Shoulder-Straps: A Novel of New York and the Army, 1862

by Henry Morford

  CHAPTER XII.

  FORTUNE-TELLING AND OTHER SUPERSTITIONS--THE EVERY-DAY OMENS THAT WEHALF BELIEVE--ORIGINS OF THIS WEAKNESS--FORTUNE-TELLERS OF NEW YORK,BOSTON AND WASHINGTON.

  While Tom Leslie has gone around to Broome Street on his undeclarederrand, and while the ladies are making an excuse to while away the timeuntil his return, in the discussion of the after-dinner provocatives toindigestion recommended, let us enter a little more closely upon asubject merely indicated in the foregoing chapter, and then sneered atby at least one of the conversationists--that of the fortune-tellingimposition which so largely prevails, especially in the great cities,and the general course of human superstition in connection with it.

  It may be set down, as a general principle, that every man is more orless superstitious--that is, impressed with ideas and omens which gobeyond the material world and bid utter defiance to reason. Every womanis certainly so. It is not less undeniable, meanwhile, that nearly everyman and woman denies this fact of their natures and considers the mereallegation to be an insult. Oftenest from the fear of ridicule, butsometimes, no doubt, because any discussion of the matter is deemedimproper,--few acknowledge this peculiarity of nature, even to theirmost intimate friends: some, who must be aware that they possess it,deny it even to themselves. The subject is set down as contraband,universally, unless when the weakness of a third party is to beridiculed, or a personal freedom from the superstition asserted; and yetthis very silence and the boasting are both suspicious. No man boasts somuch over his own wealth as he who has little or none; and no man is sosilent, except under the influence of great excitement, as he who has agreat thought oppressing him or a great fear continually tugging at hisheart-strings. The most hopeless disbelievers in the Divine Being, thatcan possibly be met, are those who seldom or never enter into acontroversy on the subject; and the least assured is he who oftenestenters into controversy, perhaps for the purpose of strengthening hisown belief. There _are_ Captain Barecolts, of course, who go bravelyinto battle after venting boasts that seem to stamp them as arrantcowards, and who come out of the conflict with stories staggering allhuman comprehension; but these cases are rare, and they do not go beyondthe requisite number of exceptions to justify the rule.

  Perhaps the most general of the ordinary superstitions of the country isthe indefinable impression that the catching a first sight of the newmoon over the right shoulder ensures good fortune in the ensuing month,while a first glance of it over the left is correspondingly unlucky. (Itmay be said, in a parenthesis, that the fast phrase, "over the left," soprevalent during the past few years, to indicate the reverse of what hasjust been spoken, has its derivation from the impression that such anuntoward sinister glance may neutralize all effort and bring notablemisfortune.) Of a hundred men interrogated on this point, ninety-fivewill assert that they hold no such superstition, and that they havenever even thought of the direction in which they first saw the new moonof any particular month. And yet of that ninety-five, the chances arethat ninety are in the habit of taking precautions to meet the youngcrescent in the proper or lucky manner, or of indulging in a slightshudder or feeling of unpleasantness when they realize that they haveaccidentally blundered into the opposite.

  Next in prevalence to this, may be cited the superstition that anypointed article, as a knife, a pin, or a pair of scissors, fallingaccidentally from the hand and sticking direct in the floor or thecarpet, indicates the coming of visitors during the same day, to thehouse in which the omen occurred. Hundreds and even thousands ofhousewives, not only the ignorant but the more intelligent, immediatelyupon witnessing or being informed of such an important event, makepreparation, on the part of themselves and their households, if any arefelt to be necessary, for the reception of the visitors who are sure toarrive within the time indicated by the omen. Some, but not so many, addto this the superstition that the involuntary twitching of the eye-lidor itching of the eyebrow indicates the coming of visitors in the samemanner; and many a projected absence from the house is deferred by ourgood ladies, from one or another of these omens and the impression thatby absence at that particular time they may lose the opportunity ofseeing valued friends.

