Democratic Northwest and Henry County news. [volume] (Napoleon, O. [Ohio]) 1894-1905, 1894-06-14


tell the fortunes of women, from the
palace boudoir down to the kitchen.
It is mistake to suppose that the
belief in fortune telling is confined to
the ign 1T cl: g. No doubt tho
servant girl, the sallor about to make o
voyage, or the workingman who finds
himself in love, will quietly seek out
the fortune teller; but the best, be-
cause the most profitable patrons of the
professional prophet are the rich, and
principally women, who are Jealous of
their lovers or doubtful of their hus-
bands.
Ihave recently seen a collection of
papers from all the British colonies,
from South Africa, and the principal
cities in Europe, and in each and every
one have found the card of the pro-
fessional prophet couched in nearly the
same language and claiming the same
power to lift the veil of the future. The
continuance and extent of this business,
or industry, or profession, is the best
possible evidence that it has been, is
and will continue to be profitable. No
matter the place or the language in
which these advertisements appear, all
have striking similarity, and, as in
the spiritual medium business. women,
all of whom cali themselves MADAM"
somebody, appear to have a monopoly
Of the trade, and advertise their special
qualifications for the work in q most
monotonous and businesslike way, I
have before me a number Of these cards
from different parts OF the world, all of
which look as if they had been written
by the same hand. For example: Un-
der the general head of "Astrology,"
in a leading Partisan paper, read the
following:
1.-THE celebrated Nine. A., the sew
enth daughter of seventh daughter,
tells the past, present and future With
invariable accuracy. Will show pic
ture of future husband. Terms, to
ladies only, very moderate. Hours,
from 10 a. m. to 1Op. m. Ring second
bell"
The magic number seven seems to be
potent with these professional prophets,
and in the past, as in the present, they
seem to attach to the seventh daughter
of a seventh daughter certain powers
of prophecy that are denied children
born in the usual order. One might
think the seventh daughter of a seventh
doughteP very rare person indeed;
but If we are to believe the advertise
ments that appear in the papers all the
world over, there are thousands OF
them, all blessed with the gift Of
prophecy, and all using that gift for
their own profit and, presumably, for
the enlightment of their many clients.
In Great Britain and on the continent
Of Europe certain powers of divination
are popularity believed to attach to
what Is known as 'caul." This ''caul"
is sort of animal parchment, some-
times found over the face and head of a
new born babe. From time immemorial
belief has existed that child born
with this unusual attachment is par
| ticularly blest and less liable to mis-
fortune than the rest Of humanity.
Not only does the caul confer special
favors on It's original possessor, but it
is supposed to carry with it and convey
to its owner the power of looking into
the future, and Is an infalltble protec-
ton against shipwreck and disaster by
food. Formerly, If not at present, sea
captains attached 30 much Importance
| to the possession of q caul that they
have been known to pay large sums for
one, believing that so long as they had
it on their ship no wreck could come
! to it and none of the crew could be lost
by drowning. Whenever an article
becomes marketable and there is for it
an assured demand, human ingenuity
is sure to supplement- the deficiencies
of nature, like the Yankee with his
wooden nutmegs, and so in many Of
the European ports the manufacture Of
cauls, from the intestines of animals,
became regular business, and as there
was no means OF discovering the deceit
we may be sure that these artificial
cauls were quite as effective as those
produced in the regular way.
Some of the astrologers advertise
the possession of caul as an extra in
ducement to their customers. One of
these advertisements reads ss follows.
''The old and world renowned Nine. G.
has in her possession a caul which was
carried by Capt. Cook in his many voy-
ages around the world, and to its pos
session he attributed the success of his
many expeditions. Mime. g. cuts cards
with tnvariable success, and she counts
among her patrons tens of thousands of
people who live near the sea, or have
friends whose business is on or near the
water. Ladies' and seafaring men only
need apply at No. -"
But even more potent than the pos
session OF q caul, or being the seventh
daughter Of a seventh daughter, are
the peculiar prophetic qualities which
are believed to attach to the descend
ants OF a gypsy monarch. BY actual
count there are in the prophecy busi-
ness today more than 300 gypsy queens,
who announce themselves as the daugh-
ters OF gypsy kings, fact which goes
to erove that gypsy kings are very
DR.. Hands Collie Cure in Ohio.