The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1897-04-26

rely upon their reputation. Some handle
cards; others read the lines of the palm
There can be no doubt about the power
of a palmtst to read of a past life,
which leaves traces on the hands, but
the future is yelled from all mortal
eyes by a wise dispensation Of Provl
dence. Some persons declare prophecies
made in their youth have come true.
That may be SO in just so long as 1t
lay in their power to carry out the de-
cree by marriage and such things, but
seldom if ever does the fortune prom
Used at a certain time materialize. That
is beyond the power of the seventh
daughter of seventh daughter, born
in the veil,'' to produce.
Probably the most famous as we'll as
the most picturesque figure among
these fortune tellers is the gypsy. Gen
orally she is old and Wrinkled-indeed
the uglier the better Her nails are like
the talOns of a hawk, and when
plump, blushing damsel yields a palm
to her inspection she feels that she is
in the presence of an uncanny witch
to whom Satan has given the power
Of prophecy. On the whole, it will he
found that the gypsy hits the past
much better than her imitatorS in city
walls, who supplement their work with
such awe-inspiring surroundings. None
Of them will open their lips until her
it may be noted with suspicion that the
larger the fee the more favorable the
decree of fortune. Well, as Barnum de-
clared again and again, the dear public
likes to be humbugged.
The colored race is peculiarly susceptible
toward a belief in occult power possessed
by the favored few. They wear all manner
of charms from the foot of a rabbit killed
in a graveyard at midnight to the rattles Of
a snake over which a solemn incarnation
hoS hp6D 1Ift nyth iTr hO1~r5o ril OT1t hp
supernatural will scare the average negro
half to death. This is particularly the case
down South, where the race has failed to
secure the advantages of education, for 1t is
this accomplishment that must finally sound
the deathknen of superstition. A belief in
dreams and blind obedience to the feelings
of the mysterious voOdoo are distinguishing
characteristics of the race. They are greatly
impressed with ceremony. which accounts for
the eagerness with which well-to-do Northern
colored men unite with secret orders.
After all, it is amazing to see how this old
spirit OF superstition permeates all ranks.
Base ball players, with their mascots have
become rank believers in it. and many lay
all their success or poor playing to certain
charms which have turned I'D favorable or
otherwise. If one dipped deeply into the
subject, he would be alarmed for the sanity
OF the world. There are some men, and
women, too, who notice this trend of public
weakness and set themselves like so many
rocks in the stream, hoping to break its
force. These heroic gladiators in the arena
move and start upon journeys on Friday in
order to ridicule the old sailors belief in
bad luck following such a beginning Of q
cruise hangman's day.
The art of telling fortunes has been hand
ed down to us from remote generations In
ancient days generals feared to start upon
a campaign without consulting the stars
through some shrewd old astrologer, who
united the calling Of astronomer with his other
vocations. There at least some founda
ton for his prophecies, for we have learned
in these latter days to diagnose the weather
to a certain extent and not only foretelI the
coming of storms, but read from the moons
signs that we will have wet month No
doubt these fellows were just as able to dis
cover this, and advised against startine a
campaign when much rain threatened. A
few such astronomers at the right hand of
our generals during the late war might have
saved US the heavy iosses Of many disas rms
expedition. Gen. Mitchell, who had haan y
noted student of the skies at Cincinnati hefora
taking the field, made good use Of biS
astronomical knowledge in planning his raids
1t would be well II more attention wera
given this subject at our military academies
for the weather has defeated more campaiens,
than the activity of the enemy were re-
sponsib,e for.
Many men among Us are fatalists, believ-