YOUR FORTUNE!

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 93, 13 January 1908, Page 9

YOUR FORTUNE!

DIP INTO THE OCCULT.

' WHAT PEOPLE PAY TO KNOW. . LOCAL. FORTUNE-TELLERS .VISITED. ,' . Wliat would not o;io give to know his futuro fortune p. Nothing . within reason, we. ycnturo to say. This has been tho case since thoworld began,, and doubtta will bo so wlion pll that oxists to-da> is merely dust,and' all the petty vexations of tho body and tile/spirit arc morgod in the birth" <>f .the Jiercaftor. This unhealthy.■'craving to attempt to peer into tho futuro Ims'afflicted all 'races,'clisses, and creeds, from' enthroned the littlo !white : faced, sempstress who stitcb'os away tho hours in a back room. •What the material benefit or . gain has. boon, to thoso that'have sought to look f,ar ahead.; Jias been wonderfully, like nothing at nil; but tho gain to tho collective he. or sho who " reads the futuro " would doxtbtloss amount to. millions of pounds sterling. , Where is tho woman who (able to afford it)- tins.not been weak or curious enough at:0110 timo or other to have her fortune,told,-and, having had them told, belieVo them? Right hero in our midst thero are' peoplo practising alleged- fortune-telling .bpr- . palmistry, plironology, crystal-gazing, tea-leaf reading, playing cards, and a dozen other Ways, and Severn of them are said to do : excellent business. Their customors are mostly women, but tlioro are men who have allowed their sonscs to bo persuaded into " learning' their fortunes." ' 'Women chatter about their experiences with artists in tho occult j'nieir visitants usually Say littlo or nothing—they l fear their fellow-man's thoughts'*." A member of The DojiiNiON staff'has !lo qualms on the . subject, and tho results of. his exploits with local seers'are given below. A READER OF BUMPS.., '. His first step .Was to consult a lady of sub'steutial presenco and fluent speech, who 're-, ceived him ..in a littlo back room; where, a nagic crystal, or mirror, or something equally occult and uncomprehended of tho vulgar, stood on tho only table. Sho befcrn on the consulter'3 head with, a .great pair of calipers. She made a ..few ilattering discoveries with these, and then put them down and continued tho investigation with herN hands. And. the compliments flowed on. Ho . was "very. tj'rifty hud ambitious." - Fond of his 'old homo, or of tho hotel where ho used to stav.- As fussy as an' cld maid, ' Ho protosted. "Not quito as bad as that." "Well, you must havo everything in your bedroom in its place. , You must know just where to find, your handkerchiefs. Not lilirino. f never know or care where anything is. •l'ou lmtst have everything nice about you." "Well, yes, perhaps." , 1 ! LADY-KILLER UNMAGKED. After again assuring him .that lie. was "very t'rilty and ambitious," the discerning iady boro testimony in rapid tones to his fitness to suceced as a builder, a detective, and a phrenologist. She, strongly advised him to engage in tho last-named profession. Ho- hail such remai'kablo intuitive perception of character. ... • . • , • The consulter did not comment on this interesting view of tho equipment of a phrenologist. Ho listened with a pleased sitoilo to '[h further, cataloguo of his oscelleJit qualities. . But the choicest, compliments were . reserved for tho reading of tho hand.-. " You're vory fowl of the- ladies? " : It. would havo been .uilgallant to contradict her. . . . . . : "You. don't need to'say much to. them. 'A look of your eyes is enough' to make them blush. You'ro a general favourite. But 'you've parted with • ono girl, and, it nearly bi'oko your henrt." . • There must have beon a '" now-l'vc-caught-you" look in thqso speaking eyes, - for the ■Iconsultco. added> quickly: "Or else it war. her heart:"»' Then, - just '.to'help niatters along, the ' consulter .suggested that "perhaps, .'the; young lady . loved :him, .and-be didn't know', it. This scorned to striko tho consnltec as. Very likely. ■" Ah ! yes,.yesl Jlany a girl's boon in love with you." ' , • After this touching revelation, the . consulter heard with comparatively languid interest that ho would go a iong journey, perhaps to England (she was understood to Say there was a ship on his hand), and that he ■would'-live to. be ninety, and havo a good -ijiit;. ■■;■■ ■'■' Tho consulter demanded to know some of ■ bis faults. Again, the digits nere dashed "into his hair, and ho learned that he had 'not enough "cheek." Tlint was, apparently, tho only fault that tho. consultce could dis'cover. Tho price of the entertainment was 7s. Gd. This included a sonvonir consisting of a 'Couple of hundred words of information and advico written on a sheet of paper and called ■a chart. ■....■ Tho consulter turned back at' tho door. \"NoW, just for a test! -Am.l an Englishman, a Scotchman, an Irishman, or a ColoLnial?" She seized his hand, discovered a cross oh "it, and proclaimed him an' Englishman. "And am I married or single?" " You'ro single, hut you ought tp be ; married." Tho reporter went home .and told his wife. AN""AGTROLOGER , S" PATTER. It was not difficult to find the upstairs ■ room occupied, by tho so-called ■ astrologor, .who, under a fancy title, undertook to give 'information about 'marriage, offspring, business, and an eloquent ''etc." A series of placards from tho downstairs entrance all i.lie way up the staircase, guided oxcitoci ■ ootstcps to her mysterious chamber. A stylish lady, keen-eyed and elegantly coifCured, answered tho reporter's knock. "1 ■am engaged, but I will not bo long." It is too much that one should be allowed to "corner" tho message of the stars. The .reporter listened shamelessly to a loudvoiced revelation about future husbands. •Somebody's first husband was to he a doubt■ful blessing, but the second would have all tho virtues. Tall, broad-shouldered, capable —tho planet 3 appeared bursting with his praise. Ho was very near the lady ho was bo bless; very likely bo would bring, to her the news of > her first husband's death. Some■ono was intensely interested in tho recital; earnest questions wero asked and answered. The door opened, and the Pressman waited for fair, but foolish seventeen, to'emerge. It was anxious thirty-seven who mado room for his admittance. "1 suppose you want a general reading," said the kcon-oyed lady, as tho reporter tool; a chair in a neat sitting-room. Tho Pressman acquiesced, and tho lady mado numerous signs and figures on a slate, which sho raised at a steep slant when his eyes began to scan it. A pampldet on astrology and an exorcise book revealed tables of unintelligible figures. Tho lady did not refuso an explanation of. hor science. "I always explain these tilings to moil more than to women," she confided. "Women aro usually too much interested in their own petty affairs." This with an ingratiating air. Tile explanation did not shed much light on tho mysterious scionco, dospito amazing volubility. It was a rigmarole of astronomical terms, in which the reporter caught partially intelligiblo references to the planets of tho zodiac and tho Houses of tho Heavens, lie was more interested to hoar that anyone could loam astrology nowadays, though it was not so in . the lady's youth. Everything could bo found in books, with results worked out for. tho latitndo of Now York. This astrologer had modified tho standard tables to suit latitude 37 S., which was approximately that of Now Zealand. Saturday was always a busy night, though, thank goodness, sho was always busy. She had meant to teach astrology, but had no time. Siio did not mind who learned; there was work onoiigh for all. She explained its ceaseless bearing on the affairs of human life. "So that if a person were a good astrologer," said the reporter, " he would be a successful business man, in any branch?" "Quito so," replied the lady, gravely. INCREMENTS TO GAMBLE. The Pressman learned that- his presiding planet, in the department of tho heavens coucornod with character, was Saturn. This

