Divination

the art of foretelling the future by means of signs and omens. It was resorted to among the ancients before any important step was taken. The augur, or foreteller of events, was a public official of the Romans. He understood how to interpret the flight of birds, the movements of clouds, the behavior of smoke, and particularly how to interpret the future from the intestines of animals offered up for sacrifice. No Roman began a journey or engaged in an important enterprise without first inquiring whether the signs were favorable.

A curious practice prevailed of opening the works of Virgil in the hope that a passage thus selected by chance might contain some useful hint or bit of advice for the future. A parallel practice of consulting the Bible by opening it with a pin may be mentioned. The custom was followed until of late, at least, in New England, in a half serious, half sportive way, some-times with a ludicrous result; as in the case of the woman who is said to have sought advice as to whether to turn her dress or to dye it. As it happened she hit upon the words, "Turn ye, turn ye,. . . for why will ye die?" in Ezekiel xxxiii: 11. In Enoch Arden, it may be remembered, Tennyson describes Annie as turning to the Scriptures for an intimation of whether her long absent husband was yet living.

Traces of the old custom of divination linger. There are still those who believe that a branching rod of witch-hazel may be used to locate underground reservoirs of water. Palmistry, or the study of the creases in the palm of the hand, affords at least amusement for the parlor. Many believe in dreams. Fortune telling and the study of grounds in a teacup must be included here.

See Astrology; Witch-Hazel; Delphi; Palmistry