  Next in generality, if not even entitled to precedence of the last, isthe superstition that the gift of a knife or any sharp article ofcutlery, is almost certain to produce estrangement between the giver andthe receiver--in other words, to "cut friendship." Ridiculous as thesuperstition may appear, there is scarcely one of either sex who doesnot pay some respect to it; and of one thousand knives that may happento be transferred between intimate friends (and lovers) it is safe tosay that not less than nine hundred and ninety have the omen guardedagainst by a half playful demand and acceptance of some small coin inreturn, giving the transfer some slight fiction of being a mercantiletransaction. The statistics of how many loves or friendships have reallybeen severed by non-attention to this important precaution, might besomewhat difficult to compile, and the attempt need not be made in thisconnection.

  Thousands of musically inclined young ladies have serious objections tosinging before breakfast, quoting, not altogether jocularly, the proverbthat "one who sings before breakfast will cry [weep] before night,"which no doubt had its origin in a proverb derived from the Orientals,that that--

  "The bird which singeth in the early morn, Ere night by cruel talons will be torn."

  Not less unaccountable, and yet impressive, are some of thesuperstitions connected with marriage, death, and the departure offriends. A belief very generally prevails that when a couple enter achurch to be married, if the bride steps at all in advance of thebridegroom, he will be found an unwilling and unfaithful husband; whileif the opposite should happen to be the order of precedence, even by afew inches, the marriage tie will prove a happy and long-enduring one.The belief that the bridal hour should occur during clear weather, isperhaps a natural one, and derived from well-understood natural lawsaffecting the physical systems of those entering into such intimaterelations; but the superstition goes further and considers sunshine onthe bridal day a specific against all the possible ills of matrimoniallife. This feeling supplies half of a doggrel couplet which came to usfrom the Saxons, and which blends marriage and burial somewhatsingularly:--

  "Happy is the bride that the sun shines on; And blessed is the corpse that the rain rains on."

  There are thousands of persons who have objections to counting thenumber of carriages at a funeral, from the superstition that the one whodoes so will very soon be called to attend a funeral at home; and thesame objection exists to putting on, even for a moment, any portion of amourning garb worn by another, under the impression that the temporarywearer will in some way be influenced to wear mourning very soon forsome lost relative. No doubt fifty other and similar superstitionsconnected with death and burial might be adduced, even without alludingto those of more frightful import and now very little regarded, whichbelong more peculiarly to the Eastern world, and which inculcate theleaving open of a window at the moment of death, to allow theunrestrained flight of the passing soul, and reprobate the leaving ofany open vessel of water in the vicinity of the death-chamber, in thefear that the disembodied spirit, yet weak and untried of wing, may falltherein and perish!

  One more superstition, connected with the departure of friends, must benoted--the more peculiarly as there is a sad beauty in the thought. Verymany nervous and excitable people fear to look after those who are goingaway on long journeys or dangerous enterprises, under the fear that sucha look after them may prevent their return. One peculiar instance of theindulgence of this superstition, and its apparent fulfilment, happens tohave fallen under notice, during the present struggle. When thePresident's first call for volunteers was made, among those whoresponded was one young lad of eighteen, a mere handsome boy inappearance and altogether delicate in constitution, who left acomfortable position to fulfil what he believed to be a stern duty. Hehad two female cousins, of nearly his own age, and with whom he had beenin close intimacy. Goin
g away hurriedly, with little time to bestow onfarewells, he called to bid them good-bye one dark and threateningnight. Some tears of emotion were shed, and the sad farewell was spoken.When he passed down the walk, both the cousins stood without the doorand watched his figure as it grew dimmer and disappeared in the dusk ofthe distant street. When they returned to the cheerfulness of thelighted room, the younger burst into tears.

  "We have doomed him," she said. "We watched him when he went away, andlooked after him as long as he could be seen. He will never come back.His young life will fade out and disappear, just as we saw him fadingaway in the darkness."

