Democratic Sentinel, Volume 7, Number 16, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 18 May 1883 — The Fate of an Ancient Weather Prophet. [ARTICLE]

The Fate of an Ancient Weather Prophet.

There’was A weather-prophesying impostor in Queen Anfie’s time, known as Partridge, the almanac maker. Partridge started in life as a shoemaker, but he soon left that for the more profitable and less Laborious pursuits of quack, prophet and humbug generally. His pretensions imposed on credulous people, and his almanacs were bought by the thousands. To show what sorry quacks Wiggins and Vennor are, notwithstanding the lapse of two centuries, during which the art of humbugging has been developed immensely, they have not improved in the least on Partridge’s system. He, just as they, foretold storms in March and December, showers in April, hot weather in August and frosts in November, and made as loud boasts as if a hit was made. Swift became disgusted at Partridge’s pretensions, and determined to put him down; Walking around London one day; he noticed over a smith’s shop the sign, “Isaac Bickerstaff.” It struck his fancy, and he stored it in his memory for future use. In January, 1708, Partridge came out with his almanac as usual. A few weeks afterward London waa astonished by the publication of a small sheet which purported to contain the predictions of Isaac Bickerstaff, astrologer. It made a profound sensation, and the sale was great. Instead of the vague and indefinite hints at futurity which Partridge’s almanac contained, it foretold foreign and domestic events with the greatest particularity, giving even the hour of the day when the deaths of famous men, great defeats and Victories should occur. But one statement created the most talk, for at 11 o’clock on the 29th of March it was predicted that Partridge, the almanac maker would die. Partridge himself stoutly denied its truth, but it was of no use. Qn the 30th of March another pamphlet came out giving a circumstantial account of his death after a sincere repentance of his sins and a confession of the worthlessness of his almanac.. Everybody believed he was dead, and Partridge was never able to convince the public that he was still alive. It, broke up his business, and in a few years he really did die. It is a pity that the dean isn’t still on earth to deal with Vennor and Wiggins. A good dose of ridicule.js probably the most effective weapon which can be used against them, and the dean was a master of the art.