Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1898-11-14
PLAYING CARDS.
What the Suits Are Said 20 Have
Originally Represented.

There may be some among You who
nre not acquainted with the four symbols
upon which fortunes are hourly waged
In the first place, you must understand
that cards are Of French origin, having
been invented about the year 1890 to
drive away the melancholy moods Of
Charles ~ of France. Printing not then
being one of the arts, cards were painted
by hand, and in q synodical canon in
terdioting their use by the clergy issued
within 20 years Of their origination
they are described as painted little
leaves. Thus early you sec was recog-
nized the possibility Of their being put
to evil uses, and that they were quickly
seized upon as a medium for gaming is
shown by the fact that 90 years after
their invention severe edicts were passed
against them. and the Duke Of Savoy
only permitted women the pastime 'for
pins and needles "
Their inventor intended the four suits
to represent the four classes of men in
the French kingdom. The hearts repre-
sent the choir men or eoclesiastics
termed in French gems de chpur. The
cheur was corrupted into coeur, mean
ing hearts, as you all know. The Span
iards, who obtained the use Of cards
from the French, have chalioes as one
Of their suits instead Of hearts, proving
conclusiyely that the ecclesiastics were
intended to be represented. What we
call "spades" were originally intended
as pixies or the points Of lances, being
representative of the noble or military
class The diamonds which all for
tune tellers tell you are indicative Of
wealth, were originally intended as
square stone tiles and are repre-
sentative Of the order of citizens, mer-
chants, tradesmen and artisans. "Clubs"
are nothing more than the three leaved
clover, which was originally intended
as the symbol Of the husbandmen and
peasants.
Now for the meaning Of the "court"
or "face" cards. AS to the original
standing Of the four kings there is some
difference of opinion. Some say that the
king Of clubs originally represented tho
arms of the pope, the king of spades
the arms Of the king of France, the
king Of diamonds the arms of the king
of Spain, and the king Of hearts the
arms Of the king of England. This ex-
PLANTATION is of doubtful origin. 1t is
more likely that tho four kings charac-
terize the heads Of the Jewish, Greek,
Roman and Frankish empires. the kings
depicted being David (spades), Alexan-
der (clubs), Caesar (diamonds) and
Charles (hearts). In fact, to this day
many French cards bear their names
In packs SO marked the queens are
thus named: Argine (hearts), Judith
(cluhs), Rachel (diamonds) and Pallas
(spades). Argine is an anagram for
"Regina, " and the four names respect
lively royalty, fortitude, piety and wis
/ dom. They are supposed to be likenesses
of Marie d Anjou, queen of Charles VII
Isabeau, the queen mother; Agnes Sorel,
the kings mistress, and Jeanne d'Aro.
, The jacks or knaves represent tht
servants to knights. In old time lingo
8 the now objectionable word knav,
= meant simply a servant, and in fact II
an old translation of the Bible ST. Pan
= is spoken of as "the knave of Christ.
philadelphia Times.