Rock Island Argus., 1895-11-08
DESTINY REVEALED.
HOW THE FUTURE IS READ BY CHI
NesE sooThSAYeRS.

Nese sooTHsAYERs.
4 simple Wsy q Telling Fertunes With
Sticks at . Cost Of Cent-Mors Eiab.
ersts ssd Proportisaatesy More Expe,.
sivs Methods.
In s'ery Chinese community there
will be found one or more soothsayers
or fortune teilers, who, in return for a
small coin, will send a fate seeking
Chinaman away either happy or miser-
able. The Chinese quarter in New York
supports three Of these fortune ju2glers,
who manage TO make fairly good liv-
ing ont ct their patrons. In this country
the soothsayer is not SO important a
personage among Cinnamon as he is in
China, f1r the influence of "Melican''
man has affected even stolid John.
Many Of them beast of their indifference
to the angurics Of the "luck" sticks.
In China the lower classes never
take any step Of importance without
consulting their favorite soothsayer, so
that he exercises considerable influence
among his customers. The Chinese fes-
tival on their New Years day is the
great day to take a peep into the future,
and the Chinese come into New York
from all the neighboring towns which
are not strong enough in Cinnamon to
support a fortune teller. One Of the
soOtlsayers plies his trade Oh the side
walk in hot weather. Another has his
headquarters close to the Chinese the
ater, while the third is in the josshouse
i'll Mott street. Every josshouse has its
fortune telling appliances, which are
kept i'll front Of the altar ready for the
use of the worshipers. There are sew
eral kinds Of apparatus used to tell for
tunes. One of them consists of two
pieces Of wood, which are round OH one
side and fiat on the other.
When some supcrstitiOus Chinaman de-
sires to have his fortune told, lie pays 10
cents to the soothsayer, and asks the seer
what prospect there is for him in the
near future. The man Of fate mumbles
an incantation over the two pieces of
wood, and then throws them upon the
ground. Upon their position depends the
fate of the anxious customer. If they
both lie with fat side up, it il mod
erately bad sign and calls for great eau
tion on the part Of the fortune seeker in
his conduct during the coming year.
When one is round side up and the other
fiat side mp, the augury is extremely
favorable. and the Chinaman goes on
his way rejoicing. II both turn round
side MP, the outlook is exceedingly
gloomy and something terrible may be
expected To happen soon. The idea is to
so frame the question that the position
Of the sticks will give an answer one
way or another. The customer asks. for
instance, whether tomorrow will be @
good day or not tn open laundry bust
ness. II the answer is unfavorable, he
names u month ahead and awaits the
verdict of the sticks upon that PROPOSE
tion. He continues until he gets one M
round and one fiat and makes his plans
accordingly.
The instruments found in the loss.
house are those most generally used and
consist Ut u large number of bamboo
strips in handsomely carved cylindric.
nj box. Each strip is about ten inches
long and a quarter of an inch wide.
They are all polished to high degree
Of smoOthness and squared off at one
end, the other end being round. The
strips are all numbered from one up.
ward. generally running us far as so.
Sometimes there are 100 in box, but
rarely more. In this case the auRury
costs so cents, but fan and some Joss.
sticks are thrown in.
The Chinaman wishing to learn his
fate chooses at random one of the little
sticks, and reads aloud the number on
it. The soothsayer then goes to board
upon which are strung number Of red
slips of paper, numbered i'll the same
way rs the bamboo sticks. Upon each
ticket Is written the fate of the Gus
toner and the one corresponding in
number with the number on the stici
which he has drawn is detached from
the board. When translated, a lucky
ticket will read something like this
Though dark clouds now roll over youl
head. the fates will ultimately smil,
upon you. All your undertakings will
prosper and your path through life will
he strewn with the flowers Of peace
A Tribune reporter drew one which
was interpreted us meaning: "Riche.
and good fortune will be your torch
bearers throughout your career. and il
the smile Of Buddha shall you bask
Your heart shall glow with happines.
even rs the steady glow of the JOS
stick
1t is not absolutely necessary that til,
Chinaman wishing to have his forum,
told should be present. Many customer
remit the fee. and the fortune tellel
draws for them and mails the little rec
ticket which contains the result Th,
results are not always favorable and tn,
most CHASTITY predictions are contained
on some Of the slips, which greatly re
semble laundry tickets.
The higher grade Of soothsayers pre-
dict fortunes by means Of casting /,
horoscope. which is something like tina
employed by astrologers. Another meth
nd is by means Of an ordinary magneti,
compass, which is set in round disk O
xs-,,l lee L.,