New-York tribune., 1871-04-22

nrocress of the Nineteenth Century tns' ,., IN,
TO be found, even in the een'e ., no ah,e 10 fore
enough 10 consult persons who pie'e solootad a,
. - oan,s II 100 individuals were Seioo.eu ~
cast future nd asked If they believed 1t pos
hap-hah'" =" '"s sdict what their future lives would
s'e iV -' - cav that not more that one would answer
po, " S .o. and vet from the number OF astrolo-
- sootbsayers and clsirvoyah's VINO au'eruso AZ
80 =, the daily and weekly papers, IL is certain tnat
- larger proportion Of our citizens 10 ptrOze tnese
stors For what purposef surely IL is not possible
.r, eo ooo nersons-which may be estimated as about
rl, average Of visitors TO these false prophets in
rotvcan I'm the course of year pay away from 81 10
a. MICE for information which most of them believe TO
ha fase In looking carefully over the advertisements
ono cause for this extensive patronage will be found III
che fact that these women-for the business is
a,nost wholly nonopOlized by that sex-beside
nene fortune-tellers, do large business in medical
xay They generally style themselves "Medical Clair
vovant" the practical meaning Of which only he
conveyed by using of the ugliest words In the
English language. There is however, another business
in which these engaged, sheltering IL under
the name OF AstroOgy. 1t traffic. for the successful
pursuit Of which their peculiar position in respect to
society admirably fits them, and little understood
ON account Of the strict secresy maintained, and the
fear of personal publicity which fills the minds of its
victims and deters them from making their wrongs
known This business, which is pursued by the great
majority Of these women is nothing less than
the trade of the Procuress.
TRIBUNE reporter has lately been engaged in making
some cations 10 this horrible business and the
way which IL is conducted; and has in the course or
his Inquiries visited with exceptions, every
female fortune teller in this city, His account OF his ex-
periences is necessarily written in constrained man.
ner many Of the most startling facts are subdued In
marathon and much of the conversation which would
strikngy illustrate the monsrous nature of the trans
actions is entirely suppressed The reader therefore,
syfxa f1a IN fha MIA
without exceeding by hairs breadth the boundaries OF
reality In order thoroughly to investigate the matter,
the reporter found that would be necessary In his COM
muncatiOns with these women TO act as II he were de-
srous Of avaing himself of their infamous services
1t the only possible of arriving at the truth
In the following account, therefore, it must be promised
that this the object for which these visits were made
also that the reporter supposed 10 be stranger
in the city.
PLENTY OF SCHOOL GIRLS TO CHOOSE FROM.
The first visit made by the reporter was TO the
house Of Madame Ross, No. st, between
Broadway and seventh-ave. The house is small, two
story wooden structure, having but room on each
floor and has both in the interior and exterior very
diapidaed appearance. An old negress came TO the
door, and, after little questioning, ushered him
into a small, dngy room, dimly lighted by kerosene
lamp. MADAME is busy, now," she said but will see
you in a few moments" In the mean time the murmur
of voices could be heard, persons conversing
in rather excited manner in the room above. This
soon stopped; quick step and the rustic Of dress
heard the stairs and passed out at the front
door. Immediately afterward an order came from the
upper apartment TO show the gentleman up" The
room in which Madame Ross sat was even darker and
more dingy than the below but when the reporters
ewes had accustomed 10 the deficient light he saw
that the eeress feeble imitation Of MoOres Prophet
had her face completely hidden from sight by vail
fastened around her head In tone intended TO De IN
tensey tragca prevented from being so by an un-
stakabe brogue he asked the purpose OF MS Nsl
Putting on as much OF appearance OF confusion as IL
ispossble for reporter TO assume he replied that MS
life had been greatly troubled and that he wished 10 ma
out what change the future had in store for him.
Asa conclusive test Of her ability her high calling,
Madame Ross adverses that she will tell the name OF the
visitor the lady who TO he his wife, and cause, II
necessary speedy marriage She therefore requested
the reporter to sit down small table on which was
spherod of glass about the size of ostrich to put
his left hand upon IL and 10 write piece of paper
his name the OF the lady, and the question he de-
sired to have answered. While he doing this she
went behind him and opened the door of a stove.
Now throw it in here" she said, and then put both
hands on the glass, and while you wishing viii 30
away and let the spirits talk to me-"
The paper on which inscribed two supposititous
Names was carefully passed through the stove door and
rested lightly on the ashes of what long ago might have
been fire but as the reporter turned slowly round to
resume the strict attention demanded by the
mystic glass he the deft hand Of the sorceress re-
move the paper from the stove and take 1t away with
her the other end Of the room where with her back
toward him, she began commune with the spirits This
lasted but short time and then the oracle spoke I'll
hardly necessary say 10 what an extent the vista OF
the reporters future life was revealed TO him. The
names that had been written the paper were very
spty thrown in during the communication which closed
with the comforting assurance that things is going TO
change for good for you Having allowed her 10 finish
what she had to unfold, the reporter said
Mgdame Ross this the particular object for which
j sought you. What you have said TO me may be true
enough but have not the pleasure Of knowing either
of the persons concerned in the matter it hardly
have much interest for it otherwise would" He
then stated has been promised the of his VISIT
and asked her if she could be of any assistance in help
ing him TO what he wished To this she answered
have large number of lady visitors come to see me
every day. and many Of them desirous of forming
connections Of this sOr but suppose these hardly
the kind you want. Oh, yes There quantities OF
schoolgirls and young ladies hat work in shops that
visit me; but many OF them quite young and are
under the charge OF their parents and though s not
very difficult 20 bring about arrangement of this kind
81 they are still allowed 70 live at hone when you take
them away entirely their parents raise fearful row,
and If they can find them send them TO tho Peniten-
tary. Still, If you wish 1t so, Will under
take TO find one for you. From 10
TO H. you say2 Well, give me your address
and VIII write to you in day or two On, no. you need
not feel troubled about not being suited for you DO
NOT ike the one first see just say So and can easily
md another one for can't say how long 1t Will be
before can hnd one. Perhaps just the person you would
IKE VIII De IN to see me within hour; on 1t may be
twoo three DAYS; hardly more than that, though.
40 MT nave any regular charge for this sort OF business
III suit you, OF course shall expect you TO make me
some KIND oil present, but that am perfectly willing
to leave TO YOU am certain that can satisfy you aud
you look like man who will do the right thing by any
one who does that for you The reporter gave an ad
dress-one OF the uptown hotelsat which letter might
be certain Of not reaching him. paid the one dollar which
the regular fee charged by the seeress and as
quickly possible found his way into the open air.