The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1895-02-20
Laughing at Latiner.
q Congressman in the Hands
Of g. ClaIrVoyant.

Just come 10 lSuC tOl some Gays
past this gentleman has been attend
ing to his Congressional duties, wear
ing a long forlorn countenance as if
his last friend in the world had left
him This is made more prominent
by The contrast Of an exceedingly Joy
fll co%untenance which he exhibited
but a Short time ago. Though Mr
Latimer has been asked probably ten
times a day the cause of his troubled
look he has eve yet given a salts
factory answer, bot rather hestows a
clerical smile and changes the sub.
ject. The real cause, however, has
transpired and is said can be attribut-
ed to a clairvoyant and a number o!
friends Of Mr. Latimer who desired to
have some fun at his expense
1t appears that for a long time the
wonderful power of a prominent
Washington clairvoyant was being
continually brought to Mr.. Latimer's
attention. He talked to some friends
about her, and received in solemn
looks and tones the highest recon-
mendations. They all knew people
that had interviewed her, aud said
she told them wonderful things that
had turned out as she had said. The
desire to know something ofhis future
persuaded Mr.. Latimer until he at
last gave in aud visited the clair
voyant.
Now in some way that was not
revealed the history Of the Congress-
MAI and a few incidents of his life
we're told to the %clairvoyant previous
to his visit, and of course, when he
came she was perfectly prepared.
She told him his occupation, age, the
district he was from and numerous
happenings of his life. He was natu.
rally astoundeu and would, ofcourse,
believe anything she said of his
future. Your future" said she,
"will be a brilliant one. You are not
a politician, but a statesman. You
will not come back to Congress as a
Representative, but as a Senator. The
senior Senator from your State is in
very poor health and will live but
six months. When be dies there will
have to be a successor and it is willed
that you are to succeed him in the
Senate"
1t is understood that Mr.. Latimer
was so overcome that he paid double
for the information. lie knew that
Senator Irby had not been feeling
we'll for some time, but he didn't
know that be was in such dangerous,
health. He felt sorry that the Sena-
tor vas going to leave us, but the
c~lairoyant told him nothing in the
world would stop it AS for himself
he was delighted. He was for some
time the j%olliest fellow n would
care to meet He was always wish
ing his friends a long life and sue
cessful future, and in fact some Of his
acquaintance, who were not in the
joke, thought that lie must have
struck a gold mine and wishing they
were in his place The schemers
said never a word. His happiness
was, according to the old saying,
600 good to last" With but the
throw Of a stone the glass house was
shattered.
A group of Congressman among
whom were Representatives lzlar
and Latimer, were clustered toghtner
one evening telling yarns, and one
thing led to another. when Repre-
sentative lzlar held the attention Of
all by a narrative of his visit to a
cIairvoyant. Mr. Latimer, it is said,
was very attentive.
81 called on a clairvoyant the other
day." began Mr. Izlar, "and | am
inclined to believe some of the
things she said. According to her
statements | am not a politician, but
a statesman She said that the sem
ior Senator from South Carolina was
going to die in six months time, and
that | was to succeed him, but not
directly, for another Representative
would succeed him first, but that he
would die three weeks after his install
lation and | would he elected to fill
the remainder of the term and also tor
the long term.
The crowd laughed, and the
schemers turned their eyes on MI
Latimer. He had turned pale ARD
was seemingly very nervous. 1t was
not long before he left the crowd and
went home. Since then he has been
completely broken up. 1t was the
intention Of the jokers to reveal the
whole thing and turn the laugh on
him, but he took it so hard that it was
thought best to worry him a little
longer. Up to the time Ct this writ
ing he has not found out that he is
a victim of a huge joke -NewS and