Jasper County Democrat, Volume 4, Number 15, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 20 July 1901 — CHICAGO'S FORTUNE-TELLERS. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

CHICAGO'S FORTUNE-TELLERS.

They Are Bald to Oatbar la Haifa Million Dollars Per Year. At low estimate Chicago spends nearly half a million dollars every year upon clairvoyants, fortune tellers, palmists, “voodoo doctors," and a long procession of fakers and confidence folk who prey upon the gullibility of the general public. This, simply for fees. To add to this the long train of additional expense to which the victims are put, such as traveling expenses, para phernalta. Investments that fall to pay, and kindred ventures, probably $2,500,000 would not cover the community cost. According to the city directory, there are nearly 100 -professional clairvoyants in Chicago. At least fifty motp, than are listed as such practice the “art.” There are 100 fortune-tellers, perhaps seventy-five palmists, and an unknown number of kindred folk who live by their wits on these general lines. A popular and successful clairvoyant, who can locate gold mines for his followers, has a gold miue of his own. He may take In $250 to SSOO a week. Others much less fortunate may be reasonably content to make both ends meet. In general, figuring fifty-two weeks to the year, Chicago’s tribute to these seers may be figured out about as follows: 150 clairvoyants at S2O a week. .$150,000 100 fortune tellct-s nt $lO a week 52,000 90 palmists nt sls a week 75,000 Miscellaneous fakirs 150,000 Total $433,000 Tills is almost as much as the general public gives to charity, and is only a fraction of the money that in other ways is wasted upon these people who affect to he able to rend the future. That they do not and cannot read the future may he proved by the caller over the threshold before he lias stepped Inside. When the reporter rang the bell of a West Side house behind whose door—

aeeordlng to an advertisement—was a clnjrvoyant “ordained to do what she does and whose marvelous achievements are demonstrated in your presence while you look, listen, nnd wonder,” the door opened about four Inches, and the face of a stout, com-monplace-looking woman peered out as If she was suspicious of a collector or constable, or perhups somebody who wanted to kill cockroaches. "Good-morulng," said the caller. "1 didn’t know if you were ready, but I’ve come over to ask you about it.” "About what?” and the door closed another inch. "You know," insisted the caller, "about elatrvoyanoy, trances, and that sort of thing.” "I don't know anything about It,” said the voice; "who are you, anyhow?" "What! You don’t even know who I am? 1 thought you were a dalrvoynnt ” But the door had closed with a sudden Jnr and the caller wus outside of It, staring nt the porcelain name-plate on the door. Yet, according to this woman’s advertisement, "the greatest mysteries of life will he revealed.” business troubles will l>e unraveled, love affairs will he straightened out nnd made smooth, your enemies will be named nnd placated, and life generally will be made merry as a marriage bell. Incidentally, too, she "locates lost nnd stolen articles, mines,” etc.—whatever “etc.” mpy mean In the context. At the same time, b,v actual proof, she does not know a book agent from a customer until the caller hns explained; nnd then the book agent might lie to her successfully.

A VOODOO WOMAN.