Lancaster daily intelligencer. [volume] (Lancaster, Pa.) 1864-1928, 1881-01-12
Na1lcaster fntelliqe1lcer.
EVENING, JAN. Il, 1881.
A New Jersey Seeress.
An Old Woman Who ID the Sensation
Thriving Agricultural COMMUNITY.

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An Old Woman Who is the Sensation OF .
Thriving Agricultural Community.
There lives in Kingwood township, near
Frenchtown, n. j., woman about whom
all the neighbors for miles around are ex-
cited, and whose fame promises to spread
throughout the central portion OF the state.
Already the news of the wonderful power
of prophecy which she possesses has
reached the ears of the quiet farmers in the
upper counties. and small parties come
every day or two to visit her. Her name
is Clark, and she is probably about sixty
five wears old. Born IL Hunterdon coun-
ty, she has, since her marriage, forty three
years ago, resided in various parts of Hun
terdon and Wrrren counties. The first
indication Of the power which she is be
lieved to possess appeared in early life,
during Methodist revival. From girl
she had been of an emotional disposition,
readily moved to tears, and Sometimes
completely prostrated by an appeal from
the pulpit. It was during the nervous
moments that she seemed imoued with
the gift of remarkable foresight, and made
predictions about the future veal or woe
of her family and friends. Many of these
prophecies are said to have been literally
IulIlICu. LlCI ICIA pOa AhShS AhN Po"SA W
foretelling filled all her friends with GER
tain awe, which has always existed: Mrs.
Clark is a sensible woman, however, and
endeavored as best she could to drive away
all fear of herself and her power, although
maintaining her belief in some wonderful
gift bestowed upon her. Wherever she
lived. sooner or later, reports would be
circulated respcc TIM her nature, and she
s,1A ho ~ l1oI N qYQrClSn her Wis
dom.
As the years passed, her nervous attacks
are understood to have become mOrs fire.
queut, and therefore, her prophetic utter
ances have been more numerous. Settling.
some time ago, in her present home, she
is known by every man. woman and child
in tue vicinity, and scarcely person lives
within circuit of ten miles who has not
had his or her history recOuntcd and for
tune told. If they came when the old lady
was in robust health they sometimes failed
to procure what they wished, for she then
had neither inclination nor the talent to
remove the veil from the future. There
are some, of course, who deride the whole
thing, and laugh at Mrs. Clark's predic-
tions, but the majority of the rural folk,
being more Or less superstitious, have
great faith in her sayings. Several cases
Of extreme melancholy and sickness arc
said to have been produced through un-
pleasant disclosures made Ey the old lady
to the victims, and others have recovered
from long illness when inspired with hope
by an interview with the prophecies. The
neighbOrs are usually loud in her praises,
and declare in the most unqualified way
that she has told them circumstances in
their lives could not possibly have learned
in the ordinary course Of events. Hence
their extreme faith in her predictions.
Young men seek her advice regarding mar.
riage, aud being given 4 description OF
their swecthearts, boldly lay siege to tho
damsel whose features she portrays. con
fidently expecting favorable response.
Maidens of rustic beauty seek this oracle
t. ascertain the conduct of their lovers
and many a country lad is believed to have
been repulsed by some hIdcous revelation
of his life during one of the nervous spells
Industrious husbandmen inquire as to the
prospects for their crops, aud the wayside
grocer cOnsults her as to the size of his
next invoice of merchandise.
While many Of her clients insist that
her power is that of the spiritualist OF
clairvOyant, the old lady herself protests
against such All accusation. he make:
no pretensions to be under the guide o.
an Indian chief or 4 great spirit of some
kind, nor does she resort to any mysteri
GUS incantatirns. Her nude OF procedure
: is by means of the palms Of her hand ol
the veins Of the temples. She request
her visitors to hold ont the hand before
her with the palm upwards and the,
dictates what seems to her to be tn
truth by reading the arrangement o
the veins. Her utteranccs come
freely, seeming to require little study
Once in while she hesitatcs, and will
sometimes place her hand upon the in
quirer's head. Considering the numbe
of persons consulting her, there is yer.
little repetition about her predictions
Her happiest faculty seens to I've the righ
use of names, both past and future. an!
the graphic descriptions of places and per
sons. The age of the woman and the cor,
tiDual strain upon her nerves renders he
life very uncertain and seems to incTcas
tho anxiety Of those who have heard of he
lest they should fail to have their futnl
revealed before she dies.