CRYSTAL GAZERS

New Zealand Mail, Issue 1681, 18 May 1904, Page 15

CRYSTAL GAZERS

I “SHERiS” HUNTED OUT OF NEW ! YORK. j TEE METHODS OF THE FORTUNE i TELLER, ; There are up*vards of sixty million people in the United States, of whom many are very gullible. That,, at least, is the : inevitable conclusion when one considers ' that there are more professional fortunetellers there than in any other civilised : councry. They are of all classes and grau.es, ranging from the ancient dame at a village tan- who “reads your hands” for a few pence to the fashionable prophet living- in an expensive house, wimse equipment for communication with the ajjirit world includes crystal bails, ;i Withers, piano wires, mechanical tables, • and other TOOLS OF MYSTERY. After much patient endurance at the hands of the quacks New York lias awakened to the growing evil. The Police Commissioner is taking vigorous measures, with the result mat many of tlie “seers,” "witches,” “crystal-gazers,” -astr-d ogists,” "palmists/ -"seventh Daughters,” and “wise women” are fleeing the city. Many of them will settle m otner States, where the laws are less stringent, but others have publicly announced that they will open shortly in England, where, as one said "lortunet effing has not advanced with the times/'’ American “seers” are divided into two big classes. The first carries on business with the individual by personal interview, and the other, who may ba called. THE "WHOLESALE MERCHANT,” has a postal connection only. Loth advertise largely in the American Press, and many apparently thrive- exceedingly. One who has consulted a "crystalgazer” recently thus recounts his experiences : when I called a black servant, dressed in Oriental garb, was engaged, as he said, "poiishin’ up de outfit.” The latter consisted of a musical box, with a dozen crystal balls of varying size, tuning forks, and some small mirrors. "Guess you want to see de boss,” said the black servant, with a grin; “sit down, and I J II feteh him.” In a few moments a short, fat, darklo.oking, elderly man, with black greasy hair, wearing a red Turkish cap and a many-coloured gown—a sort of patchwork idmouo —entered the room. Tm glad you are here,” he said, "because I am on extremely good terms with che future to-day.” He sat down and began to arrange the crystals according to size. "With music or without f*” he asked, in a businesslike tone, to wJlich I replied, rather irreverently, “I suppose it wont matter much.” "It matters exactly one dollar, said ; (Re seer; “one dollar a plain reading, two | dollars with music.” ! I decided that a dollar’s worth would he i enough at present, and I promised to | come again if I wanted any more. THE "SEER” AT WORK. Operations commenced forthwith. Al- [ though I had stipulated fur a "plain readifmr” nnlv, the black servant in an adI joining room kept some small Bells tmk T ling r all the time. - i The* red window eurtam -was lowered i so that too much light should not play

upon the crystals. I was direcreu to hold a glass ball in each hand, and to keep my mind concentrated upon them. The seer looked at me steadily for a few moments, then gazed long and eernc-stly into the biggest crystal on the taoie suspended -m a framework like that of ue. school globe. Never before had I L-ft so completely fo >lish, and I began to mo** my feet restlessly. After a silence of nearly two minutes, and much meni*. angui -1 cn the part of the professor, who frowned and stared, and passed his hands nervously over his forehead. I asked whether he "generally took long.” The question seemed to RECALL HIM TO EARTH, and he plunged into the "delineation/ My part was contained in a single sentence “i see you were born at higii tide The references to the future were chiefly in the shape of advice. . . “Your stomach is very weak, he said; “you should avoid ice cream Promise you will never touch one. Lou should avoid speculation—it is not vour strong point. Don’t rely upon other people s judgment, it will never serve you well. Your lungs are very sound. Aon can go upstairs easily, but don’t strain y9 ur heart. Yes, your head is clear, you tiunJi quickly, but you would do better in Congress than in trade.” For another dollar I could have asked a question with the guarantee of' a full, true answer, but I resisted tlie invitapostal connection is undoubtedly tlio most lucrative. One- case exposed m New York recently by the "Globe was that of a man calling himself Professor Edison who told fortunes, not to tlie accompaniment of tinkling bells, drawn blinds an iucense-ladened atmosphere, and a musical-box, but to the clicking of many typewriters and ui a bustling modern office. His advertisements were distributed all over the States, and "orders caino by every mail. Edison himself began business as a clerk in a local store. He was shrewd, and ponciered deeply over Barnum’s saying, "THE PUBLIC LIKES BEING FOOLED.” Finally, he bought an astrologer’s "stock-in-trade,” and, by means of cunninglywritten pamphlets and cleve ’ advertising, he soon established a most prosperous business. His bait was of the accumulative iorder. First lie would give a horoscope” for a few postage stamps. Having got a victim on his books, lie would ply him with fresh “literature” and promises until orders came for a dollar horoscope,” then two dollars three dollars, and upwards. The delineations, ot course, were THE GREATEST RUBBISH, but many people applied again and again for more. Ho worked on a business system. Each applicant with answers to questions, was registered, there was a delineation for one and all, ranging from "A" to ' A ” Edison would open the letters and select the class of "goods” to be sent to each client. Mr Smith wants to know what he is suited for. He is 2d, blonde affectionate, with a taste tor engineering. Should he marry early or at middle age ?” Send Mr Smith "D” and sub-section of "A ” the professor would reply. And a lady type-writer, noting the instructions, would carry out the bidding. In addition to fortune-tellers under arrest bailed out, or fleeing to England, Here are a few who announce that they will stay in New York and “fight it cut.” They do mot in all cases maintain that their business is the most honourable of callings, but—to quote one of them—“we are just as honest as some of, the Wallstreet: financiers.” This plea is undoubt-

edly true, but two blacks do not, of Qourse make a white. "Dr J. C. Street,” a crystal-gazer, promises to be THE! CHAMPION of his community. "You are charged with being a fortune-teller,” said the magistrate. "I deny the charge/’ replied Street; “I am able to forecast future events. It is not luck with me. My business is to tell the truth. I want to fight, and I will have 50 witnesses in court to testify that my forecasts have come out absolutely true. My. clients have included the city’s first families. I have as much right to forecast future changes in the condition of men as the weather-bureau man has regarding the weather. lam as accurate as he is, too.” Street lia6 engaged counsel t.o* defend him, and has been released on £IOO bail.