THE FORTUNE-TELLER

Otago Witness, Issue 2914, 19 January 1910, Page 95

THE FORTUNE-TELLER

By Maeco

You addressed her as “Madame.” Corresponding to the derelict title “Professor” appropriated by the male sex of the same craft, it conveys a vague suggestion of distinction, and costs nothing. But you would make a fatal blunder if you referred to her as a fortune-teller. She is a “ psychometric medium.” In the popular conception they are ail merely fortune-tellers, but to the sensitive psychometric medium the title has a gross, material sound, with a disquieting relation to police prosecutions. He who called “Madame” a fortune-teller was nerd likely to repeat the experiment. The executive of an athletic association fell innocently enough into the error by inviting “Madame” to “tell fortunes ” at a carnival. The effect was electrical. Excitedly flourishing the incriminating letter, “Madame” flew to the office of the secretary, and ere that astounded official could reply coherently to lier angry demand as to who was responsible for calling her a fortune-teller, she delivered him a resounding smack on the face. Thence she hurried to the rooms of the president, whose acknowledged gift of conciliation utterly failed to placate the- outraged “psychometric medium.” Another official was publicly upbraided in his shop, to the amazement and secret amusement of his large staff and customers. After disturbing the serenity of yet another establishment and threatening that if sire was not furnished with the address of the scoundrel who had made the proposal she would walk on to the field of play and publicly horsewhip him —a threat she appeared capable of putting into effect—“ Madame ” finally tracked the unwitting culprit to his private residence, where she occasioned mild consternation, refusing to accept any explanation until she had poured out the vials of her wrath, happily for him, in speech only. A strange vessel, surely, for the lodgment of the occult, for the reception and revelation of spirit manifestations. Yet there were the announcements, in black and white, “ everything revealed,” and was there not- on the gateway leading to her “apartments” above a shop in our main thoroughfare the printed legend— Madam© , Psychometric Medium. We had -met on several occasions in the way of, business and she had placed me upon the free list for a “ reading ” if I chose, to take advantage of the offer! Other knowledge of her I had none save the interlude noted above, and perhaps the fact that she had given, for the benefit of women only, public lectures concerning which it was whispered that they were not particularly directed towards promoting a full cradle. Incidentally, it was further whispered that the capacity of the hall proved inadequate to the occasion. A more or less indolent interest in the beliefs and methods of people out of the beaten track led to the acceptance of “Ma-dame’s” invitation. With me I was to bring, she had said, an article—preferably a letter —from some person in whom I was interested. Instantly, of course, I thought of Julia. A capital idea, surely, to take with me one of Julia’s infrequent letters! I might get some interest-lag and useful revelations concerning Julia. On second thoughts—-no. Doubtless “Madame” had been long enough in the line to know that the “articles” brought were generally associated with Julias, and would have stock revelations ready to meet the case. No, I would be very shrewd, and borrow from some more impersonal acquaintance, and perchance draw “ Madame ” upon a false scent. A clerk in an adjoining office readily obliged, herself curious to know the outcome, and armed with her trinket I mounted the steep wooden backstairs which gave entry to “ Madame’s ” apartments. Since the day when Saul went in disguise to seek counsel of the witch of Endor, the fortune-teller has been soughtsurreptitiously, a-s though she—it is usually “ she ’’—whose superstition permits the belief that the future may- thus be revealed, were ashamed of her faith. At- one time our neighbourhood rejoiced in the distinction of having a wizard of its very own. A common sight at dusk in those days was the approach of two, possibly three, females. Glancing furtively, as though convinced that tlie attention of the whole neighbourhood was focussed upon their movements, they woidd walk with ostentatious indifference right past the house with the card in the window. Presently they would repass, whispering, then, mustering up courage, they would return and slip through the gateway. In the darkness of one evening a damsel,, thirsting for revelation, did us the honour of mistaking our humble cottage for the abode of Revelation. The lady of the house, of evangelical faith, answered the ring in person. Her business not being anticipated, the damsel looked her confusion, but presently managed to voice the inquiry “Do you read the cards?” “ No, I read the Bible,” was the quietresponse. The damsel fled precipitately. That my entrance to the sanctum should be furtive was but a reasonable concession to my Puritanical training. “Madame’s” waiting room was entirely devoid of furniture, but the walls were decorated with the oddest imaginable selection of prints from illustrated papers. The idea seemed to be to cater for all possible tastes, with the further inference that, with such a wealth of wall--paper -art,' chairs for the waiting clients v.|’ore a superfluity. Not half of one wall htqd been inspected when I was ushered intjo the Presence. “ Madame” was seated before a table in a dimly-lighted room of huVnble furnishing. The eye that sought fob mystery-making properties _ was doomed to disappointment. The tripod,

