Model Fortunes.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 2018, 13 June 1885, Page 6 (Supplement)

Model Fortunes.

Thirts years ago fairs were sufficiently novel to insure hearty co-operation from young and old, and to take part in them was regarded as a privilege. They were delightfully social, and as exclusive as a high-priced admission could make them, and the spirit of rattling had not then laid such violent hands on the public as to dominate all sales. But decidedly the old adage about familiarity holds good in these once popular method*) of doing charity. New names must at all events be given, and new amusements be devised, or the enterprise fails to attract. Singular as it may seem, even in alms-giving for the most deserving object, human nature has to be dealt with carefully, subtle traits humored, and taot and descrimination shown from the name to the final suggestion. It goes without saying that the successful manager of any entertainment must unite peifect goodbreeding to that kindness of heart which insures consideration of others, and whiob, after all is the very essence of politeness. So many things and people must be considered, so many all-important trifles must be remembered, that the head of any charitable enterprise should be a person of large and methodical mind. Luckily there are just such people to be found, and to them others may bring the needed assistance of cheerful labor and novel ideas. For some time past the summer has beep the popular season for a variety of out-of-door entertainments whioh have combined amusement and charity, tho good results being not only in tho money made, but the stimulus given to work of the kind, and experience is the best developer of resources. The success of summer oilers a precedent for larger undertakings in autumn or winter. The lawn or out-of-door parties of July or August may furnish forth, by no j means coldly, suggestions for the kettledrum | or carpet dance of January or March. At all there are certain amusements whioh may bo prepared independent of the season. Wellmanaged Fortunes arc about as successful as anything which can be included in one day's entertainment. Tho first consideration is whether they shall be told or written, and from experience of both methods we have decided long ago in favor of the latter. To begin with, a greater air of mystery can thereby be maintained ; then there ia less tax on the fortune-teller, who, however ingenious, can hardly be expected to commit to memory or to improvise a number of fortunes in which there shall be any charm of novelty or humor. Next is the question as to whether they aro to be treated from a serious point of view o»" a humorous one ; and again we venture to let our own experience suggest the latter, always provided that the person who writes thorn does not belong to that wellknown class ol humorists whoso wit consists in personal remarks. Written from a serious point of view, they are apt to bo stupid where they fall short of the mark, and annoying if by chance they hit upon some fact sensitive people would think had been mentioned willfully. While personal allusions are best avoided, a sly suggestion of some well-known and amiablo little trait may be mentioned ; but nothing is better than an envelope sealed and containing a fortune written with every appearance of seriousness, but in reality a sort of parody on tho conventional thing. Here is a specimen of one, written of course, with np view to publication, which may serve as a suggestion for more brilliant efforts. " On the first day of September you will be addressed by a perfect stranger. Extreme care should be taken to observe the number of hairs on the right aide of the head before answering. If these correspond with the number of those on the left of your own head, the year will be a prosperous one for you. If not, you will have trouble in the month of June ; but don't worry about it, as that always matters worse. Your lucky Btars are those others see at the same time with yourself. Should you be on a vessel crossing the ocean in a storm, and the side oavoa in, and the captain nnd the chief officers are not on speaking terms, you will be lost. Your lucky initials are the first twenty-five letters of the alphabet ; avoid the others as much as possible." Another waa as follows :— «" In tho month of April always walk home backward. This will insure your seeing and hearing what ia not done before your face. If you meet a friend whose mother-in-law has just reached Europe in safety, say, cheerfully, « Well, for

you, the wont h certainly over.' You will be immediately invned out. Count 500 large pearl buttons tan times before breakfast every morning for ten <lny-i, positively refusing any explanation, and you will enjoy ft quiet and retira'l homo entirely at the expense of your friends for some timo afterward." In another a warning iq given as to what phraser will prove unlucky during the year. " I told you bo," and " My dear, will anything teach yon a lesson ?" and " If I nny be permitted an opinion in my own house," being most unfortunate from ihe lOih of January to the 20th of December. A«oin, theie i 3 a list of things to ba avoided. All largo obpeta like atreat lamp"?, and which arc mistaken for lunary bodies after midnight, are dangerous ; latch-keys that aro not pelfinserting, auil the town clock when it has been repaired. In this connection the number of local hits that can be made without giving any offence are limitleda where there is any ona with a quick seuae ol the ltdicrous to wiite or su£gj<Jt thsm. All sorts of piefcty ways of dujpojing of the fortunes when written mi r ;'ut be suggested. At a recant private entcri.imuient for charity a, charming society biT.o prc«icle'l over a tont in which were h«ilf adc^ou gip^y raaidena booomingly attind, nni who had bags marie of gaily colore 1 fabrics, in which the fortunes were deposit 01 !!, a Ilttlo c^ramojy being gone through with bcloie the envelope was drawn out. Tho palm cf the hand had to be shown. The gip=iy studied n, croaked it with silver, and then gave out hie fortune with an appearance of gr.v.J (ioi"o?rAtioi. Something iory mco c"in be done with "Motto Sup.." Thcto are placed in a large decoi'iitstl ln-.,fiom vJiich they .ire drawn ; and if not inclasivo n~\ a foitm.e, aio ai cntertAininf; in one way. They can bo cither &rave or gay, i,,v\ we have j n them bill admirably aacl cr2 # alo a grcjt dul o' a^iu^aicnt at what we inir;ht call a c'larii'.Vo a!t'iLiioon. In stnio jii'jtiacss the.c aro "-c'^e'ed nooi well-l>rown aulboi-, andclicvn on th n understanding thui ttryL r y aro not to br jzA for if the author's num; is gxxQurl. A failure h sure to mr.ho one renew the elfoit, and as they need invoivo no expense, a succa^rful guess is no lo^o. In some instancea motLoca ot this kind can be prepared so that they arc well worth preserving— written on the reveres bide of Christmas Eastov, or birlhday caids in ornamental script or or some other pretty design, perhupd inclosed in au envelope with a suggestive superscription. — Haipefs Bazaar.