The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1901-09-22
FORTUNES TOLD BY The FEET.
WOMEN PEERING INTO THE
FUTURE THROUGH THEIR SOLEs.
Psychic Importance Attached Even to
Corn and Bunions II Fad Has sue
ceede Crystal GAZING and the Older
Paimtstry Tho Fortune Teiiing Habit

coded Cr,stai Gazing and the Older
Palmtatry Tho Fortune-Tr Telling Habit.
Fortune telling promises TO be as popular
among women this winter as Il has been
for some years. and II has developed anew
phase. foot reading. The prosperity Of the
fortune tellers hogan about fifteen years
ago. when palmistry got a vogue. and IL has
been increasing ever since.
London took up palmistry long before IL
became a FAT In America. The London
palmists had rooms sumptuously furnished
and obtainei large fe~a Tor their hand
readings. A clever. picturesque and hand
sonle lrishman VA one Of the most success-
ful Of them all. He came TO America and
fitted up a geo and darby luxurious
apartment on Fifth avenue. getting IS and
sio for a reading. Marvellous gifts were
attributed TO him. lie became the fashion.
worn In the style 81 Tondon's aesthetic st
were seen at 'eas and parties.
Soor-s Of ~in,ita,ors followed In his wake.
A. one ~ the most fashionable hotels an
sEgyptian- palmist est ahlisheG n vogue
Newport had a woman palmist one season.
and she made a sensation by her clever
readings and predictions. She afterward
travelled 10 tho principal umnoer retorta
with succees. Her method was simple.
She watched the registers 81 the hotels for
new arrivals and leamed facts regarding
them, Then she -trollei along the piazza
the next morning and surprised her victims
with the accuracy % her readings
IoDdon olloved it, craze for palmisiry
with table raising- and crystal RazingS
Mesinerism and mind reading came In for
their share Of attention. Magicians and
cache from India we're employed to give
readings and trations In drawing
rooms They formed classes and gave
inst ~ructions in the black arts
Crystal gazing II employed nv all the
ur-to-date professors 81 the occult who
hs We set up their ofices in New York. A
sphere Of eSqul-itcly clear crystal i placed
directly opposite tho person desiring to
consult the oracle and the mind II CON
contracted upon its depths while the for
tune teller exerts hi powers to call up
erems to creep over the gazer and figures
begin To appear. FaCea and forms and
scenes swim In the glisiening glot@ This
effect can b. produced by any one who
poe~esres a crystal hall and sits before
u. concentrating his thoughts upon IL. As
o parlor amusement the fad j. very popular
Crystal gazing. palmlstry and mind
reading have almost ruined the trade Of
the c~lairvoyants. most Of whom are adding
tho newer fads to their accomplishments.
NHFuN HTt uENu now OnlN Nv INC very on
fashioned fortune tellers.
The fashionable fortune tellens have
establishments In FIFTH avenue and In the
etre~ts directly on the avenue. Iivered
servants open the doors and there il every
appearance OF wealth The -eers nova
days affect the mysterious n intellectual
pose. Some Of them 60 in for artistic
effects In dress, and physical charm 10
undoubtedly one Of the attractions which
they hold FOR the idle rch women who
make nine-tenths Of their clientele. Many
Of the men are remsrsaoly handsome
wel-onrd-for nails. their voices kov and
Their manne intensely sympathetic when
the visitor h q voman
1hs fees which some Of thees men got
for a rradins or sitting are large. Many ~
them IN We classes In the occult arts and pro-
fee an ability to impart their own powers
20 their pupils. The price ola course 81
study may mount well into the hundreds,
according To the vogue Of the teacher
You annot ring the bell and gain admit
tsnce 10 the presence OF one ofthese fortune
readers as you can call IN In ordinary
deliver In mystery Some require personal
Sntroductions and letters. Others make
snRagcments in advance. Their patrons
believe implicitly In them and cite instances
In which they have been directed. helped
aud consoled in their affairs. The gains
10 he reaped In the trade are big.
One reason for this IL hat the habit Of
Roing frequently 10 a fortune teller lasts
onre II II acquired. These Jugglers with
faie'a dice havea way ~ holding on import
ant revelations so A. To bring hack the
IA iron. Some customers 60 hack with
the regularity of clockwork each week.
One woman cl~airvoyant In New York
who has gained n large following among
women u said to know more about the in
aide Affairs Of persons Of note than any other
ono individual in town. She - consulted
~ -. -. 80 -.
troubles. divorces and scandals. Women
contde in her with absolute frankness.
keeping nothing back, even their wrong
doinss and she al vises them with skill and
diplomacy.
Interesting among the fortune tellers are
the negro women who still ply their trade
IT, love potions and charms The great
superstition Of the colored race keeps these
women in comfort by means Of the sale 81
their philtns and charms which they COM
pound from all sort : Of weird combinations.
and mix and cook with incantations In
witch style. The colored girls and
younger men swear by the efficacy ofcer-
tain Of these charms and are greatly afraid
OF spells which may he cast over them by
an enemy.
one picturesque old darkcy woman
raincd considerable white trade Of a Ger
Tain class and visited her patrons At their
homes regularly. The travelling fortune
teller who goes from door To door, maker
Q good living among tho dwellers In the
tenements and cheaper fats, She tells
with cards and nv tho hand and
even 60 into a franc sometimes for
n cents for a regular tor She goes
cver the same ground week after week.
The modern and more advanced fortune
eeller pretcnds To- posac~s psychic powers
md reads events to com in the palm and
the sole Of the foot and the crystal. The
loot reading l. on the same lines a.
There are charts showing hi
81 the foot n the meaning 81 certain
Ines and curve, protuberanscs and hol-
lows The shape 81 the foot has its sig
,incance and in the hands 81 a skilful sole
.harp corns and bunigns even. take on n