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Show ENGLISH FAKER HAD GENIUS ( More Than a Century and a Half Ago He Made Big Money With His "Celestial Bed." One of the most brazen fakers In history was Doctor Graham, who, in 1779, opened a "Temple of Health" In London. He had recently come from America and had soraewhore picked up an eictneatary knowledge of electricity, elec-tricity, or at least Us terminology. He had at his temple a "celestial bed" which, If a sick person slept In It, was advertised to be a sure cure. This wonder-working piece o' furniture fur-niture was made by one Denton, on Doctor Graham's order. It was beautifully beau-tifully carved, covered with silk damask, dam-ask, supported by 28 glass pillars, and surmounted by a richly carved and gilt canopy from which crimson curtains cur-tains with fringe and tassel were suspended. sus-pended. In his advertisement be claimed: "This bed Is niagnetleo-electrlc. In a neighboring closet is placed a cylinder by which I communicate celestial fire to the bedchamber, that fluid which animates and vivifies all." He charged admission to see the bed. To sleep in It cost 50 ($2r0). Later the rate wus reduced to 25 ($125). Graham was a skillful stage-manager and mud') a lot of money with his '.'celestial bed." |
