Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-02-14

common to most men and women living
In washington today.
For instance, the average man of 80
has been in love two or three times, Is
married, wonders sometimes II ne
wouldn't have been happier with some
one of the sweethearts who have passed
out of his life, had more or less trouble
in school, had impulses as boy to run
away from home, has an aging mother,
matters, etc. This framework might be
extended indefinitely. 1t probably fits
90 out of 100. OF course, there is an
occasional individual who doesn't fit at
all In the framework-and in such cases
the fortune tellerS efforts are COM
plete failure.
Gives Self Away.
A good many finer details can be
picked up from close observation OF the
person himself-whether he came from
the country or the city, whether he
works in an Office or a factory, his re-
ligious and fraternal affiliations, etc.
Besides, if he really comes to the for
tune teller for help, he Is in highly
suggestible frame of mind and, in a
state of semi-hypnosis, gives the prac-
titioner many details about himself
without realizing that he is doing SO:
Considering these things, and also
allowing for a certain fraternity among
the practitioners themselves, the
miracles" of the clairvoyants become
absurdly simple. Those predictions and
readings of the past which seem to
transcend this explanation probably can
be explained on the same groundS-only
allowing for a greater sensual aculty.
memory and familiarity with the "aver-
age life"
Sometimes 1t is described as "know-
ing human nature" The truly marvel
Gus communer with the infinite knows
human nature''-or rather the France
work of events of the average lfe-tc
the nth" degree. The average fortune
teller, however, has an extremely super
fetal knowledge of them, has no con-
ception of the underlying philosophy
and often he himself Is as badly fooled
as his customer. His average efforts
are puerile and depend upon semi
hypnosis for their effect.
Sometimes, it is true, the fortune
tellers mention specific names out o.
the past. This also might be explained
on the framework theory. How many
persons have an Uncle John? How
many Irishmen have al Uncle Michael
How many Frenchmen have an Uncle
Napoleon? How many persons named
Smith have an Uncle William? A
slight study of these race name tenden'
cies probably would enable the fortune
teller to hit the mark in Is per cent Of
his cases, which, after all, is a pretty
good batting average.
Use Tricks Of Trade.
There are fortune tellers and fortune
tellers in Washington. Scattered alons
lower Pennsylvania avenue and Seventh
street are the phrenologists, the palm
| lists and the c1airvoyantS with fantastic
names, fantastic dress and fantastic
mannerisms These, it is likely, appea
seriously only to the less intelligent
although others sometimes visit then
ION a lark" They have certain tricks
for impressing patrons which they hav'
learned by rote. Few Of them ever hav'
gone any deeper into the mysteries the!
| faith in their own technique, while
some have advanced to the point whert
| they realize that 1t Is worthless.
On the other side of the scale ART
the astrologists and the numerologists
the metaphysicianS and the vari0t1:
psychologists" These operate in thu
highest strata of local society. They
claim, doubtless with some basis. mem.
bers of Congress among their patrons
Some Of them are college graduate.
with eloquent tongues and engaging
manners. a. IN
Few of them are entirely self-con'
scious frauds. USUALLY they have beer
converts to the colorful phantasies q
various mystical cults and still retain
fragments of their old faith, Actual,
4 szks L.
stupid as those of the Gypsies alonl
the Avenue. once the verbalization ha:
been reduced. But they are able to til
up their practices more skillfully with
the strain of mysticism which prob.
ably exists in 90 per cent of men ane
women who have been impressed with
the strange interpretations of things
the curious tricks of coincidence anc
the fact that dreams occasionally come