Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1880-12-22
ACE, KING, QUEEN, JAcK!z
The American Manufacture Of Play.
ds-..Triplicates'' and s'En-
diCdtOrA-s for Poker Players.

ASG. hHN1. VCEENs JACh!
The A mcrican Manufacture Of Play.
ing.Cards -..Triplfcates'' and s'Im-
dicatOrs" for Poker Players.
Boston Herald,
IL Is now more than six hundred years since
playing-caTdS were introduced. into Europe
and as is the case with most great inventions
and discoveries which have interested univer-
sal mankind. the Chinese are supposed TO have
been intimately connected with their first pro-
ductiOn. At all events they were of Orieitat
origin, and. like chess. seem to have been based
upon warlike associations. the same emblems
appearing In both games In Germany Italy
france and England playing cards have been
III vogue for centuries, sometimes under the ban
OF government, but always more or less firmly
liked In popular favor, their general use an1
a0uSe remaining about the same under all cir
cumstances. Designed at first If would seem,
as means or amusement. their utility 10 games
sons, perhaps, would care to weigh the enter
ta1nment and diversion caused by their employ.
ment against the terrible ruin wrought By their
nediumShtp.
The nature of the popular game facilitated by
eefds has didered with almost every nation
where they have been CON monty used. Thus
whist holds its place in England during sue
ceSs1Ve generations, while in the United States
where almost everything In common with the
mother country was changed or repudiaJed, a
national game has been slow OF adoption. and
SUBJECT TO several popular whlms or caprices
before final settlement, If, indeed IL is yet
finally agreed upon. In the New England and
middle states, high, low, jack, or seven up"
was long the popular game, While at the Same
ume The western and southern states and terri
tories practfsed the more exciting and quicker
resulting game OF poker" or "bluf, or to
less extent, the more localized game OF ..looo
Perhaps all these have now given place to the
more modern ''euchre, which may be called the
universal Yankee favorlte." although '.poker'
has yet 20 lack OF yotaries. and has numerous
manufacturing concerns issuing materials e3pe-
eially designed for its playing.
CARD NANUFACTURE.
or course, a practice SO universal as card
playing. and affecting as IL does almost every
grade OF society. call for a very large produc-
auction OF the means for its performance. Yet
there are but comparatively few manufacturers
or playing cards In this country. While the
European names recognized In this cOunrry can
De told almost In breath. There was once Il
large card manufacturing company In Milton
Mass. (Crehsre Company but, upon The burn
Ing or the establishment, some years since it
ended. never being revived here. and there has
since 6een no playing cards manufactured in
SeW England. SO lar as the writer of this IS IN
formed. Indeed. IL may almost be said that
the whole business of manufacturing playing
cards is confined TO New York city. 81 ace there
are but very few concerns outside that munich
patty In the country-one in Ohio and another
further east telling the tale OF them all and
these latter are of quite recent establishment.
In the years before the war English aud
French playing carda found large sale in Jhis
country. and those OF domestic manufacture
were exceptionally circulated. Now the result
Is exactly reversed and the United States is
exporting more cards abroad than are used here
OF foreign manufacture. When the war tariff
went into operation tax OF from - to 50 cents
per pack SPECIFIC was applied 10 foreign playing
cards. though, even without that addition 10
their cost In this country, American manutac-
turerS mad begun to afford an equally euDd ar
ticle at less price. However, this ..protec.
tive" tax stimulated very much the home man
ufacture and the American article has ever
since led in all markets.
MODERN STYLES.
Not many French ca 0S were ever sold 10 the
American markets, comparatively speaking
although these manufactures were exceedingly
nne-a linen card, thin, strong and dalicaCe
and nice to handle The great bulk OF imported
cards were from English manufactures. as they
are to-day. The English cards excel in the
beauty OF their finish, geometricaI designs for
their backs being ornamented with 1ine colors
and gliding to an extent never attempted with
the American article. This elegance of orna.
mentatlon seems 10 have always been a soe-
cialty with the English makers and alone or in
connection with the heavy duties. appears 10
warrant the price asked Tor them-abouG double
,hat OF American cards, the latter being even a
But, as has been limited. OF late years great
progress mad been made In the manufacture OF
paying cards In this country, until al present
no better goods can be found In any market
than are afforded by United States M lI,srS
The modern, round-cornered card OF the preseat
makes is q vast improvement over the old style
square cornered affair: and the manipulation OF
stock IN their makeup results in an article pos
;eSSing all the attributes considered desirable
oy card players The English manufacturers
have been trying to copy The results attained in
round cornCred cards by ..dieing-
out the stock; but in this effort they failed sig
nally, since the card can not be cut ia That way
without fatally in1uring its edges and quality.
couple OF card cutting machines
have been sent 10 England from this country
and, by the use OF Yankee methods, no doubt
our COUSINS VIII achieve better success.
PECCLIARITIES OF MASUFACTURE.
Beside the Improvement in the shape OF cards
ABOVE described. there have been other tnDova-
tons In American card manufacture which
have also been Intellectually initiated abroat.
1hefe are now In the market '-trlpllcaJe" aud
indicator playing cards, both designed TO
shorten the process OF reading hand and as
a guard against the confederate system In some
kids OF gambling games. Thus the Jriplicira
card has miniature or the face OF the card re-
produced ia It's upper left baud corner as FOR
instance, the hVe spot OF clubs has miniature
I'VE OF clnoS In me corner lndicated, th4 size OF
int latter being about half ali inch bae longest
way. Exactly why this card shoul1 be cfllei
"trlplicdJe1 and not duplicate the writer d ,ps
lot KNOW: This device is 10 assist the holder
70 read bis "hand' without opening IT. he
having only TO shuffie his cards Sufficiently 10
reveal the miniature On each to discover wnat
he holds. -s--
But still better device for the purpose ia
found In the indicator card In this case, in
stead OF the miniature. there appears, on the
same corner, Hgure Immediately over copy
81 tne sun, mus: ror the eight Of hearts, a
larger than the figure. For the queen OF
diamonds. letter q. with diamond underneath
THESE ngureS and letters are made -.ieau." as
the joD printer would say, so that while readily
dlscern1bie by the holder or the cards they
would be deciphered with difficulty, Il at all by
q locker This Is just what was required to
Illustrate the operations OF confederates OF gam
piers In the game OF poker or bluf. while az the
same time II saves time and trouble for the
play to be sure which NAV
not receive due weight from the diScarder OF all
games. The English makers endeavore1 co SUP
ply an indicator card by placing their figure
In the spot; but this arrangement does NOT seam
10 oe so satisfactory 10 card players though the
writer confe5se5 that he has made no very ex-
tended canvass or the matter
PKE SIDENT HAYES, FISANCES.
4 Frank and Detailed Statement.
'Chica1O Tribune