"PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE.”

New Zealand Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 5598, 26 May 1905, Page 7

"PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE.”

HOW TUB PALMIST MAKES A LIVING. Palmistry.—Madamo Divinity, the celebrated Now York palmist, .is prcjjarecl to advise correctly on tlio past, present, and future. “Alii” the writer soliloquised as he vead the advertisement- and sauntered into the lady’s den. “My future; I Wonder what the divinely-inspired lady will have to say on this point? The past! How my friends delight to remind me of it. The present? Almost ft parallel.” It was cheerful to reflect ■that at least she did not comprehend. A pair of dilapidated chairs at either wide of an elongated soap-box (set on end) which supported a dirty cushion. I shuffled ray feet on the hare hoards I»f tho floor behind the curtain, waiting for madamo to appear. I heard a soft ■stop. Tho lady was clothed in an old black dress, dirty and worn. Her hair idling in disorder to tho two pins near fho crown of her head. Several buttons wore missing from her blouse. This was Divinity! Scarcely glancing at mo, eho motioned me to one of the chairs, and took a. seat herself on tho other side of tho cushioned soap-box, at tho same time indicating that I should present my palms for inspection.

Tho fco? “Only half a crown.” This with a philanthropic smirk which suggested that tho best of this world’s gifts was being given away at starvation price. She did not wait for me to acquiesce in the figure, but commenced ttt racehorse pace to toll mo what I am, what I should be, and what I would be, right from A to Z. “ O’no moment,” I protested. “I want to know a good deal; and a little method about this pronouncement of yours would probably enhance its value. There are weighty matt ere ” It was no use. She was not to bo interrupted.

Tracing the “ lines ” on my palms with a dirty, unwashed linger, she proceeded: “You are energetic and enthusiastic in most things you take up.” 1 wondered if the proprietors of the paper thought so. “You have ideas of your, own true; they had often led mp. into trouble—“ and you will assuredly prosper. Your prosperity, or the most of it, will commence to make itself shown most markedly between two and ten years hence.” It has, as a matter of fact, refused to hudge during the post ten. “ I see business capacity here ” —my enemies have told mo this many times—- ” but you should act more promptly on your own responsibility. Sometimes you hesitate to do bo. Your opinions are often based on sound judgment, ,«md you might not with, profit on your own initiative!” I refrained from commenting on the charmingly guarded qualifications of the latter statement. But I determined to emphasise the ■Suet as soon as I reached the office.

“You make friends quickly”—true; too quickly—" and you frequently choose the right sort—your judgment is good.” Another lie; for the past three years I’ve been looking for a triend who owes me £3. There are ®them who . “ There is a journey hero; in fact, you will travel considerably during the next five years. For two years your travels will bo short.”

“To Kaiwarra and Newtown?” I queried. It was the first time I had ipoken, but the Divinity was unmoved. “And then,” sKo continued, “you will go across the water” —how delightfully original—“ and settle down.” _ Heedless of the fact that I am a married man, the reading proceeded: “You will not marry your .first attachment, but your marriage wilf be a happy one.” She commenced to prate about impending illnesses. “There are two illness here—one in about two years, rather c.orious, something affecting the chest ’or throat, and the second some years later. You will live long. At least seventy /ears of life are distinctly marked here.” A was beginning to feel I would get my money’s worth, “Now, as to money? You will get a jlegacy before long—only a small one—hut a legacy all the same. You have been denied a position of affluence by some relative, or somebody connected rt'ith. you, either in business or otherwise, in the past—mayhap some time hack; and what was yours by right has fallen into the hands of others.” Base creatures, these relatives of mine. I’m now industriously studying their history. Next I explained that I was out of work. Would I get either of the situations I had in view. “Yes,” she decided, after some thought and hesitation, “you will. But you would require to bring .some influence to bear. You will be ■successful after a stubborn fight.” , The pressman afterwords asked a detective if this tomfoolery was - practised to any extent in the city. Ho replied that it was. There are half a dozen or more individuals who live thus on tile credulity of a verdant public, and numbers carry on business surreptitiously. “Only the other day,” be said, “a 'lady' called on me. “I’m a clairvoyant,” _ she volunteered. “Madame Murphy is my business name. May I ask if you have found a purse?” “Why do you ask ?” inquired the der iective.

“Oh, I feel a -warmth in the atmosphere which tells mo the purse is close *t hand. J can: ” “Look here, Madame Murphy,” rudely interrupted the officer, “wo hay© some concrete cells at the rear of this building, and if you don't . . .” He was still addressing his strange caller when she disappeared in haste. The moral of the story is obvious. Some innocent person had sought advice about a lost purse. If madam© could have discovered it© whereabouts, her professional reputation amongst the owner’s credulous friends would have been established for all time. Some years ago a number of prosocutioos wore laid against this okas. A repetition would no doubt do good.