1861 Tumblety 'Related To A Bug' Funny Article

[Archaic]

This gem was published by the editors of a New York journal called the Knickerbocker in 1861.

They are discussing the relationship between Humbugs, Bugs, and Dr T.; the editors clearly had a lot of fun with this article.

The bug whose activity they describe is the Dung Beetle, an insect that forms its own dung into a ball and then busily rolls it along.

Best regards, Archaic

[Sam Flynn]

The bug whose activity they describe is the Dung Beetle, an insect that forms its own dung into a ball and then busily rolls it along.

Hmmm, dung beetles... scarabs. An allusion to Ancient Egyptian iconography, perhaps?

"I'm down on Horus..."

"Kheper this letter back till I do a bit more work..."

"From Heliopolis"

[lynn cates]

humbug

Hello Archaic. Nice find! I like the humbug aspect vis-a-vis Tumblety.

The best.
LC

[lynn cates]

uraeus

Hello Sam. Thanks for making no puns on "uraeus." (But DO consider the possibilities. snicker!)

The best.
LC

[Archaic]

Oh, drat you Sam Flynn; I wish I had thought of those!!!

LOL

I love Egyptology & have a collection of antique Scarab jewelry. In fact, I'm wearing an antique Azurite Scarab ring right now.

I think the Dung Beetle allusion is less a direct reference to Egyptology than it is to the very bizarre
'insectual' phenomena that looks for all the world like pointless bustle & almost self-worship: that of rolling your own dung along as you go!
It's awfully funny. A bit Mark Twain-ish, in fact.

I keep wondering if Tumblety ever read these mocking articles, and how he soothed his bruised ego afterward?

Hmmm; if Tumblety read this one I bet his ego came to the rescue and he suddenly saw himself as
the Great Khepera who single-handedly (8 leggedly?) moves the life-giving Sun across the Sky.

Cheers, Archaic

[Archaic]

1861 Article Mocking Dr. Tumblety

Here's another poke at Dr. Tumblety by the Knickerbocker's editors; July 1861.

Best regards, Archaic