SOCIETY SIBYLS.
[Palmistry is now a fashionable amusement at bazaars and at evening parties.]
The Sibyl in the times of old,
Who dealt in charms unlawful,
Had hair unkempt and eyes that rolled
'Mid conjurations awful.
The prophetess of modern days,
Who dabbles in divining,
A pair of pleasant eyes will raise,
'Neath hair that's soft and shining.
The latest "fad" appears to be
Commingled fact and fancy,
What led of old Leuconöe
To trust to chiromancy.
Which is, the victim understands,
That each vice or perfection
Can be discovered in his hands
By Sibylline inspection.
She'll tell us all the Mounts and Lines
Of Saturn and of Venus;
With man and wife her skill divines
What shadows come between us.
She sees in hands a taste for Art,
For Music, or for Letters,
And knows how often each poor heart
Has yielded to Love's fetters.
It's rather hard to stand and hear
Your character decided,
And imperfections that appear,
By captious friends derided.
Yet if you'll listen to advice,
You'll smile, and looking pleasant,
Trust only prophecies when nice,
Of either past or present.