The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1871-03-26

| other that it might have taken years to create
under different circumstances The visit was
so agreeable, in fact, that Mr.. Dro}l was
pleased with the INVITATION given to call again
His sunday walks thereafter usually included
visit to Mrs. Collins, aud frequently during the
week he would stop in for q few moments. AT
these times he took great pleasure in assisting
Mary with her studies, and often brought her
books that he thought would be useful or en-
pertaining. He was fond of music, and as an
amateur, was considered excellent per-
former on the piano, violin or flute, the latter
of which he sometimes brought with him, and
varied their amusements with music. Philip
usually accompanied Mr. Droll in his visits to
Mrs Collins or was there before him. He now
with Mary, than he had ever done at school and
as MIR. Droll always included him in his in
strnctions, often jokingly said that lie was
now attending college and that when he grad
nated he expected to get Droll diploma.
CHAPTER vIII.-4----
Although is is a common saying that "the
age of miracles has past,' and no longer
find the kings and rulers of Christian conn-
tries, or their statesmen and lawgivers, wise
judges and men versed in science and litera-
ture, consulting sooth-saycrs and astrolOgists.
asking of them the unwilling of the future, and
yielding to their predictions implicit belief,
aud to their mandates Il blind obedience yet
we hnd the descendants or successors of the
mysterious men of science who nourished in
the middle ages, still practicing the arts and
wiles of the profession. Whether it is that
ths once hpble-ar. or; that the world has be-
come so practical to regard all pursuits as
mere trades and matters of business, or that
the superior intelligence of the age has dis
covered it to be the veriest humbug, which
ought to be exploded, certain it is that the
professors who pursue it are no longer looked
upon with that respect and superstitious awe
that characterized their lives in I" the good old
days" Yet there are many of them who do a
very lively business, and amass immense for
tunes-tbe test in these latter days of success
deserving hnu have 1,a;v T>1
lowers, who pay profound reverence to their
powers, their visitors from curiosity. and
through the credulity, hopes, fears and ridi-
reap their harvest.
Madame Clementine Pavalio, was one of the
most celebrated fortune tellers, and astrolo-
gists of the city. She understood her calling
to IL nicely, and while she ad vertised extensive.
ly, her cards and circulars were SO we'll word
ed, and her appeals 80 judiciously made, that
even those who ridiculed the idea of belief in
such science, were drawn through curiosity
to visit her rooms. She claimed to treat her
subject scientifically, and with new and i'm
proved apparatus to assist her, she read the
past, present and future, assisted in consum-
mating matrimonial engagements gave q like
ness and told the disposition of the future
husband or wife of the applicant She des-
cribed the friends and pointed out the enemies
of her visitors, and warned them of the dan
gers hanging over the future. She often gave
information that led to the arrest of thieves
and defaulters, and the recovery of articles
been important in their results, and these with
the facility and accuracy with which she had
read the past lives of some of her most inn
portant clients had gained for her wide rep
utation and left deep impression on the
minds of few of the most incredulous. If
they had been allowed peep behind the scenes
as we shall presently take, their wonder would
have been much abated.
Her residence was n brown stone front house
of imposing appearance, near Broadway, on an
uptown street, and the silver knob to the door
bell, was encircled by a handsome band of the
same metal, bearing in plain, but not over
grown letters, the name, Madame Clementine
Pavalio. On one side of the spacious hall, by
which the house was entered, there hung q
magnificent oil painting of Puck, starting on
a mission to girdle the earth, while opposite
there stood marble statue representing for
tune in the act of emptying her horn of plenty.
The consultation room, which looked out upon
the street, was large with high ceilings, and the
high windows that reached nearly from floor
to ceiling were shaded by elegant lace and da-
mask curtains. The furniture was of elaborate
pattern, rosewood and satin, of the finest
quality and newest styles. On the mantle
piece, which was loaded down with costly or
naments there was upright card case of
mother of pearl supported by pedestal of pure
gold, and in this the cards of fortune were
placed, after being shuftied for dealing. On an
elegant marble top center table there stood
miniature globe, on which all the countries of
the earth we've delineated with accuracy and
in the best style of art. A large pier glass
was placed between the windows opposite to
which was the horoscope of destiny, so con-
triyed that while the visitor uns uspectingly
looked into it, the astrologist quickly took
their photograph, which could be afterwards
used, either to gather more particulars about
the principal. or to send to some distant cor
respondent, as the likeness of a future partner
in life
(To be contnuedJ
The Benedictine Monastery of St. Melnrad, Spencer