The daily phoenix. [volume] (Columbia, S.C.) 1865-1878, 1865-09-21
The Origin, OF Cards.

ADOUI E1c year 1o3U, CARDS were ~
vented, to divert Charles vi, then
king of France, who Had fallen into q
melancholy disposition. That they
were not in use before, appears highly
probable. 1st. Because no cards are
to be seen in any paintings, sculpture,
tapestry, &c, more ancient than the
preceding period, but are represented
in many works of ingenuity since that
age. Cd. No prohibitions relative to
cards, by the kings edicts, arc men
toned, although, some few years be-
fore, most severe one was published.
forbidding by name all manner Of
sports and pastimes, in order that the
subjects might exercise themselves in
shooting with bows and arrows, and
be in a condition to oppose the Eng
hsh. Now, it is not to be presumed
that 80 Turing a game as cards would
nave been omitted In the enumera-
ton, had they been in use. Sd. In
all the ecclesiastical canons prior to
the said time, there occurs no men
tlon OF cards, although, twenty years
after that date, card-playing was in
terd1cted the clergy by Gallican
sonod. About the same time is found
IN the account-book of the kings cof
ferer the following charge: sePaid for
q pack of painted leaves bought for
the kings amusement, three iyres -
Pr1ntng and stamping being then not
discovered, the cards were painted,
which made them SO dear. Thence.
IN the above synodical canons. they
are called pagiuoe pica-painted little
leaves. 4th. About 4i1i. " .re.,.. ..rt..
this came q severe edict against cards
in Frauce; and another by Emanuel,
Duke of Savoy; only permitting the
ladies this pastime, pro s1oinulis for
pins and needles
Of their Qesign-The inventor pro-
posed by the figures of the four suits.
or colors, as the French call them. to.
represent the four states or classes of
men IN the Kingdom.
By the C@says (hearts) are meant
the Gens lie CA@ua., choir men, or
ecclesiastics; and therefore the Spa
niards, who certainly received the
use of cards from the French, have
copus or oAahces instead Of hearts.
The nobility, or.prime military part
of the kingdom, are represented bv
the ends or points Of 1afces, or spikes,
and our Ignorance of the meaning or
resemblance of the figure indnced us
to call them spades. The Spaniards
have espudes (swords) in lieu of pixies,
which is of similar import.
By diamonds are designed the order
OF citizens, merchants and tradesmen,
ea7rear, Square stone tiles or the
Like. The Spaniards have a coin
di'aeros, which answers to it; and the
Dutch call the French word ca,7yer
stsemeen, stones and diamonds, from
the form.
Trieste, the trefol leaf, or clover
grass, (coruptly called clubs, alludes
to the husbandmen and peasants
How this suit came to be called clubs
is not explained, unless, borrowing
the'game from the Spaniards, who
have bosses (staves or clubsJ instead
of the trefoil, we gave the Spanish
Specification to the French figure.
The. history Of thel four kings,
which the French in drollery some
times call the cards, is Darid, Ale.c-
nnder,' Cesar and Charles, (which
names were then, and still are, on the
French. cards. These respectable
names represent the four celebrated
monarchies OF the Jews, Greeks.
Homans and Franks under Charlie
magne. J d;
BY the qneens are intended Axyiue.
Esshe7', Ja"iiM and P0Aas, (names still
retained II the French cards. typical
OF birth, piety, fortitude and wisdom.
the qualifications residing in each
person. Argine is an anogram. for
Reg'na, queen by descent.
by the knaves were designed the
servants to knights, for knaye oriri-
nally meant only servant; and.in am
old Translation of the Bible, St Paul
is called the knave of Christie but
French pages and valets. now ind;s. i