change, the consequences of a marriage, the direction luckiest for a removal, the proficiency of their family doctor, the whereabouts of a missing article, the keeping of an appointment, or the efficacy of a prayer, in short, every mortal thing in which there is the least shadow of uncertainty. Every secret is poured into his ear, and to each and every one he gives a fitting answer. His art is in request to solve every perplexing case. He is a counsellor to the old man, an oracle to the beldam, a mentor to the young man, and a confidant to the maid. He is friendly to all and so seasons his words that he raises unto himself no enemy. By his prognostications he lightens the burden of the sorrow-laden and gives greater strength to the hopeful. If we were disposed to judge him harshly, we might say that his is the privilege of equivocation; and even when his predictions are subsequently falsified, he is seldom brought to account. He retains under all circumstances popular confidence, and however his forecasts may turn out, he still hears secrets and is still consulted. This is to a great extent due to the ambiguity of his advice, from which he leaves clients to draw what conclusions they would, and if their expectations are disappointed, he proves his infallibility by explaining his predictions by the light of after-events.
Before touching upon the various forms of divination, we may mention those saws which are observed in practice as if they were maxims of established truth, though there appears to be little reason to give them currency. They arose mostly from superstitious fear caused by fortuitous incidents, though some were evidently intended merely to frighten children into good behaviour or to prevent their running into mischief. Thus, he that sleeps with his socks on will be unable to attend at his parents’ death-bed; it is unlucky if a well is filled up or a chopstick breaks; Emma, Judge of Hades, pulls out every liar’s tongue; insanity befalls him that throws nail-parings or a hair into the fire; poverty is sure
