The Tucson citizen., 1902-07-04
The CHARM OF HUMBUG,

shown" or the strictly up-to-date
person who believes nothing without
scientific demonstration, and subjects
ali pretensions TO the tests OF common
sense it must be disheartening, If not
disgusting. to read the alleged prophe-
sizes OF gypsies and others in regard 10
King Edward. and observe what atten-
ton the maunderings receive. In the
news columns OF The Citizen yester-
day it was told that three men of Ohio
went 10 Missouri to seek $4,000 600 III
hidden treasure on the advice of clair
voyant. These three fools were no
worse than people in higher places who
in this age are capable OF believing
that any one has the power TO pen
citrate the unknowable. It Is said that
a fortune-teller predicted before Ed
ward came to the throne that he would
reign but would never be crowned.
Now that he has reigned and his cor
onation is placed in doubt, this one OF
a thousand like utteranceS is brought
into prominence-if, indeed it was not
invented for the occasion-and a great
deal is made of II, as II. in truth.
meandering tramp of a fortune-teller
could really foresee and predict com
ing events This is reverting to the
spirit of the dark ages. when mems
10 hi dkaI hys ~.
norance and superstition. and no habit
of criticism existed.
Even New York. which boasts of its
high average of enlightenment, thinks
it worth while to report that one of the
two trees planted in park in that city
/ by Edward. in 1860, when he was
Prince Of Wales, is dying. Is 1t sup
posed at this day that there is any
connection between the life of tree
and that of the man who planted ita
Such an idea is on a par with the abb
surd ideas of astrologists. who pre-
tended to deduce a mans destiny from
the aspect of the heavens at the mo-
ment OF his birth II the planet Jupi-
ter was in a certain position when a
man was born, he would be of jovial
nature and enjoy various advantages
from such a horoscope. So of the
other planets. If Saturn presided, the
inc disposition. Mercury made one
n,ercural Venus amorous. Mars mar
tial. and so on. All depended on the
/ horoscope Not only ones character.
/ but the details OF ones life and ad-
ventures could be traced from faith
fully constructed picture OF the aspect
( of the heavens at the beginning OF
ones life. In parts Of Ireland, we are
/ told. the child's horoscope Is still reg
ularly kept in the family chest, along
with the baptismal certificate It
paid" therefore, in the old times to
be skillful and discreet astrologist.
especially If ones patron was wealthy,
just as it pays now, on a smaller scale,
! to read fortunes at so cents per head,
from the lines of ones palm, from the
coffee grounds or from the rafting of
beans in gourd.
There is an amusing contrast. how
ever. between the astrologist of former
ages and the taking seer" such as
sent the fatuous Ohio men on a chase
for treasure to Missouri. The COM
poser OF horoscopes was often the asso-
ciate of kings. He had the learning
of the time; that is to say. he knew
Latin and dabbled in chemistry, being
often shrewd enough to interest al
avaricious patron in the problem OF
transmitting base metals into gold. In
dress and appearance he was likely to
be one of the elite of society and the
pennies of plebeians seldom found
their way into his aristocratic palm
We have changed all that. NOWADAYS
a tramp with foreign patois, posing
as gypsy. deals out fate mpartially
to every conner at cheap rate. pictur-
form best to the expectation OF the pos
SCISSOR of the customary fee. The fair
haired man is mated for a quarter of a
dollar to 'dark-complected" maiden
OF ravishing charms, and, by way of
equipment for the responsibilities of
matrimOny. Is informed that the color
and cOnfiguration of the cOffee-grounds
make it clear that money is coming
TO- him. Similarly the maid who is
approaching the doubtful age is re-
iieyed TO learn of the prospective early
appearance of tall, handsome man" /"
with moustache and wealthy look"
This is reassuring. But see a rival. "