The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1889-07-31
PLAYING CARDS.

SOm0tuinR ADOuU Anou AutiquityS AhoH
Origin and Ancient Uses.
1t has been claimed by some historians
that playing cards were invented by the
French in the fourteenth century or later,
and that they were designed as gaming
cards in the first place.
Nothing could be farther from the truth
than this account Of their origin and pur-
poses. The facts are, that the well-known
deck of modern playing cards was invented
ages and ages ago by the Egyptians, or else
by some previously existing nation, perhaps
the people Of lost Atlantis.
AT any rate. they were in use BY the
Egyptian priests, as abundant evidence
shows, and further, they were regarded as
sacred emblem, or rather as emblems of
time and astronomical combinations of the
solar system.
The religion Of the Egyptians was pure,
astronomical one, and the sacred cards were
constructed with perfect mathematical ref
erence to the sacred astronomical mystic
ries and calculations in occultism of the
magi
The fifty-two cards corresponded to the
weeks in year. The twelve court cards
ruled the twelve houses of the Zodiac, and
correspondent to the months in year.
The four suits represented the four sea-
sons, thus: Hearts, the spring; Clubs, sum-
mer; Diamonds, fall, and Spades winter.
The suits also stood for many other matters
connected with occult symbolism.
Every aspect of the planets had its en-.
blematic card. Every day its ruling card.
The black cards represented darkness, the
red ones daylight.
1t was predicted by the Magi Of Egypt
that no matter what changes should come
to peoples and dynasties throughout all
coming time, these sacred emblems should
never be added to or taken from, but should
go on forever. But they also predicted
that they would be trampled under foot by
coming nations and become by.word and
reproach in high places.
It is most singular fact and one that the
superstitious might regard with wonder and
awe that the number Of this singular COM
bination has never been changed notwith.
standing that hundreds of inventors and
manufacturers both in this country and in
Europe have repeatedly tried to introduce
packs of cards with more or less number OF
cards in the deck.
They have tried GA, 70, so, and 50. as well
as other numbers. Even the attempt to
add one card called "joker'' has not met
with much success, and the people will moi
use it except in isolated cases in games
where only part Of the deck is used.
But this joker $50 called) has a reason
after all, for his partial existence. The
| Egyptians reckoned but 1854 days to the
year in early times, regarding the odd day
as ''waste time" They figured that the
cards in pack, 50, multiplied by the
planets, made the days in a year.
Neptune, but regarded the sun and moon as
planets which made up the seven. The
last day Of the year has no ''ruling card, y
unless the joker be used, as each card
| ruled but seven times in each year accord
ing to the Magi. This seven was held as a
very sacred number, being one quarter Of
the lunar circuit and was called the ''per-
feet time" 1t has always occupied a prom
iuent place in religious symbolism, as wei
as the No. IL, which has always been proml
nent as representing twelve Governors
tribes, priests, councillors, disciples, etc
All these had their origin evidently In
astronomy.
1t is claimed by Eastern occultists ant
students Of ancient lore that even to thi.
day the memory and knowledge of the my S
tic properties of cards has been preserved
and handed down from one to another an(
kept sacredly from vulgar eyes, together
with the sacred and lost word CT ancien
mysticism which has been an object o.
search through all ages.
"Wo! vol the word is lost" Will it eve
be restored! Sol AMMoN.