Brookville American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1858-1861, 1858-12-03

Cards and Card Playing.

Cards and Card Playing.
II is lamentablc fact that card play
ing is carried on 10 such an extent in
this country, as to vic with tho dcprav-
ity Of the Old World We observe IL
on board our water craft, infesting our
cities, towns and villages, corrupting
the youth Of our land, and holding oven
the aged in bondage.
The attention of Legislature bodies
have been called to IL; acts up acts have
been passed, until cur statues groan
under the weight of what are intended
to be sumpiuary laws for tho suppress
sion not only in the traffic, but their vile
use to which they are applied
There is no particular harm in n
game Of cards for Amusement, but OK.
perience has demonstrated that evils
has invariably followed thcirintroduc-
ton into society.
We can say of Brookvillc, in proper.
ton to its population 1t is as little in.
tested as any Of the places surrounding
II, rs far as wo can icarn.
BY reason of tho sbscnce of many Of
our citizens, as aIsos{rangers, we enjoy
"a brief season Of tsrquility and re-
pose.
So long as those who administer, fab
ricate and execute the laws, engage in
the practice ofrurd playing, the Statute
relating TO its suppression becomes n
dead letter, and Legislators arc wasting
their precious time and the peoples
money in such cnactments.
Strike at the trunk Of the evil with
a Hct0r's hand and the branches will
TALL.
There is no dcarth Of law upon tho
subject, but let every citizen see that
the law has vitaliiy,a few examples of
its severity will operate bencfcially
and society will reap reward.
The attention of the public has been
especially called, in selection of officers,
to the use Of ardent spirits, not reflect.
ing for moment that card playing is
the greater evil Of the two, being the
parent Of a majority of the vices under
which society labors.
Cards originally were intended for
humane purpose, they were introduced
in France during the reign Of Charles
VI. A. ID. lil5, who lived 45 years and
reigncd ~, 80 Of which he passed in
state of almost constant insanity, to
amusc him in his lucid intervals. the
game of cards was introduced. They
were painted in gold and divers colors.
II was revival of an ancient amuse-
ment, and in less than four years, the
mania for card playing became so great
that the provost Of Paris forbade their
use. But as the Court paid no atten-
ton to the law, Of course the common
people disregardcd.it.
1t is singular fact that no change
has been made in the form of figures,
on the cards since the days Of Charles
VI Those which arc now played with.
resemble in all respects, those which
were used TO amnse that monarch, and
n very just idea Of the dress OF that pc
iiod may be obtained from them. The
figures had a distinct meaning.
BY the hearts were meant the Church.
men, from tho French word Occur,
meaning heart, and these cards are
called 'gcno dc choeur" or choirmen.
BY the Spades, which arein fact pike.
heads, arc meant the mobiles or military.
BY the square stones or tiles, which we
call diamonds, but which tho French
call cdueaur, was intended the class of
workmen; and lastly. the suit, which
we call clubs, but which is in fact but
the leaf of clover or trefoil, was meant |
TO represent the pcnsantry.