er to it to the top of its bent. One of
his most successful impositions was international in its scope. On
September 13th, 1886, the following paragraph, based on the current
European news of the day, appeared in his column:

We do not see that Prince Alexander, the deposed Bulgarian monarch,
is going to have very much difficulty in keeping the wolf away from
the door. In addition to the income from a $2,000,000 legacy, he has
a number of profitable investments in America which he can realize
upon at any time. He owns considerable real estate in Chicago, Kansas
City, Denver, and Omaha, and he is a part owner of one of the largest
ranches in New Mexico. His American property is held in the name of
Alexander Marie Wilhelm Ludwig Maraschkoff, and his interests in this
country are looked after by Colonel J.S. Norton, the well-known
attorney of this city. Colonel Norton tells us that he would not
be surprised if Prince Alexander were to come to this country to
live. In a letter to Colonel Norton last June the Prince said: "If
ever it is in divine pleasure to release us from the harassing
responsibilities which now rest upon us, it will be our choice to
find a home in that great country beyond the Atlantic, where, removed
from the intrigues of court and state, we may enjoy that quiet
employment and peaceful meditation for which we have always yearned."

Now it must be confessed that this bears a sufficient air of
verisimilitude to deceive the casual reader. It is as perfect a
specimen of the pure invention which Field delighted to deck out in
the form of truth with facts and the names of real personages as he
ever wrote. In that year not only Englishmen, but other foreigners,
were investing in American real estate. James S. Norton was indeed a
well-known attorney of Chicago, as he deserved to be for his wit and
professional ability. He was on such friendly terms with Field that
the latter thought nothing of taking any liberty he pleased with his
name whenever it served to lend credibility to an otherwise
unconvincing narrative. In subsequent paragraphs Field answered
fictitious inquiries as to Mr. Norton's reality by giving his actual
address, with the result that Mr. Norton was pestered with
correspondence from all over the union offering opportunities to
invest Prince Alexander's funds.

But the success of this hoax was not confined to the American side of
the Atlantic, as the following