  A month later the young soldier was dead; and something more thanordinary reasoning will be necessary to persuade the two cousins--theyounger and more impressive, especially--that their gazing after him didnot cast an evil omen on his fate and a blight upon his life. Anothernear relative has since gone away on the same patriotic errand; but whenthe farewells were spoken in the lighted room, the two girls escaped atonce and hid themselves in another apartment, so that they should noteven see him disappear through the door. When last heard from,[10] feverand bullet had yet spared him; and what more is needed to make the twoyoung girls hopelessly superstitious for life, at least in this oneregard? They are not the only persons who have seen and felt that_fading out in the darkness_ as an omen; for the same observer who oncestood on the bluff at Long Branch, as a heavy night of storm wasclosing, and saw the "Star of the West" gradually fade away anddisappear into that threatening storm and darkness--unconscious that shewas to emerge again to play so important a part in the drama of thenation's degradation,--the same observer saw the same omen at Niblo'snot long ago, when the poor Jewess of Miss Bateman's wonderful "Leah"fell back step by step into the crowd, as the curtain was dropping, herlast hope withered and her last duty done, and nothing remaining but to"follow on with my people."

  [Footnote 10: February 1st, 1863.]

  And at all such times Proserpine comes back, as she may have castwistful glances towards the vanishing home of her childhood, when therude hands of the ravishers were bearing her away from the spot whereshe was gathering flowers in the vale of Enna; and we think of Orpheustaking that fatal, wistful last look back at Eurydice, with the thoughtin his eyes that _could not_ give her up even for a moment, whenemerging to the outer air from the flames and smoke of Tartarus. Wistfulglances back at all we have lost are embodied; and all these long,agonizing appeals of the eye against that fate of separation whichcannot be longer combated with tongue or hand, are made over again forour torture.

  It has been said that some persons endeavor to deceive themselves withreference to their holding any belief in omens and auguries. And some ofthose who by position and education should be lifted above gross errors,are quite as liable as others to this self-deception. Quite a largecircle of prominent persons may remember an instance in which a leadingDoctor of Divinity, renowned for his strong common-sense as well asbeloved for his goodness, was joining in a general conversation on humantraits and oddities, when one of the company alluded to popularsuperstitions and acknowledged that he had one, though only one--that ofthe "moon over the shoulder." Another confessed to another, and stillanother to another, while the Doctor "pished" and "pshawed" at eachuntil he made him heartily ashamed of his confession. The man of thelunar tendencies, however, had a habit of bearding lions, clerical aswell as other, and he at last turned on the Doctor.

  "Do you mean to say that _you_ have no superstitions whatever, Doctor?"he asked.

  "None whatever," said the Doctor, confidently.

  "You have no confidence in supernatural revelations in any relation oflife?" pursued the questioner.

  "None whatever," repeated the Doctor.

  "And you never act--try, now, if you please, to remember--you never actunder impression from any omen that does not appeal to reason, or aremade more or less comfortable by the existence of one? In other words,is there no occurrence that ever induces you to alter your course ofaction, when that occurrence has nothing whatever to do with the objectin view, and when you can give no such explanation to yourself as youwould like to give to the outside world, for the feeling or the change?"

  "There is nothing of the kind," replied the Doctor to this longquestion. Then he suddenly seemed to remember--paused, and colored alittle as he went on. "I acknowledge my error, gentlemen," he said. "I_have_ a superstition, though I never before thought of it in the lightof one. I am rendered exceedingly uncomfortable, and almost ready toturn back, if a cat, dog or other animal chances to run across the waybefore me, at the moment when I am starting upon any journey."

  The laugh which began to run round the company was politely smothered incompliment to the good Doctor's candor; but the fact of a universalsuperstition of some description or other was considered to be veryprettily established.

