Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1890-03-26
Playing Cards In Church.
A SOLDIERS UNIQUE DEFENCE OF his
COURSE.

COURSE.
A private soldier, by the name of Richard
Lee, was taken before a magistrate of
Glasgow for playing cards during divine
service. The account is thus given in an
English journal:
A sergeant commanded the soldiers at
the church, and when the parson had read
the prayers, he took his text. Those who
had Bibles took them out; but this soldier
had neither Bible nor Common Praye :
Book, but pulling out a pack of cards, he
spread them out before him; first he looked
at one and then at another. The sergeant
of the company saw him and said: Richard,
put up those cards; this is no place for
them"
"Never mind that" said Richard.
When the services were over, the con-
stable made him a prisoner and brought
him before the Mayor.
SWELL" said the Mayor, "what have
you brought this prisoner here for?"
"For playing cards in church,
swell, soldier, what have you to say for
yoursel(?''
'Much, sir, hope"
every well if not, / will punish you
more than ever man was punished.
81 have been," said the soldier, 'tabout
bible nor Common Prayer Book, l have
nothing but pack of cards, and hope to
satisfy your worship of the purity of my
intentions"
Then spreading The cards out before the
Mayor, he began with the ace: "When
see the ace it reminds me that there is but
one God. When | see the deuce it reminds
NE of the Father and Son. When see the
tray it reminds me Of the Father, Son and
Holy Ghost. When | see the four it re-
minds me of the four Evapgelists who
preached-Matthew, Mark, Luke and John
Wien | see the five it reminds me of the
five wise virgins who t;immed their lamps
there were five wise and five foolish; tina
latter were shut cut. When I see the six
it reminds ne that IN six days God made
heaven and earth When l see the seven
it reminds ms that on the seventh day God
rested from the great work he had made
and halowed it, When l see the eight it
rmnds me of the eight persons that were
saved when God destroyed the world, viz,
Noah, his wife, his three sons and their
wives. When see the nine it reminds me
of the nine lepers that were cleansed by our
Saviour, there were nine out of the ten who
never returned thanks. When l see the
fen it reminds me of the ten command
ments which God handed down to Moses on
the tables of stone. When | see the queen
it reminds me of the Queen of Sheba, who
visited King Solomon, for she was as wise
woman as he was a man. She brought
with her fifty girls and boys, all dressed in
boys apparel, for King Solomon to tell
which were the boys and which were the
girls. Solomon sent for water for them to
wash in. The girls washed to their elbows
and the boys to their wrists; so King Solo.
mon told by that. When see the king il
reminds me of the great King of Heaven,
which is God Almighty.
swell J" said the Mayor, "you have
given me descriptions of all the cards in
the pack except one."
"What's that?'
sThe knave," said the Mayor.
81 will give your honor description Of
that, too, if you will not be angry"
81 will not be angry" said the Mayor,
''if you don't term ms the kusve."
swell said the soldier, 'the greatest
knave l know of ia the constable thai
brought me here.''
81 don't know if he is the greatest
bnave," said the Mayor, shut l do know
he is the greatest fool"
''Wben count the spots on pack oil
cards l find three hundred and sixty five
as many days as there are 10 year
When | count the number of cards fine
ffty-tw0-the number of weeks in year
l find four suits-tbe plumber of weeks in 9
month. find twelve picture cards in
paok-the humber of mouths in year -
On counting the number of tricks, fine
thlrteen-the number of weeks in quarter
SO you see, sir, cards serve as an almanac
also.