large with her
"Prophecies concerning the Prince of Peace." This delectable manifesto
flatly announced to mankind that the second Shiloh, so long expected,
would be born of the Prophetess at midnight, on October 19, in that
same year, _i. e._ 1814. The inspired writer was then enceinte, although
a virgin, as she expressly and solemnly declared, and in the
sixty-fourth year of her age. Among the other preternatural concomitants
of this anticipated eventful birth, was the fact that the period of her
pregnancy had lasted for several years.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account