FORTUNE-TELLING IN CHRISTCHURCH.

Globe, Volume XXIII, Issue 2179, 18 February 1881, Page 3

FORTUNE-TELLING IN CHRISTCHURCH.

To the Editor of the Oloie. Sia, —When passing along one of the streets of Christchurch I noticed a signboard, on which a person described himself as an “ astro-herbalist.” Being a young native of the colony, this sign puzzled me as to its meaning, hinca then, on looking through a recent number of “Chambers’ Journal,” I came across the following by a contributor, which appears to be a description of what an “ astro-herbalist ” is :—“lt is not more than ten years since a woman died in one of our large towns who had for many years flourished on the superstitious credulity of her fellowereatures. She combined the wisdom of the astrologer with the skill of the medical botanist, and under the disguise of a parcel of dried herbs sho received pay for a prescription for the dissolution of a spell of witchery, or for a well drawn up nativity. At this witch’s death a young woman, who had lived with her from childhood, became heiress to her possessions. Every drawer in the house was crammed with rich and costly dresses and shawls, and the cupboards contained over three dozen silver or silver-gilt tea and coffee pots, with a vast number of silver cups and silver spoons.” I sincerely hope I may be mistaken in surmising that an astro-herbalist and a fortune-teller are one and the same. If there is any person amongst us who pretends to oast nativities and tell fortunes by moans of stars and “ yarbs, "I hope my young fellow colonists will know too much to be imposed upon. Tours, &c., JtrVBNTTTS.