"THE FINEST HOAX OF THE CENTURY."

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIV, Issue 10461, 5 June 1897, Page 2 (Supplement)

"THE FINEST HOAX OF THE CENTURY."

THE MISS DIANA VAUGHAN MYSTERY CLEAKED OP. No one acquainted with the methods of Parisian mytlificaleuri, or hoaxers, ever believed in the supernatural influence of Mies Diana Vaughan, any more than in the genuine conversion of M. Leo Taxil to Catholicism. The latter lisa now (fays the London Daily Telegraph) made a general confession before (he public, and-unblush-ingly proclaimed that he has been for years hoaxing Pope, cardinals, priests, atid people. M. Lfo Taxil, alias Gabriel Jogand, wrote pome years ago a series of snti - religious hovels and pamphlets. He pretended to reveal the mysteries of the Vatican, but he suddenly repented, ami went to confession to a Jesuit priest; and it Was believed by hundreds of simple-minded persons that M, Taxil was a sound convert. Three years ago the supposed convert was identified with the publication or a book, called "The Devil in the Nineteenth Century." The author was supposed to be a Dr. Bataille, who recounted &•, a witness events in the extraordinary career of a young person named Diana Vaughan, This damsel was said to be born of Protestant parents away down irt Kentucky, and to have been made Palladian .Grand Mistress of the Supreme And Mysterious Lodge of Universal Freemasonry. In this capacity Diana was alleged to have married the Devil, Asmodcuß, who was commander in chief of seventy leeions of Satanic spirits. After these monstrosities had been launched Diana Vaughan had been converted to Catholicism.. She was patronised, although she had never been seen, by Cardinal Parocchi, and even by the Pope himself. In the meantime the sceptics and unbelievers who refused to regard Diana as aught but a mythical pertonage persistently called on M. Taxil to produce her in the flesh, and to let her be seen and heard. This the Supposed convert promised to do; and lid accordingly convoked a meeting, which took plate in tho Oeographicnl Society's Hall on the Boulevard SaintGermain, arid Wai attended by many person?, including numerous priests. It wad promised that Diana would make statements about Palladium. It was also expected that a book was to be seen which had been Written by the Devil; and much was heard aboiit a picture of Miss Vaughan receiving a steel crown, made in the caverns of Gibraltar, from the hands of Asmodeus, her Satanic husband. Thou the croator of Diatia Vaughan calmly announced that he was bom a perpetrator of jokes at the expense o( credulous humanity. Ho assured his astonished auditors he was only a false convert, and Diana Vaughnn was merely a typewriting young woman whom he employed as secretary at £6 per month. The speaker, in conclusion, said to the priests and Catholic writers present that he sincerely thanked them and the bishops for having assisted him in organising the finest hoax of the century, and one which crowned his career, taxil was vigorously hooted as he uttered these word?, and on leaving the hall of meeting Taxil had to be protected by the police, who were in strong force.