The Ottawa free trader. [volume] (Ottawa, Ill.) 1843-1916, 1859-04-16
Prom tie New York Omnibus.
More of Advantage Carts---S:rirpers

We have already alluded to the fact that
a large majority Of the playing cards used
| by the sporting fraternity are so printed
/ as to be read as well tr"sn their backs as
| from their faces. and still this a.iI antace Il
! one of the most ins; significant which the
| gambler has over the common player, for
| this is bat prelude TO other and equally
! ingenious mechanical contrIyances. where
| by the chances OF winning are rendered
entirely absurd The pen docs not allow
clear exposition Of the manner III which
cards are MARKED for the perfect detection
| of the fraud depends chiefly upon com
parison of one card with another Never
thelcss we will attempt TO give an insight
into the method at present employed to
distinguish suits and values.
The most common description OF play
ing-cards is that known "a the " star-back-
ed" being printed almost wholly with a
fguSe called an asteri>k (%) Now, the
right corner of every card, turned either
way, terminates with a star, which is cut in
such 4 manner Is to leave the suit and
quality to bc recognized For instance, on
an ace it VIII be reduced so as to leave a
mere dot: on king, dot and Ii e; %;
a queen. dot and two marks: and 50 on
until all the suit is exhausted. Another
pattern. much used for whist, is the Club
pattern, which has on tie back a centre
| figure whence radiate rays. as of light,
every fourth one longer than the others
Now on the top, either way turned, 1t viii
be found that the lines leave twentv-four
openings or spaces. Now, taking ti!e per
pend!cullr line intersectin" the back a. 4
guide ii the space next T. II on the right
hand be wider than the rest. the card vii
be an ace; II the second. a king: il the
third. Il queen; and 80 ON, until. # all b.
even il viii be a deuce Now, forthc end
line tlc,ccndiDg ON the side. il ino slac" pc
wider next to il. the suit viii bc hearts; #
the second spades: il tue third. o.amond-:
and the fourth club. Tha order Of thee
distinctions friav hc changed. but thc SAME
principle governs the Arrangements.
These examples are enough 10 c!uclCiatc
our assertions Of the unia.Inc-s Of cam
bling. jr ecay pcck ond Pt't,.1s fe1rs n,artg
sg'.al.y c5s,hhe 70 he tr9oqsi .ys, To detect
these. we Will give a simple rule pick ont
the aces. kings and court cards: examine
them closely, if lhcy disagree a to tile
marks a. 10 quality-,iat !, ii III" aces are
different from k.n->. &c.. a!ile-the pack
is an advantage one. and by stUd,ou,
comparison any ono can be rendered mas
ter Of the secret for their per,Isal: -ti!l. how
/ many will spare tine or even have an op-
portunlty OF devotiHG tina: attention 10 the
rigid training, which forms the sole staple
OF a professional aaInc>ter~ leisure mo-
men,s? AGa.n DO We repeat our warning
against amy man being aiiIr"d ~ gaiU.n :.
with such terrible odds against him.
In addition 10 these advantage cards,
the professional gentlemen have invented
series OF ingenious devices 10 further
their Interests. bat none are !nor" dc-trUc-
tive to the pockets OF ~pecul tors than
cards technically styled ->tripper- =
These are made by cutting very small
slice from oil one side ard end OF the face
cards giving th-ri t!,e shape of a wod-e,
and can bc used either at single hand or
/ with partners. The gambler. when deal
inc. by an employment Of legcrG":nain. -
paratcs the cards. while >hU.liiug into TWO
/ packs. for those uncut adhere t. the hand,
and then, when miXin. them for cut.
4 conrriv@ To mix them alternately. Tho
! consequence of this mode o- shutting
+ shows itself on the deal for he and his
partner hive all the st.yye.@ or high
cards. and h.s advcr>aries the uncut or low
! ones We viii not dwell longer on this
/ subject for the moment. but i'll 4 coming
issue will exhibit more Developments as 70
: faro. b-ay, and other ramc~