The Northern star, and farmers' and mechanics' advocate. [volume] (Warren, R.I.) 1830-1834, 1830-07-31
From London Paper.
SECRETS OF FORTUNE
TELLING;

An Austrian Officer, the Baron Won
w., who served in 1863 in the war with
the Turks, lived few years at B..
He was fond of relating the various anec-
dotes of his military life, and among 9TH
ers the following, which we give in the
Baron's own words:+
I" In the spring Of the year 1888 set
out for Miclosvar, in Transylvania, to con
duct number of recruits to my regiment,
which then lay in the vicinity Of Orsown.
In village near the army lived gip-
so, who carried on the trade of suttler.
NV new soldiers, who were extremely su-
perstitious, asked her to tell their fortunes;
l laughed at them, and at the same time
held my hand to the gypsy. "The Goth
of August" said she, with very signii-
cant air, and without adding another syl-
liable. / wished to obtain some explana-
ton, but she repeated the same words, and
as l was going away che called out to me
in the same tone, L" The Goth of August"
1t may be easily supposed that this date
remained impressed upon my memory.
/ "We Joined the army, and shared its
fatigues and dangers. 1t is well known
in this war the Turks gave no quarter
Their Chiefs offered premium of "a ducat
for every head that should be brought into
the camp, and neither Janssaries nor Spa
his neglected any opportunity of earning
this reward. This arrangement was par
ticularly fatal to our advanced posts; there
was scarcely night but what the Turks
came in superior numbers to seek for
heads, and at day break it was often found
that part OF the camp had been guarded
only by decapitated trunks. The Prince
Of Cobarg resolved to send every night
strong piduets Of cavalry beyond the chain
of videttes, for the purpose of protecting
them. These piqucts were composed OF
100 or 200 men; but the Turkish Gener-
ais, finding their troops disturbed in their
retail trade, sent still more numerous de-
. taehments against our piquets, which pro-
! cured them still thore considerable prof
it. The service of the piquets was OF
such nature that those who were ap-
pointed to perform it always put their af-
} fairs in order previous to their departure.
: Things were in this state in the month OF
, August; several battles had not changed
the position of the army. A week before
the Goth, my fortune-tellet, of whom had
frequently purchased provisions, again
) made her appearance: she entered my
;. tent, and requested me to leave her a leg
: acy in case / should die on the day, she
h had predicted, and offered, in case dit
e not, to make me present of hamper o
t Tokay. This wine was rarity in the
r army. The gipsy appeared to me not tc
: have cominon sense; in the situation il
:. which then was speedy death was no
: improbable but l had no reason to expec
: it precisely on ihe Goth of August. ac
e ceded to the proposal, stalking two horses
8 and SO ducats against the old woman
d Tokny, and the Auditor took down our a
!, greement in writing but not without laugl
y ing. s. :.
: "The Goth of Augiist came Their
d was no probability of an engagement. l
was indeed the turn Of our regiment to fur
ii,ish piquet for the night, bat two Of IN.
comrades were to go out before me. il
y the etening, az the Hussars were prcpar
c ing to set off, the surgeon fthe regimen
+ came to inform the Commnndunt that IN
e officer named fof the piquet was danger
,, ously i'll. The one next to him, and VIII
: preceded me, received orders TO take hi
e place. He dressed himselfi in haste, an
e was proceeding to join his men, bat hi
:. horse, a gentle and quiet creature, sud
n denly began to prance and capef in sue
In a manner that lie at last threw his rider
as and broke his leg in the fall. II was m
III turn; set on, but, j must confess, not i
'e my ordinary humour. commanded 8
: men, and was joined by 100 men belong
r. ing to another regiment, making in tn
IN whole 200 men. Our post was abor
ne 1000 PAGES in front Of the line offhe rigl
lis wing, and we we're supported by mars
I'd covered with very high reeds. We ho
o. advanced no sentinels, but not man wa
ar allowed to leave his saddle. Our ordel
al were to remain with drawn swords an
loaded -carbines till day break. Ever
a thing was quiettill quarter before tw
to O'Clock, when we heard noise, whic
rd wns succeeded by shouts OF Allah" ar
n in minute all the horses thrown to Il