Imposters who feed and live on the superstitions of the lower orders are still to be found in Yorkshire. These are called Wise Men, and are believed to possess the most extraordinary power in remedying all diseases incidental to the brute creation, as well as the human race; to discover lost or stolen property, and to foretell future events.
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The Wise Man was seated in his consulting room, dressed in some sort of long robe or gown, girdled round him with a noticeable girdle, and with a strange-looking head-covering on. There were some of the accustomed paraphernalia of the character assumed and its pretensions – a skull, a globe, some mysterious-looking preparations, dried herbs, etc. etc.
Atkinson/Parish
THE NORTH RIDING PROJECT 
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