New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1855-12-07
THE FOR TUNE TELLING MANIA.

with kindly courtesy to pick up brick which lad
fallen from the oveIchsrged he'd of aborer whs was
toilDg with bis load up the countless steps of the
OTaIgerie. When arrived at the summit, the man
to thank the fair lady for the service aud Look
ing in her face with the warmth Of gratitude for such
unexpected kindness on the part Of any Of the ladies
sbeut the court exclaimed Madame, you will one
day be greater than queeD-for you will live TO
suhdue one who has already subdusd the world"
In the delight Of hearing these words Of prophecy,
Msdsme Scanon tore from her neck the locket Of
gold which she wore-a gift it is ssid Of her royal
pppi-ana thrust it into the bronzed hand of the
prophets whereupon, Madame de Nontespsn, burst-
ing int . loud laugh exclaimed ironically: Had
cot your majesty better have deferred the display of
such regal generosity until the accomplishment Of the
golden prsmise''
"Look at The gray hairs and deep sunk wrinkles Of
the sesr," replied the widow with composure; "the
reward if delayed till them would arrive too ste"
Every one has heard the story Of Napoleon, when
at valenoe, having given by sudden
elan of gratitude the enormous sum Of petit ecu,
being three days pay, to bsgsar who freSold that
be weuls live to wear the crown Of France; and when
his companions rallied bin upon his creduliy and upon
such undue generosity which would send hin supper
kss TO bed, be testify replied" Why should not be-
" Level Am i not better than swine herd, and
Sirius v. rose TO be Pope OF last"
In both cases the prediction must have fallen like
the true coin is the balance Of the money changer,
ringing with sts ting echo upon the heart and giving
proof Of ts sterling vaue Each one must have felt
that it would have been mourning camorous censure
and bitter irony to express aloud, that although the
fuflmeDt might be difficult yet it was not impossible.
The one placed bis trust what nos likely TO de-
eeive-tbe weakness and the vanity of oihes while
The ysuDg soldier knew well that he could place reli-
ance on his own bold Darlington his own ambitious
split
We were led into these reflections by passage in
IN old number Of the Journal des D<bats which an.
nsunced without comment The death OF c<e6re decin-
erese one Of the successors of the celebrated Mile lie
Normsnd, and upon whom, possibly, her mantle had
fallen, who might have s.ood by moonlight in her
shaeow. Ana 1t thus occurred TO that there were
many imitators of his school in America principally,
however, in the City Of New York-women and men
Who adopting tie roles of disciples in the Black Art,
practice the grossest imposition upon the ignorant and
the unwary; their numbe, is legion. OF these many
assume TO read e-destoies in the stars, Others in
cards, while even that most papable Of oil humbugs,
palmisry, is sometimes called into requsition In
fact it is puzzle what it Is that drives with
such mysterious cage To seek every tanty
of tarcbipg into the dim of the vailed fature
None can ,e whence first arose the desire, but all
have felt it at period of their lives-the pros
porous and happy, the bereaved and desolsts; and
although it has been considered proof OF weakness
and superstition yet there numerous instances on
record wherein the most powerful and vigorous minds
have been led captive by this weak and vain ouros
y laying their pride of intellect prostste at the feet
of those whom they would otherwise disdain, CONSENT
ing to become the dupes Of the most gross AMI igno.
rant quackery, beguiled into listening With comps
cency to the visions OF spendor if aided by one single
Circumstance which may insure the ioity of It's
occurrences never osllog TO mind the bumbeIless ex-
amples wherein such prophecies havo proved fAa-
cious but the one or two single ns wherein such
greatness has been achieved, and where invariably
the talents or esprit de condUis subsequently, DIS
play ed by the individual have justified without su-
pernstu agency, his or her promotion to grea mess.
BY far the most numerous class Of our fortune
telling humbugs are the clsirvoy ants; individuals who
pIsc nee magnetism without ever having heard Of the
Able Foiia, and are only capable Of establishing
rapport between themselves and tie amsun; of b.ir
fee. There is feature in this species Of impoeti,n
which partakes Of toe horrible We refer 81 the clair
voy ant ply scisIs who not only impostors-they
are, in many cases, direct assassins. FJr vhst dis
linctions arc We to draw between the man who kills
with the revolver the knife and he who marders by
On rnioious nosumsi In such cases the lie diff
ielent but the effect is the BY his assumptions
Of re the quack leads the poor and deluoed
victim to place confidence in him-,o pursue The sys
tenn which he recommends, although in reality that
system is simply inmedis death. Bot the impo,tor
becomes weslthy; he lie extravagsntly paid for the
fsse conQ,rr is extensively pstrosized, and meets
with rapid sale for his peshfsrous concoctions and
nisnsmed remedies. Nov, of the two, the street.
aisss,in is rather an improvement upon the ola.voy-
ant Assessin-becsuse in the first place, bis work is
dspe more sIp.oiiiopsly and with greater dsgee of
comfort to the victim whose last mcs ps consolsd
by he consciousness thst there possibility of the
murderer being brought to the g.lows. Ia the case
OF the claivoysnt however there 10 such pleasant
hope to confer happiness on Ones last moments From
this is qsite evicent that death at the hands of
GAnv0yant lie not the most az eeable manner Of re-
ceiviDgit
That there is an Undesirable something in the
science Of magnetism which ju.tfes certain degree
OF faith In 1t, we are wiling to admit, bu, hew any
one possessed OF e c,mmon amOant Of h.ins and
education place confidence in the sons Of
The modern scbool of cIsirvoysnt chsrlatans we are
at Ices 20 understand. Let hope thss these fool.
form the exception in our socety,-let US hope thu,
tie world in lie civilized aggregate, has lost faith 10
msgicisns--ior otherwise what glory or advantage
would here be in wisdomi That secret agents exist
IN Nature, V universally Known; and maca good has
resulted from them, snd the most marvellous effects
have been predaced by their study. Yet they srstOo
~ xlse tad aye -.
setc fluid is said, by the oicipes of Mssmv to be