Omaha daily bee., 1921-07-04
Astrology and the Stock Market
Get-Rich-Quick Bubbles That Have Burst.
: BY HARLEY MATTHEWS.

Who was Calvin? We do no,
know what color his eyes were
whether he was tall or short. We
can only suspect that he wore +;
beard and his hair long. 1t seem.
hard to believe that we shoult
know so little of man whose name
was household word in the middle
70s of the last century For q
while he hung before peoples eyes,
like one of his own stars of great
promise, then vanished as completely
as meteor.
To most people he was but voice.
But what voice! No spell of a
necromancer of past ages could
weave such spell around peoples
hearts as could word from him.
However poor, straightway they
saw themselves driving in carriages,
surrounded by servants, living IN
palaces, their every desire satisfied.
He himself said he was a seventh
son of seventh daughter. A circu-
lar sent through the post also in
formed people that Calvin. the we'll
known astrologer, had the gift OF
foresight. He read the stars, from
them could advise people on the
right course to make in love. court
ship or marriage. He could tell
young man if girl was rich. He
could also tell whether a business
venture would be fortunate or not.
In sort, before people embarked on
any undertaking they would do well
TO consult Calvin. He advised peo-
pie all over America If anyone
wanted counsel, all he had to do was
to write to Calvin, at Postoffice Box
5027, New York City, giving his age,
exact time of birth, if possible, and
enclosing $5. If business advice
was required the fee was $5.
But this was only the beginning.
Possibly it was one of his numerous
clients who unconsciously suggested
to him the computation of astrology
and ck-dealing. One of them had
asked, perhaps, if Calvin would make
: an investment for him, using his
astrology to determine when to buy
and sell. At any rate, people in the
country began getting letters point
ing to the fortunes that could be
made on the stock market. With |
an investment of 500, buying and !
selling at the right time, profit of
500 could easily be made. The
Wall street mems methods were
hazardous, people were warned Bus
those who sent their money TO Cal
vim to invest must gain because he
saw from the stars the markets fu-
ArI ~ oil
about an investment with him.
From remote parts money came
in, the senders asking the astrologer
to use his magic ON it and convert it
into fortune. "This $ll5 is all we
have," wife's letter from the far
west said. please watch the stars
well; we want new house for the
winter" A widow wanted her mite
increased so that she could put a
fitting stone On her husbands grave.
Dear Friend the astrologer
would reply. Your hundred dol
lars is deposited in an old safe bank
OF New York, where it will earn
per cent until it is invested in stock.
| have a friend on Wall street who
will also give me the benefit OF his
advice"
Weeks would go by, then perhaps
the investor would get uneasy.
Dear Friend: have been keeping
a sharp lookout" letter IN repiyro
his query would say. But cannot
find sure thing. And we will not
invest until we are sure of victory"
If the investor again showed anx-
iety letter would come saying:
"The stars are favorable at last. We
have invested in such way that we
can't lose. We cannot say exactly
what your return will be, but it will
be considerable" In their joy the
recipients of this last letter did all
manner of things. Some ran into
debt, some mortgaged their homes !
to send the wizard more money. :
Others wrote they were so delighted ,
that they were coming to New York
to thank him personally, when he
could hand over the money. Where {
could they see him? To these last !
Calvin replied hastily, begging his 6
dear friend not to make a journey
just then, as the stars showed there
was O oSdtiI vi NiSSoSS q w dltilS | Y
in the city. d
When the investor showed fresh c
anxiety, Calvin would reply that the
investment had, thanks to the stars
and the friend in Wall street, re-
turned handsome profit. He sug- Z
gested reinvesting the whole. Often
the investor consented. But some :
times Calvon was requested to send \
the money at once. A child was t
dying-or debts had to be paid. I
To these he sent the strangest let I
ter of all: Dear friend, divining i
or money rod has come iato the P
country. 1t has been used in the ?
Australian gold fields. 1t is a foot t
and half long, is composed of gold t
and silver, and is of elegant and {
grave Workmanship. l can get it for
you for $500" \
This 1r,r Ill.,