  But the conversation did not end here; and one who had before bornelittle part in it--a man of some distinction in literary as well aspolitical life,--was drawn out by what had occurred, to make a statementwith reference to himself which exhibited another phenomenon insupernaturalist belief--_a man who not only had a superstition andacknowledged it, but could give a reason for holding it._

  "Humph!" he said, "some of you have superstitions and acknowledge themwithout showing that you have any grounds for your belief; and theDoctor, who has also a superstition, does not seem to have been aware ofit before. Now _I_ am a believer in the supernatural, and I have hadcause to be so."

  "Indeed I and how?" asked some member of the company.

  "As thus," answered the believer. "And I will tell you the story asbriefly as I can and still make it intelligible,--from the fact that asevere head-ache is the inevitable penalty of telling it at all. Iresided in a country section of a neighboring State, some twentyyears-ago; and about three miles distant, in another little hamlet of adozen or two houses, lived the young lady to whom I was engaged to bemarried. My Sundays were idle ones, and as I was busy most of the week,I generally spent the afternoon of each Sunday, and sometimes the wholeof the day, at the house of my expectant bride, whom I will callGertrude for the occasion. I kept no horse, and habitually walked overto the village. I had never ridden over, let it be borne in mind, asthat is a point of interest. I very seldom rode anywhere, and Gertrudehad never seen me on horseback.

  "It happened, as I came out from my place of boarding, one fine Sundayafternoon in mid-winter, that one of the neighbors, who kept a number offine horses, was bringing a couple of them out for exercise. They werevery restive, and he complained that they stood still too much andneeded to have the spirit taken out of them a little. I laughinglyreplied that if he would saddle one, I would do him that favor; and hethrew the saddle on a very fast running-mare, and mounted me.Accordingly, and of course from what appeared a mere accident, I rodeover to the place of my destination.

  "There was a small stable behind the house occupied by the family of mybetrothed, across a little garden-lot, and I rode round the housewithout dismounting, to care for my horse. As I passed the house, I sawGertrude standing at the door, and looking frightfully ill and pale. Ihurried to the stables, threw the saddle from my horse, and returnedinstantly to the house. Gertrude met me at the door, threw herself intomy arms (a demonstration not habitual) and sobbed herself almost intohysterics and insensibility. I succeeded in calming her a little, andshe then informed me of the cause of her behavior. She was frightened todeath at seeing me come on horseback; and the reason she gave for thiswas that the night before she had dreamed that I came on horseback--thather brother, a young man in mercantile business a few miles away, alsocame on horseback (his usual habit)--and that while her brother andmyself were riding rapidly together, I was thrown and his horse dashedout my brains with his hoofs!

  "Here was a pleasant omen, or would have been to a believer in thesupernatural; but I belonged to the opposite extreme. I laughed atGertrude's fears, and finally succeeded in driving them away, thoughwith great difficulty, by the information that h
er brother had gone Westthe day before and could not possibly be riding around in this section,seeking my life with a horse-shoe. She was staggered but notsatisfied--I could see that fact in her eye. Still she shook off theapparent feeling, and we joined the family. Half an hour after, herbrother rode up and stabled his horse--he having been accidentallyprevented leaving for the West as arranged. At this new confirmation ofher fears, very flattering to me but very inconvenient, Gertrude fellinto another fit of frightened hysterics; nothing being said to any ofthe members of the family, however. I succeeded in chasing away thissecond attack, with a few more kisses and a little less scolding thanbefore. With the lady again apparently pacified, we rejoined thecompany, and the evening passed in music and conversation. The shadowdid not entirely leave the face of Gertrude, and she watched mecontinually. For myself, I had no thought whatever on the subject,except sorrow for her painful hallucination.

  "At about ten o'clock, the brother rose to go for his horse, and Iaccompanied him to look after mine but not to go home, for the"courting" hours--the dearest of all--were yet to come. At the stable,as he was mounting, we talked of the speed of his horse and of the one Irode; and he bantered me to mount and ride with him a mile. There was asplendid stretch of smooth road for a couple of miles on his way, andwithout a moment's thought of Gertrude I threw the saddle on my horseand rode away with him, the people at the house being altogether unawarethat I had gone farther than to the stables.

