The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1884-04-23
A Pack of Cards.

The literature OF cards is very extensive.
Many brilliant writers have not considered it
beneath their dignity to treat infinitely on this
subject.
Daniel Souter. a Flemish reverend, in aNwork
published in the seventeenth century, holds
that any one playing game Of cards breaks
the whole Ten Commandments.
In 1910 VIM. Ames, Fellow OF ChrIst's Col
lege, preached against cards as being forbid
den by the Scripture. His sermon gave so
much offeuse that he was obliged 70 withdaw
/ from the university to avoid expulsion.
Bishop Jeremy Taylor Published a work on
play about the middle Of the seventeenth cen
fury He says: "BuI that cards are them
/ felvcs lawful 1 see no reason to doubt And
urther on he says "He that means to make
his games lawful must not play for money, but
\ for refreshments. Let games be Ter nothing
or almost nothing, and cards are innocent and
the game as innocent as push pin.
Dr. johnson regretted that he had not learned
to play at cards, giving as a reason: at IS
very useful in life; il generates kindness and
consolidates society"
The opinions Of such men as Luther, Calvin,
Lambert, Duncan, Peter Martyr, BalmfOrd and
others are very interesting, but too lengthy for
publication here.
Among more modern opinions Of weight
might be given that Of Richard A. Proctor,
who SAYS: 81 cannot see the sense Of playing
| TOR insignificant stakes. Ii is only when the
stakes are large enough to be more than the
/ player can afford that any excitement can be
added to the pleasure which good game like
whist affords in itself"
In regard to the origin OF caris, the fact is
as unsettled to-day as ever.
Breitkopt asserts and proves cards 10 be Of
Eastern origin and very ancient.
Heinken proves them to be Of German in
venti0n.
Some writers claim they are Of Hindostanic
origin. But passing by round cards, wooden
/ cards, swords cups, leaves, acorns, animals,
packs containing from forty to $50, and other
numerous changes they have undergone, the
present pack Of hfty-two cards was introduced
in England about 1870, and, although, great
deal Of money has been expended in trying 10
perfect it. to improve the drawing Of the court
cards, all has failed, aud people want the card
to-day that our ancestors played with 100
years ago.
odd tales arc told Of people at present in
high generation. odd laws have been passed
to control gaming
Evelyn in his memoirs, 1885, says: Il never
can forget the ine1pressible luxury and pro-
ianeness, gaming and all dissoluteness, asd as
1t were, total forgetiulness Of God (iL being
Sunday EVENING" which shis day Sc nights was
witness OF the king James IL sitting toying
with his cUncubines A French boy singing
love songs in that glorious gallery, while
about twenty Of the great courtiers and other
disE0lute persons were at bassett aroud
large table, bank Of at least 1000 in gold
about them"
In the sixteenth year Of Charles II an Act
was passed, which, translated according to
Chaito, reads:
AN act TO legalize gaming, to prevent
wealthy pigeons being plucked by artiul rocks,
and to discourage betting or playing for large
sums Oh tick
PusrIasius Justus tells this story Of Pope
Leo y; His holiness once; while playing q;
game similar TO primero, held such cards as
made it impossible for him 10 lose, except from
the circumstance Of his being the last player,
but as his adversary, whose turn It was TO de-
clare first, proposed a heavy stake, he con
Guided that lie held as good cards as himself
Being reluctant TO yield the game, be cried,
GIVE me a point aud l will see you. The
other, not snspectihg that the Pope had such
capital cards, readily asseuied and consequently
lost
According to the Duchess Of Orleans, the old
Marshal Vilieroi, who bad known 81. Francis
de Sales in his youth, would say, when lie
heard him called saint: 81 am delighted to
learn that Monsieur de Sales is a saint he
was ioud Of saying smutty things and used to
cheat at cards. In other respects he was a
perfect gentleman although he was MANY"
Ii is also said OF Talleyrsnd that in a hand
at ecarte he Intentionally exposed one card,
after putting up his last louis For on his hand.
The ruse was successful, for The opponent
would not call, and he won with A worthless
hand.
Said Young gentleman TO Sheridan: Il
kHow i man who cheats. do not like 10 ex-
pose him What shallI dU?"
Back bin" was the reply.
lie who hrpcs Al cardi TO win
Must never tank that ch s1tiu-s sin;
Ic make fsfcE wheue'ci be car