The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-06-13
MORALS OF CARD PLAYING.
A Game Founded ON Deception and
Consequently immoral ON Its Ten
denotes.
david NJ. Evans in Sunday-School
Times.)

Card-playing seems to pervade every
class of society. Card parties for play
ing whist, eucher, and cinch, in various
styles. are among the most popular even
ing entertainments In many parts of the
country. Newspapers of wide circula-
| ton dignity the play by establishing a
special department for 1t under an editor
learned in the craft. Noble men and
women of mature years, as well as young
people, indulge In the recreation to such
an extent in some communities that 1t
may fairly be termed "craze." All ad-
NIT that there ara serious evils connected
with the play under some circumstances,
but some maintain that they are not in
herent. A common expression is, "There
is nothing wrong in cards per se." 1t is
contended that, when played by respect
able people In a respectable place, cards
are harmless and free from evil, except,
perhaps, that the play is frivolous, and
leads to a waste of time,-a common
characteristic Of ali recreations.
Notwithstanding all this, is there not
prevalent feeling-a sort of instinct,
even among it's devotees-that there is
something wrong in the playY Strip it of
its vile associations, ignore it's tempta-
tions to cheating, 'nigging, land it's
proneness to provoke quarrels, and yet
there is a residuum OF distrust which
points to some hidden miasma to be
feared. Parents dread to have their chill
dren learn to play, and tolerate 1t at
home to prevent the greater evil 81
stealthy knowledge in bad surroundings
Educational institutions forbid the play
because Of its various tendencies. The
conclusion is inevitable that there must
be something wrong "per se." What is
it?
The play at cards is founded upon de-
ception. That Is the essential funda-
mental principle Of the play. By the
rules, the player who deceiyes his oppo-
nent the most adroitly, overreaches him
the most cunningly, and misleads him
er. This reverses the ordinary rules of
morality by turning the vice of deception
into virtue, and crowning the arch
deceiyer with honor. By such ethics the
moral nature is debauched, for the mind
is made familiar with a species of de-
ception deemed virtue, and therefore
justifiable under certain conditions. The
conscience is made to recognize a legal
deceit, established as a rule OF conduct.
Thus the habit of card playing under
mines character, destroys the altruistic
spirit, and SO blunts this moral sensibili-
ties that 1t becomes easy for the card
devotee to carry the card table ethics
where any tactics, not in violation of law |
are justifiable-over into social and bnsi- |
trac ff1a "a not Ian
business man said recently, II have
noticed that, when have dealings with |
a card player, l must look on all posi- |
BILE sides of the matter or am sure to |
be cheated" This Is one insidious poi
son of the play.
because 1t Is not a true game. /
IL is merely contest in deception, sup
plemented by chance. il leaves little or
no room for brain power. 1t substitutes
the pernicious principle of deception for
the element Of strategy, which is the only
foundation of the genuine game. 1t con-
POUNDS deception with strategy. This
may seem TO be "A mere play upon cards,
but the difference between the two is rad
ical in giving character to contests. A
play founded upon deception has no up
lift, no creative power, but it is of neces-
sity per &c." and philosophically harm
full. On the other hand, the true game,
founded upon what-for want of better
worlds called Strategy is uplifting,
the mental faculties, and in
the physical powers. A clear
Of this vital distinction will
compel every thoughtful mind to con-
denim, even on this ground only, the play
at cards.
But 1t may be said: There is deception
in all games. In chess or checkers, a /
move may be made having no other pur-
pose than to deceive an opponent as to
the real point of attack. In blind.man's |
ouff the captive uses every possible ruse