  "I have no idea what set us to horse-racing on that Sunday night; butrace we did. Both horses had good foot and the road was excellent,though the night was dusky. Before we had gone half a mile we weregoing at top speed. When we reached the end of the hard road he was alittle ahead, and I banteringly called to him to 'repeat.' He wheeled atonce, and away we went like the wind. From turning behind, I had alittle the start, and kept it. Perhaps we were fifty yards from thehouse, when my mare stepped on a stone, as I suppose, and went down,throwing me clear of the stirrups, up in the air like a rocket, and downon my head like a spile-driver. I of course lay insensible with acrushed skull; and the brother was so near behind and going at suchspeed that he could not have stopped, even if he had known what was thematter.

  "Noise--lights--confusion. Gertrude bending over me in hystericscreams--so they told me afterwards. Part of the hair was gone from oneside of my head, dashed off by the foot of the brother's horse, that hadjust thus narrowly missed dashing out my few brains. That is all,gentlemen. The dream-prophecy was fulfilled within that hair's-breadth(excuse the bad pun), by a succession of circumstances that were notarranged by human motion and could not have been expected from anythingin the past; and until some one can explain or reason away thecoincidence, I shall not give up my belief that dreams are sometimesrevelations."

  Perhaps it is idle to enter upon any speculations as to the origin ofthese superstitions in the human mind; as they may almost be held to bea part of nature, having a corresponding development in all countriesand all ages. Some of the worst and most injurious of superstitions--thosewhich involve the supposed presence of the dead, of haunting spectresand evil spirits, destroying the nerves and paralyzing the wholesystem--unquestionably have much of their origin in the "bug-a-boo"falsehoods told to children by foolish mothers and careless nurses, tofrighten them into "being good." Thousands of men as well as women neverrecover from the effects of these crimes against the credulous faith ofchildhood--for they are no less. Then there are particular passages inour literature, sacred and profane, which do their share at-upholdingthe belief in the supernatural, especially as connected with theuninspired foretelling of future events--"fortune-telling." The caseof the Witch of Endor and her invocation of the spirit of Samuel, whichis given in Holy Writ as an actual occurrence and no fable, of coursetakes precedence of all others in influence; and the superstitious manwho is also a religionist, always has the one unanswerable reply readyfor any one who attempts to reason away the idea of occult knowledge: "Ah,but the Witch of Endor: what will you do with _her_? If the Bible istrue--and you would not like to doubt that--she was a wicked woman, notsusceptible to prophetic influences, and yet she did foretell the futureand bring up the spirits of the dead. If this was possible then, whynot now?"

  From the church we pass to the theatre, and from the Book of all Booksto that which nearest follows it in the sublimity of itswisdom--Shakspeare. No one doubts "Hamlet" much more than the First Bookof Samuel, and yet the play is altogether a falsehood if there is norevelation made to the Prince of the guilt of his Uncle; and thespiritual character of the revelation is not at all affected by thequestion whether Hamlet saw or _thought he saw_ the ghost of hismurdered father. Again comes "Macbeth," and though we may allow Banquo'sghost to be altogether a diseased fancy of the guilty man's brain, yetthe whole story of the temptation is destroyed unless the witches on theblasted heath really make him true prophecies for false purposes. Thesesublime fancies appeal to our eyes, and through the eyes to our beliefs,night after night and year after year; and if they do not create asuperstition in any mind previously clear of the influence, they atleast prevent the disabuse of many a mind and preserve from ridiculewhat would else be contemptible.

