The price advertised for a sitting in 1870 was from twenty-five cents to one dollar. The Post reporter says of “Mrs. Nellie Richards” (alias Mrs. Nelson), “Not unfrequently her receipts are fifty dollars per day.” Again of one, “She has received fifty dollars for one sitting.” The writer has visited the most celebrated fortune-tellers here, and been told by them that they have received five, ten, and twenty dollars for one sitting. What for? What was the value received? Not from females do they receive these liberal sums; but from middle-aged or old gentlemen and “married men,” as one assured me. It is quite possible for a few sharp fortune-tellers to make fifteen hundred dollars per year at merely telling fools what they may expect from the future. “Middle-aged, old, and married men” do not consult them, as a general rule, for that purpose.
Here is a true history illustrative of my meaning. I gathered the facts from the lady.
On Saturday, the 9th of December, 1871, a young woman, residing with her parents on —— Street, went to the afternoon performance at the Boston Museum. A young man made three unsuccessful attempts to “flirt” with her. The third time she slightly shook her head. Some one, seated immediately behind her, touched her on the shoulder, and said, “Right, young lady; you did right not to notice him.”
“I turned my head,” said my informant, “and just made the least bit of acknowledgment to a fine-looking, elderly gentleman, who, perhaps, was rising fifty. He was an utter stranger to me, and I did not observe him afterwards. On the following week I received a note—a very pretty, delicate letter—from the very gentleman. He explained that he saw me at the performance of “Elfie,” and was much struck by my lady-like appearance, and the rest, begging the privilege of calling on me privately. Now, how could he have obtained my address?”
“Did the other party, the young ‘flirt,’ know it?” I asked.
“No—not probable. I was not so astonished in receiving a letter from a stranger, as I was on learning that the nice-looking old gent at the theatre should have sent it, and that he possessed my address.”
“Why not surprised by receiving the letter from a stranger?” I asked.
“Because I visited a fortune-teller, a day or two before, who told me I should receive a letter from a middle-aged man, and that it would be to my interest to cultivate his friendship, as he was a nice old covey, and was rich and liberal.”
“The secret is out! Did the fortune-teller know your address?”
“O, yes; she was an old friend of my mother’s, and asked me nothing for a sitting. And would she possibly betray the daughter of her old friend?”