The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1851-06-18
" Mon Pitcher "

The celebrated Mary Pitcher, pro-
fessed fonune.teller, died on the ninth oi
April, 1913, at the age of seventy-hve
years. Her grandfather, John Diamond,
lived at Mafblehead, and was for many
wears celebrated for the exercise of the
same preiensions. She was married to
Robert Pitcher, Of Lynn. in 1850, and
had several children. This person has
been more celebrated than any individ-
uaI of her class in modern times. Not
only was her name known in most towns
throughout the United States, but prob
ably there is not port in Europe, vis-
tied by American ships, that has not
heard of the skill of u" Aloll Pitcher"
Many persons came from places far re-
mote, To consult with her on affairs oi
love or loss Of property, or to obtain her
surmises respecting the vclsslludes ol
their future fortune. Evefy youth who
was no, assured Of the reciprocal afiec-
ton of his fair one, and every maid who
was desirous of anticipating the hour of
her highest felicity, repaired at evening
to the humble dwelling of Molly Pitcher,
which stood on what was then lonely
road, near the foot of High Rock, with
a single habiation nearly opposite, al
the gate Of which stood two bones OF the
great whale, which the waves of ocean,
in the Itberaiity of their power, had cast
upon the beach. TO that place, also,
were seen repairing sailors from the
lneighboring commercial towns, who
| we're desirous of ascertaInmg the prob
able success of their future Voyages.
Many reputable merchant, too, OF whose
treasures On the faithless waves the cour-
Ter of intelligence had not brought the
expected information, AM being fearful
of belraying the nature of his business
10y lnqulriug directly for "Mol Pncher.
has raised smile by asking in what par
of the town he should fiud the homes o
the great whale.
Her skill was principally exercised io
The discovery Of things lost, either ma
terial objects, which had been mislaid o
purloined, or the affections OF some dis
cousola,e fair one, which had taken th'
advantage of some favorable opportunll.
to elope Her power Of evil. If she pos
sessed any, was never exerted, unless tt
/ punish such delinquents as refused t.
, pay her for the knowledge which she pre-
: tended to impart Some instances hav
been related. in which she has evlnce
an unusual degree of dscernment whil
IN others her assertions have had no re
alton to facts but appear TO have bee
II e result of mere guess-work and pre-
, SUMPTION. Her only osiensible means {
obtaining secret knowledge was the SIN
# pie use Of fairgrounds, poured in cup
and as the grains were disposed in a p'
II culiar manner, or assumed peculi;
= form, so she judged of things to whlc
she fancied resemblance. She al:
walled herself of every ordinary moo
nf information, particularly by causlr
= one of her domcs,ics 10 talk with h
visitors, to elicit the nature of their bu
RS mess, while she remained in an adlol'
e ing room, pretending to be abse'
II These arts, added TO her natural shrew
st ness. and readiness to seize the sligh!e
hint which might assist her in her su
" m:scs, appea: to have constituted 4
whole amount of her power.
!. Her sagaciiy bore no proportion
the iufatuation of those who trusted
it, She seems even to have adnlll
re this, especially in one instance. wh
Y some gentlemen offered her large SUI
~ If she would inform them what tick
.u would draw the highest prize in CO
b, tain uery. Do you think" said 81
lal "ifIknew, should not buy il myself
m Whatever may have been the wl,chcr
his recognized in the Hebrew law, wheil
x an actual communication with evil splri
s' or the practice of d 'ceplion by the me'
- - of false prelensions, an impartial inv
" tigaiion Of the facts respecting NJ
az Pitcher" justiiIes the conclusion that
Is? skill had no other foundation than
IN practice of common arts, assisted by
lp unusual degree of shrewdness aud d
Is cernmeni. -Le,ois History Of Lynn
ut The Cause Of it.
rn (.,onI mas, Of ,