  It was with reference to fortune-telling especially that this discussionof our predominant superstitions commenced; and this indefensiblyepisodical chapter must close with a mere suggestion as to the extent towhich that imposition is practised in our leading cities. Very few, itmay be suspected, know how prevalent is this superstition amongus--quite equivalent to the gipsy palmistry of the European countries.Of very late years it has principally become "spiritualism" and thefortune-tellers are oftener known as "mediums" than by the olderappellation; and scarcely one of the impostors but pretends to physicthe body as well as cure the soul; but the old leaven runs through all,and all classes have some share in the speculation. Sooty negresses, updingy stairs, are consulted by ragged specimens of their own color, asto the truth of the allegation that too much familiarity has beenexercised by an unauthorized "culled pusson" towards a certain wife orhusband,--or as to the availability of a certain combination of numbersin a fifty cent investment at that exciting game known as "policies" or"4-11-44," erewhile the peculiar province of that Honorable gentlemanwho (more or less) wrote "Fort Lafayette." And, _per contra_, morepretentious witches (the women have monopolized the trade almostaltogether, of late years) are consulted by fair girls who come in theirown carriages, as to the truth or availability of a lover or thepossibility of recovering lost affections or stolen property. How manyof those seeresses are "mediums" for the worst of communications, or howmany per centum of the habitues of such places go to eventual ruin, itis not the purpose of this chapter to inquire.

  There are three recognized "centres" in the loyal States--each a city,and supposed to be an enlightened one. New York, the commercial,monetary and even military centre; Boston, the literary andintellectual; and Washington, the governmental and diplomatic. Taking upat random the first three dailies of a certain date, at hand--one fromeach of the three cities--the following regular advertisers are shown,quoting from each of the three "astrology" columns and omitting thedirections.

  New York: eleven. No. 1.--"Madame Wilson, a bona-fide astrologist, thatevery one can depend on. Tells the object of your visit as soon as youenter; tells of the past, present and future of your life, warns you ofdanger, and brings success out of the most perilous undertakings.N.B.--Celebrated magic charms." No. 2.--"Madame Morrow, seventhdaughter, has foresight to tell how soon and how often you marry, andall you wish to know, even your thoughts, or no pay. Lucky charms free.Her magic image is now in full operation." No. 3.--"The Gipsey Woman hasjust arrived. If you wish to know all the secrets of your past andfuture life, the knowledge of which will save you years of sorrow andcare, don't fail to consult the palmist." No. 4.--"Cora A. Seaman,independent clairvoyant, consults on all subjects, both medical andbusiness; detects diseases of all kinds and prescribes remedies; givesinvaluable advice on all matters of life." No. 5.--"Madame Ra
y is thebest clairvoyant and astrologist in the city. She tells your verythoughts, gives lucky numbers, and causes speedy marriages." No.6.--"Madame Clifford, the greatest living American clairvoyant. Detectsdiseases, prescribes remedies, finds absent friends, and communesclairvoyantly with persons in the army." No. 7.--"Madame Estelle,seventh daughter, can be consulted on love, marriage, sickness, losses,business, lucky numbers and charms. Satisfaction guaranteed." No.8.--"Mrs. Addie Banker, medical and business clairvoyant, successfullytreats all diseases, consults on business, and gives invaluable adviceon all matters of life." No. 9.--"Who has not heard of the celebratedMadame Prewster, who can be consulted with entire satisfaction? She hasno equal. She tells the name of future wife or husband--also that of hervisitor." No. 10.--"The greatest wonder in the world is the accomplishedMadame Byron, from Paris, who can be consulted with the strictestconfidence on all affairs of life. Restores drunken and unfaithfulhusbands; has a secret to make you beloved by your heart's idol; andbrings together those long separated." No. 11.--"Madame Widger,clairvoyant and gifted Spanish lady; unveils the mysteries of futurity,love, marriage, absent friends, sickness; prescribes medicines for alldiseases; tells lucky numbers, property lost or stolen, &c."

  Boston: thirteen. No. 1.--"The great astrologer.

