The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1900-11-25
Tea Table Lore.

Philadelphia Telegraph
The bit Of superstition in every ones
composition makes the telling of fortunes
always interesting. Especially enjoyable
e. such a proceeding when a congenial lit
tIe group is gathered around the o'clock
tea table.
The superstitions about tea grounds are
probably as old as the plant itself. and IL
Mrs. Noah had any tea in the ark she un-
doubtedIy studied her cup 20 see If it prog
nosticated bit OF terra firma.
When the tea is made and the lid of the
teapot Is forgotten for few minutes II is
q sure sign that some one will drop in to
tea.
III single persons find that they have two
SPOONS by the side of the cup, he or she
will figure prominently, perhaps very
prominently. at a wedding before the year
is out.
II YOU put cream in your tea before
sugar II Will cross your love.
III a tea stalk floats in the cup of an I'M
married lady it is called beau" When
this happens she should stir the tea around
briskly and then plant the spoon upright
in the middle of the cup, holding IL quite
still with the fingers. II the beau" in its
writings is attracted to the spoon and
clings 10 IT, he will be sure to put in an
appearance some time during the evening.
II the sides Of the cup attract him he viii
not come that night
These are a few of the general directions
for reading the future, but one naturally
wants a little more definite knowledge If
she is going 10 pose as the priestess of the
tea grounds.
To trace pictures in the tea leaves one
wants first good imagination and next
practice. The first one should have TO
begin with. but the second can easily be
acquired by a study OF cloud forms and
open fires, for all sorts of figures and
landscapes can be discovered IN these with
the seeing eye Thus equipped a glance
a. a mass Of tea grounds will reveal a
dozen or more symbols. all waiting to be
when a fortune is to be told the Gun
must be half filed with tea in which
float not too many tea leaves. The per-
son TO whom the cup belongs must pour
the tea slowly out of the cup, wishing at
the same time. The cup should then be
placed upside down on the saucer, the
bottom raped three times; then the cup
should be turned around three times and
raised up. Whichever direction the tea
leaves point, from thence viii come the
fortune, or the events take place. If, after
Rll, some drops remain in the cup, drain
them out, for If there is a fine scattering
Of fine tea leave like dots together the
drops mean tears but if the dots are not
present they mean wine, which is sym
bolical OF pleasure to ones own taste.
When the cup is held upright what is read
will occur at ones own house. Turn the
cup 10 the right with the handle w
brings all to yourself, to hold it upside
down pertains to the wish. with the lef
side up what is 10 come. An open space
Enclosed with tea leaves Is called a ring
If IL has dot in 1t. il is the wish. Some
times IT can be told what the wish u
about, by reading what surrounds IL, as
Tor instance, If an initial is near TIN
wish. that initial, or the person for whom
a. stands, concerns IL; il a bag of money
the wish is about wealth and business: 4
q boat or car. il is about journey. 4
ring without a tea leaf in the center
means an offer. If the ring takes tn,
shape OF heart IL means a proposal o.
marriage; II not, Il means a business offer
Small rings are invitations. A small
square tea leaf is a letter. larger on
OF the same shape is a package, and
larger one still Is a trunk but in the latter
case the leaf must resemble the object
Tea leaves running off in a straight lin'
mean a journey. A scattering Of little
fue Gots of leaves or groun1 Is IL cloud,
and running into each other indistinctly
Indicate trouble or annoyance. If th'
rest OF the cup is clear they mean dis
tinctly the latter.
Here is the meaning OF some OF the OBJ
5ects 10 be seen II will be very unim
aginative person indeed who can't SCI
some of these: An AK. anger; bee, new,
OF industry; bed, sleep in a strange house
birds, news; boat. journey by water; bull
jealousy: cat, spite; cars. journey b,
chicken, domestic news; coffin. death
crown success; crab, tenacity; COW
Kindness; doves. love; ducks, Irritation
dog. friend: elephant. burdens; fish. new,
from across water; fox, a crafty person
flowers. pleasure; horses, lovers; hat
good luck; Ratchet a quarrel; knife, bro
ken friendship; mule, an obstinate per
son; mouse. shyness: peacock. pride; pig
seihshness; parrot. a tale-bearer; swan
account; turtle. slow but sure; umbrella
protection: wolf, hunger; q ball. a change
bag, money; monkey. mischief.