Papurau Newydd Cymru

Chwiliwch 15 miliwn o erthyglau papurau newydd Cymru

Cuddio Rhestr Erthyglau

11 erthygl ar y dudalen hon

[No title]

Advertising

TABLE.

--_ t t fti

Legal Answers.

Miscellaneous.

, LOCAL SKETCHES. o !

Newyddion
Dyfynnu
Rhannu

LOCAL SKETCHES. o FORTUNE TELLING IN CARDIFF. (By Atticus.) No doubt many of the readers of the Weekly Mail will be surprised to 16iorn that the business of fortune telling is fast becoming one of the most remunerative occupations in Cardiff. The hard- headed, matter-of-fact people, who abound in the town, may look with incredulity upon the asser- tion, but it is none the less a fact that at the present moment many a cuuning old party is fat and flourishing by trading upon the superstition and sentimentality of a large section of the inhabitants. It is only fair to explain that the majority of those Who display so much eagerness for a peep into futurity belonsj to the softer sex. Yet there are plenty of flats to be found in breeciias wiu also fall ready victims to the wiles of the destiny dealer. Looked at in some ways there is not so much to deplore in the circumstance, for, with the coal trade of the port promising to o to the dogs at no very distant date, it is gratifying to know that there will remain a home industry of some importance which will survive the commercial ruin. Then, gain, as far as the practice affects the future of the persons operated upon, there can be little donbt that in the case ot a phlegmatic subject a flattering fortune-teller might kindle aq ambition or fix an object in life which, if pursued, might result in considerabls advantage to the parson concerned. On the other hand, however, it is equally certain that, as far as the sentimental part of the forecast goes, there is grave danger to the credulous victim. Take the case of a young girl who is led to believe that some day sliu will meet with a rich gentle- man, whose wife she will become, what is the result? The very first masher that crosses that damsel's path and pays her the slightest attention is magnified by her into a here she believes she has met her destiny, and if the fellow prove as unscrupulous as most of his kidpey are, the result, is irretrievable ruin to the girl. I have it on the very best authority that in this way fortune-tellers are responsible for half the unfortu- nates who over-run our large towus. There are, to my own knowledge, nearly a score of these fortune- tellers in Cardiff, varying from the poor old gipsv woman who campa in the fields ta the grave and venerable seer Qf Biblical cognomen, the ancient dowdy who undertaken various operations affect- ing the coming and going of unborn generations, and the district visitor, not fair, though fat and forty. As an example of thg good which some- times results from the ruling of one's planets, I may instance the case of a young man of my own acquaintance, who, for convenience sake, I will designate Jeremiah Jugging." He came to Cardiff a short time ago from the country, without an aim or object in life, and would, doubtle have one to his grave without having risen above the common herd but for a fortuitous circunpatance, which couaptetely changed the course of his career One night, whilq spend ing his evening at his diggings, he was lit into the secrets of his confiding landlady, who tojd him, amongst other things, of the wonderful truths that had been imparted to her by the old cock I have already indicated. My hero's curiosity was completely aroused, and he wended his way eastward the next morn- ing to learn his fate. The old gentleman gave him a cordial welcome, and at once proceeded to business. Ho commenced by asking the year, month, day, and minute of the young man's birth. The information was quickly given, with the exception of the last particular, which he could not exactly call to inind. But he solved the diffi- culty by sending a telegram to his mother. As soon as the reply was received tha proceedings were resumed, and the seer, having consulted tho charts and drawn sundry diagrams, proceeded to declare the result. At the outset he informed his subject that according to the map he seemed to have had a mother, and, noticing that the youth was not greatly impressed by his discovery, he added that she it was who had quilted him in his boyhood's days. The young man's faith in the seer was further weakened by this latter information, for he had painful recollections, not only of the maternal slipper, but of tha heavy beetle crushers of another parient," whose coaxings had been more forcible, and had left a mora painful impression—behind. Fueling that it was no longer safe to dwell on the remote past, the old gentleman brought his observations up to date, and ventured upon the remark that the J. J." Had a sweetheart That he had this time "struck ile" be was soon convinced by the blushes which flitted round the nope of his patient, and, encouraged by this success, he hazarded another guess. Her complexion was ginger? Right again; and having regained the confidence of the youth, he plunged into futurity. The" J. J." then drew forth a gi "antic note-book, in which he took voluminous notes in shorthand of the events of the future. One incident that greatly struck him was that in the year 1893 ho wouid be overtaken by a severe cold or some other great calullaity," and conviction went right clean home to him when the seer alluded to his future avocation in life. The lary" old dog, seeing that the youth was acquainted with a system of short- hand writing, jumped to the conclusion that he had literary tendencies, so he concluded his prognostications by informing him that ho would become connected with the press and would even- tually rise to an eminent position. Thislastremark went right home to the innermost recesses of his chest, and gave to this youth all object and an ambition in life which he will doubtless pursue with unflinching determination. He can now bp seen wending his way to his daily nvocatitm with a book, possibly & bound volume of the Times, a scrap diary of newspaper cuttings, or some other valuable work of reference under his arm. I am glad to chronicle thia caae because it is one of the fow in which an influence for good has resulted from fortune-telling. From present appearances, thero is every reason to hopa that this young man will attain to a proud position in the literary world. And should his early promise be borne out, the old Seer of Roath will not have lived in vain—he will have raised one at least to the pinnacle of fame. Of the 'othnr systems of fortune-telling-now in vogue, one is that practised by the card-shuffling gipsy, the wwdus operandi of which I shall be happy to impart to any of my readers for a trifle One of these lidiesi hangs out, I beliovo, some. whero between Grangotown pild the Riverside, and doesa rattling good business with the servant girls of the latter locality. ThiEl district is also well servod by Yiq ladies who practice tiag taacup ;s C! system. Some of these fortune-tellers have, a fixed abode, at which thoy receive visitors at all times and on various errands, and others take a circuit of their acquaintances, through whom they hear a good deal of gossip about their neighbours, and eventually try and malfetheir acquaintance with a view to doing a little, business. I Ifnow of one casf that occurred some timo ago where a good dual of uupleasant- ness was causcd by one of theao district visitors. She obtained admission to the house in tha absence of the mistress and pumped the servant dry. The next day she called to teH the lady's fortune, and workod upon her feelings with such success that she chuckad her husband into the street, his goods aud chattels over the garden wall, and sent an advertisement to the Matrimonial Timss for a gentlemsin of means who wanted the services of housekeeper. Hut of all tho forms of fortune- telling at present practised, I think the most dangerous is th,t of palmistry. One of our own young mn got palmed the other day by an interesting young female. He has now thrown away the rags which were to him flS Royal robes when worn in virtue's cause, and will hence- forward appear in the new character of the pet masher of the establishment.

ISPEAKING FEELINGLY.

[No title]

WELSH PREACHERS In and Out…

SOCIETY GOSSIP.