The Washington herald., 1911-02-19
NECROMANCERS In
WASHINGTON REAP
A RICH HARVEST

There are people in your block who still
believe in the Seventh Book of Moses. 1t
does not matter just what part of town
is your home either, for there will be
some one in the neighborhood who is a
firm believer in the seers and seeresses.
There are people in your block who be-
lieves in the sayings of these modern
soothsayers as implicitly as the ancient
folk believed in the magical powers of the
witch of Endor.
No, no; the faith in the so-called black
arts" is not dead, and that fact helps 70
explain many things One of the facts
made clear is that clairvoyancy and sec
ond sight are not Improbable. There
are literally thousands of patrons of these
dealers in human destinies. They range
from ghost doctors to trance mediums
and the hold that they have upon their
following is tremendous one There are
several Of the most popular clairvoyants
in Washington with whom you will have
to make an appointment some days in ad-
vance if you wish to consult them upon
any matter. No matter how great your
-
you will have to await your turn. The
powers that WELD the BLACK art'' cannot
be hurried You may call in limousine,
but you must take your turn with the
rest of the patrons. .
Same Old Customers.
The strangest part of it all is that
many of the clients of these wizards and
witches have been steady callers for
years. Many of the clairvoyants of
Washington have been here so long that
they may be accounted as landmarks.
The same faces that passed in and-eut
Of their doors years ago are still calling
on these wizards, whose heads are grow
ing gray.
In private life these soothsayers are
apt to be known as Jim Wilson, or Sam
Brown, or Mrs. Smith; the 'Samris," the
'Leons," and the ''Seeras.'' and the
''Nceras" are always assumed in order
that they may lend certain picturesque
ness to the business. Electric lights blaze
in their parlors: trolley cars roar and
clatter past their doorways; their pa
irons call them up by telephone; they
send advice by telegraph, and there is
running water, both hot and cold. in
their apartments. Yet, with all the wiz
ardries Of modern invention about them,
their own wizardry holds its grip on the
thousands
You may not be questing for the super
natural, but your next-door neighbor is, |
and he is believing every word that falls |
from the lips of his favorite seer. Your
belief in the miracles that may be accom- |
plshed by second sight may be weak |
ppp nd
in the fiat upstairs makes her regular
weekly visit to her favorite Witch of
EndOr,' and il costs her anywhere from
''two-bit piece" TO a dollar. Foretellers
of fate, weavers of spells. and casters of
charms can always find some one who is
willing to pay money for advice.
Black Magic Returns.
Crystal gazing. astrology, negromancy.
white and black magic, and the older
forms of fOreteIling have come back and
are contesting the lucrative field with the
modern trance mediums and material
izers." All of them have their respective
followers, devotees, who are quite certain
hat the advice they receive is absolutely
authentic and beyond question. BY this
advice they regulate the affairs of their
everyday life They make love by rules
laid down by the modern witches y of
Endor and they seek to hold the love of
their husbands or their wives by the same
advice. They buy and sell,
marry and give in marriage according to
the dictates of a spirit or the cultural
advice that is given them by some of the
many .controls'' of the medium. In times
IF trouble the parlor Of the dealer in des-
-inies in their haven of refuge.
These masters of the craft rarely retire.
Powerful patrons who need their advice
will rarely allow them to give up their
profession so long as their admOnitions
prove of value. AS long as they are able
o help people make up their minds. give ,
good advice in matters of love- matri-
nony or business the ancient trade of
'eading the riddles of the future will q
flourish. Scores of them are more nearly i
business advisers than they are fortune | n
oilers, and it is this class that enjoys :
o widest reputation. The finding of ,
ortunes locating of buried treasures and =
he tracing of stolen property is left to L
he beginner or the more obvious charla- p
an with the blondined hair. A certain t.
lignity surrounds the Great Ones who Y
lave automobiles calling at their doors. :,