The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-01-08
OBSERVATIONS
80 BY
OPHIUCUS
A Chapter on the Mysterious
Significance of Playing
Cards and an Astrological
View of the Seven Ages
of Man.

vi Ndus
Nearly every person must ut some
time or other have experienced the sim
gular effects which result from the va
rious dispositions cf the cards. either by
chance or strict observation. and it
may afford some clue to the reason
why a pack Of cards should be chosen
as u medium for fortune telling and
divnation. 1t Is gen rally believed
that cards were invented to amusc one
of the early kings Of the line Of l'our-
bon, but this seems to be wholly en-
roneous. who the person was who
invented those instruments of amuse-
ment is not known. neither can we
tell in what age they were invented.
as not the least record Of their origin
can be found. Put our knowledge is
limited to the country from whence
they came-namaly, Egypt. BY exam
ning the cards they will be found to
consist of two Colors. red and black,
which answer to the two euuiuoXes,
Aries and Libra. the suits are four,
Cardinal points of the Zodiac and the
four seasons, spring, summer, autumn
and winter. The en,blems of the suits
for the Diamond, it was rose, the
emblem OF spring; the Club, trefoil.
the emblem of summer; the Spade, an
acorn, the emblem of autumn; and the
Healt t.. q cnp-a cornucopia, the horn of
plenty, the emblem of winter. The
twelve court cards answer to the
twelve months and also the twelve
signs of the Zodiac--Aries, Taurus,
i,,i | an ~
Scorpio, Saggittarius, Capricornus,
AQuarus, and Pisces. The fifty-two
cards correspond to the number of
weeks in a year: the thirteen cards in
each suit to the number Of weeks in
Lunar quarter. The aggregate of the
pips, calculated in the following man
ner, correspond to the number of days
in year:
Number of pips in each suit ........ 30
Number of suits in a pack .......... 4
Number of pips in ell the suits .....-20
Number Of court cards ......,........ IL
Court cards multiplied by 10 .......120
Number Of cards in each suit ...... 10
DAYS ............. .......,.........36 365
From this it can be plainly seen that
a pack of cards were used bv the an
CleUlS " lOlGlSl LIu DlculCl tNtlltS,
such as war, strife, changes of govern
ment, pestilence, etc; but The art for
applying them seems to be en-
tirely forgotten. it is said that per-
sons born in spring are ruled by the
symbol of diamonds; in summer by
the clubs; in autumn, by the spades,
and in winter, by the hearts.
THE SEVEN AGES OF MAN.
In Act II, scene of the dramatis
personae "As You Like It," Shakes
peare describes the Seven Ages Of
Man." and but few readers of this in
imitable verse know how Claudius
Ptolemseus Commonly known as
Ptolemy) dealt with the same sub
iect in his Tetrabiblos. Chap. y, Book
iv, on Astrology, written about 131 b.
Q. He saws:
The mode of consideration applica-
BILE to human nature, in regard to the
periodical divisions of time, is univer-
sally one and the same, and it is anal
ogous to the arrangement of the sew
en- planetory orbs.
The first age is of infancy, which
cndures for four years agreeing in
number with the quadrennial periods
to her presenting rapidity of growth,
and possessing a highly variable habit.
Its mental incompleteness is likewise
in accordance with its familiar rela-
tion to the moon ana her operative in
fiuenca.
The age after this continues for ten
years and accommodates itself to the
influence of the second sphere-that Of
ln nd
ing faculties begin to take their char
acter. developing the elements and
germs of genius and ability, and their
peculiar quality.
Venus corresponds to the third age
which lasts throughout the following
eight years, the number of her own
period. From her originates the pas
sion of Love.
"The fourth and adult age next sue
ceeds, and is subject TO the fourth
sphere-that of the Sun. 1t endurcs
for nineteen years according to the
Suns number Authority of action
now commences in the mind. the ca
reer of life is entered upon, distinction
and glory are desired.
Mars claims the fifth age, that Of
manhood, agreeing in duration with his
own period, viz, fifteen years. He in
duces greater austerty Of life, to-
gether with veXation, care and trouble.
Jupiter occupies the sixth sphere,
and influences the maturer age, during
the twelve years corresponding to his
own period. He operates the relir-
qrlshment of labor Of hazardous en-
ployment and tumult, and produces
greater gravity, foresight prudence
and sagacity, favoring the claim to
honor, respect and privilege.
saturn moving in the last sphere
Glrown to the ancients) regulates the
final old age, which is the last period
Of life, as agreeing with its chilliness;
he Obstructs the mental movements
wherein the animal spirits are OBJ
structed, the appetites and enjoyments
duh and insenslble, conformative to
the slowness of his own motion" And
then last of all, that ends this strange,
evcntful history"
Every seven and nine years ir a