The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-03-23
WITHIN A GYPSY TENT.
EXPERIENCE OF a TIMES REPORTER
At THE WANDERERS CAMP.
A soothssyer sojourning Near Our Bor-
dsrs Tells Him Of His Past and Pre-
dicts what His Future VIII BE.

You would be surprised 20 know nov
many individuals there are in Rich nonc
who have a mania for familiarzing them
selves with everything that pertains TO .h'
future. They are not satisfied with
thorough knowledge Of the past. Bless
you. no. The past won't do. The present
too. is not sufficiently spicy. and Eel
low must know what Is going to happen "a
him, so as 10 make ris calculations &C
cordngly
IL wouldn't be very difficult to realize
what big crowd OF curious folks greeted
the prorhesying GYPSY who was encampe1
on the roadside just this side OF the YORK
River railroad crossing one Sun lay after
noon.
There was nothing less than seeth'nS
mass OF humanity on the grounds. FUZZY
fifteen hundred people crowded around
eagerly awaiting an opportunity 10 nave
their fortunes told. Curiosity was at n
premium. and every age and stage OF life
found s,anding-room around the nys-
FERROUS tent.
At one time excitement ran high. Peo-
pie talked In loud tones, some quarrelled.
Others tried TO do the peacemaker act
and in the course Of the proceedings a
big night enlivened thu occasion, and two
men named Morgan lost no time in eX-
ercising their pugilistic skill upon the
person OF colored man. Waveriy west
by name. Stones were brought into use
by the Morgan men, and In short ume
many Of the attendants were under the
Impression that Waverlys features were
in a most unsatisfactory condition.
. Notwithstanding the interest that cen
tired In the fight things we're gradually
ouieted down. Waverly's anatomy was re-
moved from the scene and the big crowd
again swerved towards the tent or the
mysterious fortune-teller.
The prophecies is a bona-fde Gypsy.
No fake about her. She's the genuine ar
ticle. with long. straight. jet-black hair.
rudy complexion. end a peculiar voice
that inspires one with n feeling OF anx-
ious uncertainty. She has ner tent, par
rot two or three young Gypsies, num-
Der Of Notwithstanding beads. and all
the paraphernalia necessary TO the art of
looking down the vista of the past and
peering through the great uncertainty of
the future.
A hundred or two people paid down the
half dollar TO hear the sOOthsayer dis
course. Some were to have good luck
and marry their sour old neighbours rich
daughter: others were TO amble about the
world, encounter n thousand or more
thrilling adventures. and wind up the ball
with a hard-fought but successful battle
against some great enemy; while quite
a number were TO be happy, wretched.
prosperous unfortunate. wealthy. famous
and all the conditions known 10 mankind.
had my doubts as 10 reliability of the
prophets predictions. and finally decided
TO test the thing to my own satisfaction.
few moments later l was seated in
mn Il
as TO make the interior present ghostly
appearance, and in a voice that made my
blood run cold. the mysterious woman
began TO recall to my memory a dozen
or more "reminiscences In my past career.
She said j was a tickle young man. How
she ever discovered this fact was ques-
ton with me. for I was quite sure had
never made any effort TO get up a romance
with her.
While trying TO think Of the source of
her information, she dalied with my
hand while, studied the lines and
curves. and seemed TO be perfectly at
home in the little game OF palmistry she
was carrying on in her harmless way.
This did not disturb me very much, and
] prepared for the next statement, which
was to the effect that ii would not be
long ere should be a married man. This
was out of the question. for necessity
has doomed me to retain a seat on the
bald-head row.
After a number Of prophecies. In which
l am to figure as a sort of Don Quixote
knight-errant, the feminine soothsayer
began on my past career. She told me
a number Of things l had achieved dur
ing the past year. all of which were cor
rect TO the letter. My hair began to stand
on end. my eyes assumed the dimensions
OF saucers. and / was in a very doubtful
state NJ mind IN what
While thus rejecting, the Gypsy made
n dive into my private love affairs, which
are very limited and totally theoretical.
She declared / had that day received a
letter from a distant maiden. How she
knew this was at loss TO conjecture.
But Il was true.
A number Of other statements she made
with equal accuracy. and the word "con-
jure' began to loom up in Caring pro-
portions. In fact. she gave me com
plete history of my life during the past
five years. and with few exceptions hit
the nail on the head In every instance
am not particularly superstitious but
for the life Of me / cannot tell how she
'sized me up" so accurately.
You can readily imagine my delight
when the prophecies predicted that some
accommodating old unknown relative was
going TO do the correct thing. and spring
up Just in time to "shuffle off the mortal
coil" and leave me the necessary funds
10 take In the naval rendezvous next
month.
II you want your fortune told, go down
and see the Gypsy. She can enlighten
you on number Of interesting topics IN
regard to the future and I venture she
Will inspire you with mysticism at her
knowledge OF your past. Wonders will
never cease"
I'm waiting patiently for the snug little
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