The Hawaiian gazette., 1884-04-23
I4AWHENCE MCOU
Honolulu, April 18th, 1884.
A Pack of Cards.

The literature OF cards is very extens i've.
Many brilliant writers have not considered it
beneath their dignity TO treat infinitely on this
subject.
Daniel Souter. a Flemish reverend, in awork
published in the seventeenth century, holds
that any ole 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 oifense that he was obliged to withduw
from the university to avoid expulsion.
Bishop Jeremy Taylor published work on
play about the middle of the seventeenth CEN
fury. He says: "Bul that cards are them
felves lawful l 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 for 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; it 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. 1t 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 cards, the fact is
as unsettled to-day as ever.
Breitkopf asserts and proves cards to be of
Eastern origin and very ancient.
Heinken proves them to be of German in
ventiOn.
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 tifty-two cards was introduced
IN England about 1910, and, although, a great
deal OF money has been expended in trying to
perfect 1t, to improve the drawing of the court
cards, all has failed, and people want the card
to-day that our ancestors played with 400
years ago.
Odd tales are told of people at present in
high generation. Odd laws have been passed
to control gaming.
Evelyn in his memoirs, 1885, says: 81 never
can forget the inexpressible luxury and pro-
laneness, gaming and all dissoIuteness, aad as
1t were, total forgetfulness of God Git being
Sunday evening" which this day se'nights was
witness of the king flames II) sitting toying
with his concubines. A French boy singing
love songs in that glorious gallery, while
about twenty of the great courtiers and other
absolute persons were at basselt aroud a
large table, bank of at least e. 900 in gold
about them"
- I 4
was passed; which, translated according to
Chatto, reads:
can act to legalize gaming, to prevent
wealthy pigeons being plucked by artful rocks,
and TO discourage betting or playing for large
sums oil tick"
Pusehasius Justus tells this story of Pupe
Leo \: His holiness once; while playing at a
game similar to primero, held such cards as
made 1t impossible for him to lose, except FROM
the circumstance of his being the last player,
but as his adversary, whose turn il was to de-
clare hrst, proposed a heavy stake, he con-
cluded that he held as good cards as himself.
Being reluctant TO yield the game, he cried.
Give Inc point aud l will see you The
other, not snspectihg that the Pope had such
capital cards, readily assented and consequently
lost
According to the Duchess of Orleans, the old
Marshal Villeroi, who had known ST. Francis
dc Sales in his youth, would say, when he
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 lie was n!nny.''
1t is also said Of Talleyrand that in hand
at ecarte he intentionally exposed one card.
after putting up his last louis dor on his hand
The ruse was successful, for the opponent
would not call, and he won with worthless |
hand
Said Young gentleman to Sheridan: 81 |
Know man who cheats. do not like 10 ex- |
pose him. What shallI do?''
Back him, was the reply. -.
lie who hopes at cardi to win
Mast never think that cheatiurs SIM
To make 4 tsick Whenever he can
No matter how, should be mis- plan.
No case Of conscience mus. he make
Except how he may save his stake
The only object Of his prayers-
Not TO be caught aud kicked down stairs
HOudin's work on card sharps exposes some