was . a hoavy, solid,, stable-planet, and 1 the consulter's character .wovild approximate, but. would, be saved: from dulnesß .by some kindly intoi'vention of Capricorn. Saturn wns also the planetof secrotivencss, and his predominance riieant that tho reporter ;(who in his lifetime has never backed 1 three winners) would bo vory successful in; horsc-racing or betting. Ho should not despair easily iu thbso pursuits, because his luck would..ultimately bo'good. Another planet offered him the saiile inducement to genferal speculations. • ..- I 'As'regards domestic affairs* lie was under tho ..influence''-of Gomiml. Everything would happoli to hini' in pairs. If his wife did not' have twinsj she would have two children who would be as like'as two peas. His tnarriago -Whs, or vrtuld-be.' an.'affair ■ of. Maris, and as ho was tho' red planet, his wife Would be very fio'ry—sho would havo-"a-devil of a temper." -But she would be.a highly estihlablo person apart from that.;- His coiiinier- , clal affairs would be ruled •> by Pisces, a watery influotice, which presaged that ho would make his money out of shipping, wharfage works, an hotel, or one,of a thousand other : things connected in some 'way with liquids. was much other nonsense of this kind, dictated very volubly and very gr&vcly, and some wildly incorrect information was afforded as to relatives who were going journeys;!. . 'If .the . lady happened-to hit itenr the truth on any point, a look incredulous would always send her off it into error. She said nothing that' could not'be understood in a dozen senses, and ox-plained that 'popple riftist make these revelations fit their own cases/ ..V, ' ' The Pressman paid 5s v . . and' a' friendly littlo conversation followed-. Ho was. informed 1 that a Church, of minister had called that aftorrioon to, {earn about, the lady's • picthods, and sho had given him a "goneral reading,with which he was well Satisfied. Ladies may have general readings foij. 2s. 6d. Most of. those who .come,..the "ailtrologef" explained,' are mothers . with family cares and .servant girls, and.she'for one would not charge tliem moi'e. "Nativities" can bo had for "s. Gd!, and information Upon ■ special points at n fixed, charge; : But "iiativitios.". the reporter understood, arc not much .bettor than a "general, reading." ■ • The astrologer was very a'iigry. with a man who .had offered her £1. to tell; him 'the address of another man,-on whom lie wished to sorvo a summons. .She. Was-an astrologer; ; not a .debt collcctor. Also it. Was .oiitside her province to , give . racing' tins, but she could tell what colours, one;shoukl .back. Fo* 'instance, if Mars .wore iii the n.se.'ndArit when n certain' race was run, one should back red, If there were no red . cok.Urs, a fed -horse, or a horse with a rod spot, or red. in some form or othnr would be "successful. • ' Apropos of Saturn's influence, the reporter learned a fact which mar be useful to the Public Works D?nartment : . If a building I s or Saturn is iii tho aseendaiit. it'will last, for fever. Go astronomy cleclareisi