  "The road to wedlock would you know, Delay not, but to Baron go. A happy marriage, man or maid, May be secured by Baron's aid.

  "He will reveal secrets no living mortal ever knew. No charge forcausing speedy marriages and showing likenesses of friends." No.2.--"Astonishing to all I Madame Wright, the celebrated astrologist,born with a natural gift to tell all the events of your life, even yourvery thoughts and whether you are married or single; how many times youwill marry; will show the likeness of your present and future husbandand absent friends; will cause speedy marriages; tells the object ofyour visit. Her equal is not to be found--has astonished thousands byher magic power." No. 3.--"Madame F. Gretzburg will ensure to whoeveraddresses her, giving the year of their birth and their complexion, acorrect written delineation of their character, and a statement of theirpast, present and future lives. All questions regarding love, marriage,absent friends, business, or any subject within the scope of her clear,discerning spiritual vision, will be promptly and definitely answered... so far as she with her great and wonderful prophetic and perceptivepowers, can see them." No. 4.--"Prof. A.F. Huse, seer and magneticphysician. The Professor's great power of retrovision, his spontaneousand lucid knowledge of one's present life and affairs, and his keenforecasting of one's future career," etc. No. 5.--"Mrs. King will revealthe mysteries of the past, present and future, and describe absentfriends, and is very successful in business matters. Also has an articlethat causes you good luck in any undertaking, whether business or love,and can be sent by mail to any address." No. 6.--"Mrs. Frances,clairvoyant, describes past, present and forthcoming events, and allkinds of business and diseases. Has medicines," etc. No. 7.--"Prof.Lyster, astrologer and botanic physician." No. 8.--"Madame Wilder, theworld-renowned fortune-teller and independent clairvoyant ... isprepared to reveal the mysteries of the past, present and future." No.9.--"Madame Roussell, independent clairvoyant, is prepared to reveal themysteries of the past, present and future." No. 10.--"Madame JeromeNurtnay, the celebrated Canadian seeress and natural clairvoyant, ...will reveal the present and future." (This one clairvoyant, it will beobserved, has no _past_.) No. 11.--"Mrs. Yah, clairvoyant and healingmedium ... will examine and heal the sick, and also reveal businessaffairs, describe absent friends, and call names. Has been verysuccessful in recovering stolen property." No. 12.--"Madame CousinCannon, the only world-renowned fortune-teller and independentclairvoyant," etc. No. 13.--"Madame Mont ... would like to be patronizedby her friends and they public, on the past, present and future events."

  Washington: nine. No. 1.--"Madame Ross, doctress and astrologist. Wasborn with a natural gift--was never known to fail. She can tell yourvery thoughts, cause speedy marriages, and bring together those longseparated." No. 2.--"Mrs. L. Smith, a most excellent test and healingmedium sees your living as well as deceased friends, gets names, readsthe future." No. 3.--(Here we have the first male name, as well asapparently the most dangerously powerful of all). "Mons. Herbonne, fromParis. Clairvoyant, seer and fortune-teller. Reads the future as well asthe past, and has infallible charms. Can cast the horoscope of anysoldier about going into battle, and foretell his fate to a certainty."No. 4.--"Madame Bushe, powerful clairvoyant and influencing medium. Hassecrets for the obtaining of places desired under government, andlove-philters for those who have been unfortunate in their attachments."Nos. 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9 differing not materially from those before citedas able to read the past, present and future, rejoin the parted andinfluence the whole future life.

  And here, as by this time Tom Leslie must certainly have accomplishedhis business in Broome Street, and Joe Harris and Bell Crawford sippedand eaten themselves into an indigestion at Taylor's--this examinationof a subject little understood must cease, to allow the three to carryout their projected folly. But really how much have superior educationand increasing intelligence done to clear away the grossest ofimpositions and to discourage the most audacious experiments upon publicpatience? And yet--what shall be said of the facts--uncolored andundeniable facts--narrated in a subsequent chapter?