The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-01-03
FORTUNE TELLING IN NEW YORK.
Some of the Men Who Foretell Events-A
Strange Incident Of Prophecy.
sno.;., : a.. ,na,.n.r.,i lis Journal.

Special to the fndIanapo.s 1ournai.
NEW YORK. Jan. "a fortune teller VINO
styles himself doctor" was recently locked up
for obtaining money under false pretenses. New
York is full of these fellows, and it is surprising
to think, in the present state Of the worlds de-
velopment, that there are fools enough to make
their calling steadily lucrative. A successful
practitioner of the mysterious art of fortune
telling may build up profitable business and es-
tablish a reputation among a class of people who
will consult him in regard to their affairs, and
repose even greater confidence in his predictions
than they do in the advice of regular physi-
clan. Moreover, the astrologer always does
cash business, which gives him the ad-
vantage over his authorized brethren of the
healing art The doctor who was arrested
the other day occupied an apartment on the sec
ond floor of a house on Sixth avenue. Those
who sought advice received it in little dark
room adorned with charts of the heavens, skulls
and other paraphernalia suggestive of mystery.
The astrologer sat behind table covered with
writing materials, and always wore bright red
flannel robe and.a red cap, with horns All this was
revealed to the visitor by a dimly burning lamp.
The doctor" was always ready to give advice
on matters of love. business or health. In the
words of one of his disciples, he could least
your horoscope FOR so cents. tell you your past
or future for dollar, and for S. note he'd peer
heap into your future and give you your past
from way back"
There is another fortune teller in New York
who does very large business, and that, too,
without the aid Of red robes, skulls or other
mysterious appurtenances. A friend of mine
took me to see him once We found him in the
basement of an old-fashioned house in part of
the city which is fast crumbling into decay. His
reception room was a decidedly matter -of-fact
place-as much so, in fact as if it had belonged
to dentist. The walls were decorated with
chromos. noticed among others copies of those
Awake" ''The Orphans Dream" and Pm
Grandmother Now" The only picture that was
at all suggestive OF the true character of the
place was one representing a disheveled female
cinging to rock and entitled Faith"
There were perhaps half dozen people in the
room, and we had to wait fully an hour and
half before our turn came to be admitted. These
people were chiefly women There was also an
immistakable gambler with dyed mustache and
keen, hard eyes, and tallow faced youth, with
weak mouth and long hair who might have
been dry goods clerk with poetical aspirations.
One of the women was5 middle-aged and of
matronly appearance Another wore green
bonnet, and was Enthusiastically an Irish servant
about the last ball of the Lonesome Coterie"
and their love affairs" The most attractive
person in the room was a lady of evident refine
ment, whose features were hidden by
VEIL and who sat quietly in an obscure
corner of the apartment. At last we were
admitted to the wizards private Office. which
was cozy and cheerful and warmed by CRATE
fire. There were books on shelf, curtains at
the windows and student lamp on the table at
which the fortune-teler sat. He was a stout
man, rather gray, and his eyes We're bright and
keen. He invited Us to be seated, and then, in
brisk, business-like manner, began to least
our horoscopes" My friend told him the exact
time of his birth, and then he made various cal
culations and sat for few moments in deep
thought. He paid no attention to US. apparent
ly, but seemed to concentrate his thoughts on
the signs and figures which covered the little
chart. Then he began to talk confidently and
seriously about the planets which were in con-
junction at the moment of my friends birth, and
then remarked: II think you had severe mis-
fortune when you were quite young-lost
near and dear relasive-your mother or father
perhapsW My friend nodded. and the wizard
proceed to give more information concerning his
past, followed by predictions concerning his
future. He spoke Of letters which he might ex
pect of people who would come to see him from
over the sea, and INDUCED in other gypsy-like
prophecies. A great deal that he said was true
but there was one of his prophecies which, in
the light of after events impressed itself upon
me-
'"There is matter of business which has been
in progress for some time" he said with his eyes
fixed on the chart, ''and which will be concluded
definitely in about six weeks. At the end of
that you may enter into partnership with some
one. 1t will prove unfortunate if you do. but as
can see no disaster hanging over you think
you will form the partnership"
THAT was exactly true about the business to
be concluded in six weeks" said my friend as
soon as we had gained the street, 'and l have
almost concluded to go into business with
Gresham. Well, don't think what he said will
scare me out of it. Ill go ahead just as if l had
not paid him fifty cents for his advice"
About three months later he stopped me in
the street and said: "Well, it's lucky for me
didn't 60 into partnership with Gresham. had
just made all arrangements with him when he
died in the hospital of delirium tramens"