The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1892-03-06

foretold Napoeon's greatness and TO
many of the great people of France their
downfall and misfortunes, has ieit US
thirty-six cards in which We can read the
decree of fate.
Lenormano was a clever sybil. she
knew how to mix things and throw in the
inevitable bad and the possible good so at
least to amuse those who consulted her.
In this game, which can be bought at
any book store, the cavalier" for in
stance, is messenger of good fortune. the
clover Leaf harblnger of good news, but
if surrounded by clouds it indicates great
pain, but if No. . lies near No. 26 or IS the
pain will be of short duration, and so on.
Thus Mile. Lenormaud tells fortunes
STILL although she has gone to the Land of
Certainty and has herself found out if her
symbols and emblems and her combina-
tons really did draw aside the curtain of
of the future with invisible strings.
Amateur SYPHILIS playing this game can be
sure that they add to the art of entertain
ing.
The cup of tea and the mysterious wan
derings of the grounds around the cup are
used from the old crone in an English
farmhouse to the Spanish gypsy who uses
the chocolate grounds.
That most interesting of tragic SYPHILIS,
"Norma Of the Fitful Head" used molten
lead.
Cards from the earliest antiquity have
been used to tell fortunes. Fortuna,
courted by all nations, was in Greek
Zyche, or the goddess of chance. She
differed from destiny or Fate in so far as
that she worked without law, giving or
or taking at her own good pleasure. Her
symbols were those OF mutability-a ball,
q Wheel pair OF wings and a rudder.
The Romans affirmed that when she en-
tered their city she threw of her wings
and shoes, determined TO live with them
forever. She seems to have thought better
of it. however. She was the sister of the
ParcG, or Fates, those three who spin the
thread of life, measure it, and cut it off.
The power to tell fortunes by the hand is
easily learned from Desbaroiles' book is a
very popular accomplishment, and never
fails to amuse the company and interest
the individual.
II must not be made, however, of too
much importance. 1t never amuses peo-
pie to be warned that they may expect an
'early and violent DEATH
The raconteur, or story teller, is potent
force. ANY one who can memorize the
stories of Grimm or Hans Christian An
dersen, or Browning's "Pied Piper" or
Ouida's "Dog of Flanders" or Dr.
Holmes delightful punch Bowl" and
tell these nj natural sort of way is a
blessing But this talent should never be
abused. The man who in cold blood fires
off a long poetical quotation at q dinner or
Il
defiance of the goose flesh, which is creep
ing down his neighbors' backs, is traitor
to honor and religion, and should be
dragged to execution with his back to the
horses like nihi!ist.
1t is only when these exteInpore talents
can be used without alarming people that
they are useful or endurable.
The supper table has unfortunately
fallen into desuetude, probably on account
OF our exceedingly late dinners.
We sup out, we sup at a ball, but rarely
have that informal and delightful meal
which once wound up every evening.
Mrs. Elizabeth Montagu, in her delight
full letters, talks about the "whisk and the
quadrilie parties, with a light supper"
which amused the ladies of her day. We
still have the 'whisk," but what has be-
come of Lansquench, Quadrille Bassett,
Piquet. these pretty and courtly games?
Whist! Who shall pretend to describe
its attractions. What a relief to the tired
man of affairs, to the woman who has no
longer any part in the pageant of society!
What pleasure in its regulating shifting
fortunes. We have seen in its parody on
life that holding the best cards, even
the highest ones, does not always give
us the game. We have noticed that
with poor hand somebody wins fame,
success and happiness. We have all felt
that injustice of the long suit which has
baffied our best endeavors. We play our
own experience over again, with its faith
less kings and queens. The knave is apt
to trip us up on the green cloth as on the
street.
So long as cards do not lead to gambling
they are innocent enough The great pas
sion for gambling is behind the game of
Boston. played appropriately for beans.
We all like to accumulate, to believe that
we are fortunes favorite. What matter if
it be only few more beans than ones
neighbour
That is poorly furnished parlor which
has not chess table in one corner,
whist table properly stocked and
little solitaire table for grandma.
Cribbage and backgammon boards. cards
of every variety, beZique counters ard
packs, and the red and white champions
for the hard fought battle field of chess,
should be at hand.
Playing cards made their way through
Arabia from India to Europe, where they
first arrived about the year 1870. They
carried with them the two rival arts, en-
craving and painting. They were the
GUantS coUreurs OF engraving on wood and
metal, and of the art of printing.
Cards began as the luxuries of kings and
queens, the necessity of the gambler, the
solace of all who like games. They have
been one of the worst curses and one of the
greatest blessings of poor human nature.
Cards continued from his day to follow
the within OF the court and to assume the
character of the period through the regency
of Marie de Medici, the time of Anne of
Austria and OF Louis XIV. The Germans
were the first people to make pack of
cards assume the form OF scholastic
treatise; the king, queen, knight and
knave tell of English customs, manners
and nomenclature.
The highly intellectual game of Twenty
Questions can be played by three or four
people or by hundred. 1t IS an unfail-
ing delight by the wood fire in the remote
House in the Wood or by the open win
dow looking out on the lordly Hudson OF q
summers night. 1t only needs that one
bright mind shall throw the ball and half
a dozen may catch. Mr.. lowell once said
that there was no subject so erudite, no
quotation so little known, that it could
not be reached in twenty questions.