Most extreme practical joke ever.

Recently YouTube has become filled with videos of people playing practical jokes upon one another. Some are amazing. Others, well lets say they have a hilarity deficiency and that the posters need to try harder next time.The one thing these videos all have in common is that they are recent. Posted within the twelve or so years. So that must mean that the idea of a practical joke is quite modern right? Or, judging from the amount, a field dominated by Americans who post more videos than any other nationality. However a little bit of internet research brings up a very different story. First off practical jokes have been around far, far longer than the new millennium. Most likely for as long as man has possessed the things necessary to make a scary mask. And secondly the United States, even with its large population of restless teens, cannot compete with, nor even compete in the same ballpark as the British.

Most practical jokes involve a few people, perhaps an entire family. They are also quite often spur of the moment events. Carried out when someone saw an opurtunity. However compared to the amount of people, planning, preparation and just plain old balls it took to pull off the great Tottenham caper you shall soon see why Britain is in a field all its own when it comes to practical jokes.

It was 1809. The Napoleonic wars were in full swing. London, the largest city on the planet, was abuzz with soldiers, sailors, tailors, Nobility, clergy and other assorted professions. Among them the peculiar breed of person known as an author. In fact London had quite a few authors. So many that they could meet one another at various coffee houses and cafes scattered throughout the city.

On the day in question two authors by the names of Theodore Hook and Samuel Beazley where in just such a establishment when the two struck up a bet. Hook bet his friend that in one weeks time he could make any house in the city (And there were alot of them) the most talked about residence in the entire city of London. Beazley accepted and the house chosen was 54 Berners street, inhabited by the widow Mrs Tottenham. The house worked well because across the street was another abode which was for rent. Meaning Hook and Beazley could watch as it all came together. 

By the 27th of November it had all come together and the two authors sat by the window of their rented house as a chimney sweep came to Mrs Tottenhams door. He said that he was ready to sweep her chimneys as she had wrote about (Sweeping chimneys being the primary occupation of the chimney sweep at this time) he said that he could get right to work as soon as he was shown the chimneys. A confused Mrs Tottenham told the man that she had never written about requiring a sweep and sent him along on his way. She had no sooner closed the door as a further twelve sweeps arrived wanting to know why so many had been called. Soon after several coal delivery men arrived with wagons of coal. Since she had not ordered either sweeps or coal they were all turned away as well.

Now thoroughly confused Mrs Tottenham sat down and began to ready. Several minutes later there was another rap upon the door. Now feeling a mixture of trepidation and indignation she answered the door. She found waiting for her several wagons full of furniture, delivery boys bearing a coffin meant for her and several wedding cakes and twenty five hundred tarts (raspberry, the best kind) again she said that she had not ordered any such things, especially the coffin, and sent them on their way.

Over the afternoon other arrived. Doctors, lawyers, priests, wig makers, cooks, and various salesmen. All plying very large quantities of their wares stating Mrs Tottenham had placed orders with them. Soon the street became filled with people all trying to find 54 Berners street. Towards midday twelve grand pianos and chamber organ arrived. Greatly contributing to the general clutter of the street.  

As the day wore on several important dignitaries began arriving. Men such as the Mayor of London, chairman of the honorable British East India company, and the Governor of the Bank of England. All calling on Mrs Tottenham stating that she had asked them there. At one point even the Duke of York and the Archbishop of Canterbury arrived wishing to call on the now thoroughly frazzled Mrs Tottenham.

By evening the streets had become impassable. With coffins, cakes, pianos, Dukes and tarts making it impossible to make your way along the thoroughfare. From the window of the house they had rented Hooks and Beazley spent considerably time on the floor laughing. When the day was over the two parted company, Beazley supposedly paying his friend a Guinea. 

The next day 54 Berners was indeed the most talked about house in all of London. And no one knew who had done it. It was only later that Hook would admit being responsible. He even explained how he had pulled it off. He had written a total of around four thousand letters to various businesses, dignitaries and performers. All in Mrs Tottenhams name requesting that these people appear at her house. He seems to have been very convincing judging from the results. The newspapers were filled with accounts and comics of the day and for weeks all anyone could talk about was 54 Berners.

So then. Try to top this joke people.