Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-08-01
An Old Superstition Now Becomes a
New Fad.
MANY SIGNS AND PORTENTS
Directions About Lucky and Un-
lucky Modes Of Forecasting.
CURIOUS RES EMBL A n CES


Of foretelling the future. which seems to
stand for the fad of the hour. is a slender
little gray-eyed priestess, who announces
on her card, Fortune telling by tea grounds
clairvoyantly." OF all the methods of an
elder day art which are in survival, for
tune telling by tea grounds may be said to
be the oldest method known and the
believed to be the truest. Our grandmoth
ers had many superstittons connected with
the turning Of the cup, which a
Fart of today's creed. 7
In the first place, we must drink little
of the tea. which should be hot. and then
turn out the rest being careful not to turn
"out the grounds at the same time, and also
being careful not to look at them, as this is
considered to bring III luck. Having turn
ed the tea all off, turn the cup completely
in order that not q drop of water re-
MAINS for this would mean tears. Then
having turned the cup slowly around to-
ward you three times, at the same time
wishing the wish of your heart, set the cup
down moment, resting 1t against the edge
or the saucer or any convenient plate 1t
Is very necessary that the cup should rest
In this manner a moment, as putting it
fiat down upon the table would be a tempt
ing of Ill fortune, according to tea grounds
tenets. Another means of counting i'll luck
Is to interfere with anyone elses fortune
by presenting your cup while the other is
being read. Only one persons cup at
time must be read. Another unlucky omen
Is to look over the fortune teler's shoulder
when she is consulting your cup or to look
in your cup at all.
Never Point the Finger.
A person versed in the laws of teacup
witchcraft will never point out anything In
the cup with her finger. but will rather use
convenient spoon, fork. match pencil
etc. for to point with the finger brings i'll
luck.
According to all authorities, three small
dots in a perpendicular row always stand
for the wish. and the nearer they are to
the top of the cup the quicker the wish will
be obtained. Three small dots that form a
triangle mean unlocked for good luck in the
fulhllment of the wish. triangle is al
ways fortunate sign. So also is an an
Choir, horseshoe, a cross, and a flag. A
flag means that something of unusual ad-
vantage to the person is about to occur or
some unexpected good news. Where the
grounds are well punched together, and 1t
is clear all about them, 1t promises that
everything will go well with the seeker af-
ter the future. IT, on the contrary, the
grounds scattered about confusedly
there will be much confusion over some
event. or something disastrous will happen
to the fortune seeker. The grounds being
surrounded by fine, dust-like particles sig
nifies trouble, and drops of water in the
cup stand for tears.
Money and Marriage.
The same fine, dust-like grounds punched
together at the bottom side Of the cup
| mean a sum Of money A small ring in the
midst Of the regular grounds portends an
| invitation. large, very round ring per-
fectly closed means an offer Of marriage
to single woman, some fortunate under
taking to married woman and a business
offer to a man. Should the ring inclose a
l ,I,<,.
| of marriage from wealthy man. or A
business transaction in which money is
concerned. A very large opening stands
for a body OF water and a broken ring sig
mites disappointment. The straight stick
| like grounds are supposedly people, light
| or dark, according to their color, and short
or tall. according to their length A very
small stick means child
Illness and Death.
To have the stick or person in a hori-
zontal position Is sure to mean illness, and
| should the larger end of the stick, which
| is supposed to be the head, lie lower than
| the other end, it signifies death. The tea
grounds often form In semblance of per-
son, generally standing for the person
whose fortune Is being read, especially if
! found on the right side of the cup Should
! the grounds bank upin two distinct places
| the person is about to make a change to
another place, large or small. as the bank
very fine grounds foretells a journey and
| If connected with a large opening of the
grounds a journey by. water. A boat also
| foretells travelling by water. A fish is said
| to bring good luck In business and it Is
also supposed to be a sutton in marriage
A small speck near the top of the cup
| means a letter, larger ones standing for a
package, or trunk II with person.
Other Signs.
| Look out for the person with a small
| bunch Of grounds at his back He is COM
| ing to you with lot Of gossip or will talk
about you. A bird flying upward in the cup
| signifies pleasant letter, but flying to-
| ward the bottom 1t is the bearer Of I'M
| pleasant news. A horse running is hasty
| and important news. A horse Is always a
| friend; so also is a dog. In fact, most every
animal signifies good luck. A rooster crow
| ing is great success of some kind. turtle
| signifies long life or exceptionally good
health An eagle is a friend in need. A
| dangerous enemy is a snake. especially If
| 1t appears at the top Of the cup If it is
| in the bottom Of the cup, supposedly under
| foot it can do no harm, but warns one to
| be on his guard. If 1t ia particularly thick
in appearance it Is woman. A bridge Is
| an important undertaking or q departure
| of some kind which will be successful If
| the foundations at either end seem strong.
otherwise it will be disastrous. For The
| grounds to form themselves into a pyramid
/ II oil I,,c1 nj