the seething cauldron breathing out noisome odours, the rattle of dry bones, the crystal globe—not the faintest suggestion of them in the picture, Apparently “Madame” did not depend upon an atmosphere. Neither also in her person or dress was there aught to suggest mystery or magic. “Madame” could scarcely be accredited spirituelle. Short of neck, heavy and coarse of feature, with a large mouth and badly tart.ar'ed teeth, her generous figure bulging and billowing her plain black gown, she was more likely to be mistaken for a “ washer lady.” Her speech, however, at once separated her from that type. She spoke fluently and in well-ordered English, with a slight foreign accent. The visit having something of a personal turn, we talked by way of preliminary. “ Madame,” it seemed, had shown signs of the psychic habit when in her teens, and had since made a study of the subject and cultivated the sense until she had developed strong psychic powers. To all of us, she assured me, was given the same sense or force in greater or less degree, but we had not been educated sufficiently along the right lines to perceive and to cultivate it. When we had properly developed the faculty we were to remember it was God’s gift, and we were to use it wisely for the benefit of our fellow-men (at halßa-crown a reading, mayhap !) Our constant aim in life should be to uplift and help our fellows. Much more she said, until I found myself ■wondering what would be entered against her name in the census paper under the heading “ Religion.” “ Now give me your hand,” said “ Madame.” We were getting to business. I fear me if that hand told “Madame” aught of what was passing in her subject's mind she could scarce feel flattered by the degree of faith revealed. The softness and shapeliness of her hand further bankrupted the “washer -lady ” theory. With eyes fixed upon vacancy she talked easily and rapidly. Her subject, it appeared, was physically sound, temperate, and clean-living, with a healthy, optimistic outlook upon life. (Perfectly correct, of course, bub such perfections would be apparent to the meanest intellect.) With regard to the future, she did not claim to reveal, but merely undertook to outline probable developments from present indications. Her subject, she observed, had literary promise, and would be well advised to travel along that pathway. (Noted for consideration as to possible ways of getting this valuable recommendation brought under the editorial notice.) With regard to affairs of the heart-, the indications were uncertain. Apparently the affections were not yet settled. (Horrors! And Julia and I on the point of fixing the day! Surely, she ha-s already suspected the trinket still in my pocket.) Turning to domestic affairs, she announced with accuracy the number and sex of her subject’s nearest relatives, also describing with remarkable fidelity some of their characteristics, tier word pictures of his parents were surprisingly truthful. That she could not have had previous knowledge of these relatives was beyond shadow of doubt Things were becoming decidedly interesting. I would apply a test. I bethought mo of one who had recently died, and who in Life, a victim to the disease of inebriety, had shipwrecked his own and his family’s fortunes. Reserving to myself these facts, I interrogated. “ I see,” said “ Madame,” appearing to fix her eyes upon some object in space just behind me, “a bearded man of about 60 years, tall and broad-shouldered, evidently a man accustomed to manual labour.” (Correct in every detail.) Alive or dead ? “ He died not very long ago—within a year.” As to his character? Averting her eyes as though avoiding the gaze o c someone standing behind me, “Madame” replied: “ I do not like to answer such a question. It is not nice to speak ill of the dead, but he was neither a good husband nor a good father. It was drink that spoiled him.” Wonderful, surely ! I pressed to know what objection there was to speaking the unpleasant truth about the departed, and why she had averted her gaze while doing so. “ The person I described I saw standing behind you just as plainly as I see you,” replied “Madame.” “That is why I am able to give you the description, and that is why I involuntarily turned away, ” Speaking of their faults, she added, gave additional pain to the departed, who were already expiating them. We should help those who had passed into the next world in their sins by thinking and speaidng kindly and forgivingly of them. Had I brought a token? It was produced. “Madame” handled it tentatively, scarce looking at it, and then commenced to speak The message the trinket gave her, she said, was somewhat confused. Evidently the article bad been owned by others before it came into the possession of its present owner, for the impress of several persons was upon it. (Had I better assure her of the perfect honesty of my friend? Later I learned Horn the owner that the trinket had been sent to her from far-away parts, and that it had a history.) The present owner, continued “ Madame.” was a lady short and slight, rather delicate; a person of some culture. “ It seems to me,’’ she ejaculated, the scent evidently getting hotter, “ that I am entering and Co.’s office one day. As I go up the steps the owner of this trinket is ahead of me. She holds the door open while I enter, and as I turn to the left to go to the counter she turns to the right and goes along the passage to another room.” Wonderful! Whether or not the trifling incident ever occurred I know not, but certain it is that not only had she accurately described the lady who had entrusted the trinket to me, but she had

traced her to the very room in the office in which she was employed, for a typist’s room in that office is to the right from the main door, whilst the counter is to the left. The. “reading” was concluded. As I left the apartments the order of my going was no longer furtive, for however debatable the uses to which she was putting it, “ Madame ” had demonstrated to conviction that she possessed in marked degree that faculty, as yet little known to the mass of humanity, by which it_ is possible to get into communication with another mind merely by personal contact, or through contact with some article previously handled by the person with whom communication is desired. “Madame" no longer gives “readings ” for the enlightenment of the innocent but. inquiring worldling. She has been translated ere this to another sphere, where, perchance, all may do their own “ readings.” And we are to think and speak kindly and forgivingly of the departed..