Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1906-02-12
THE SOLDIERS PRAYER BOOK
Unique Demonstration of the Re-
Iigious Significance of
Pack OF Cards.

Good old boy. you ought to have been
exonerated." muttered Senator Clarence ID.
Clark OF Wyoming to himself as he sat at
the large desk in the senate committee
room on railroads the other day.
The correspondent observed that the sem
ator was reading letter written in a
quaint old style, and evidently penned
many years ago.
once in a while 1 glance over this old
scrap book" said Senator Clark in ex-
PLANTATION OF his former remark. There
some things in here that are worth
re-reading."
'To what particular communication do
you refer?" l asked
ITO the story OF the soldiers prayer
book" replied the senator. ut is an
interesting communication and describes
how one Richard Middleton was taken
before the mayor of New England town
for playing cards in church. The story
is quantity told by John G. Smith. in his
own language. You may be interested
in reading it."
The correspondent glanced over tho
communication and herewith reproduces It
in full.
One Sunday morning Richard Middle
ton, a soldier. attended an Episcopal
church at an interior town in New Eng
land. While the minister In the midst
OF his sermon the soldier took from his
pocket n pack of cards and spread them
out before him. The town marshal. who
was present Immediately commanded the
soldier to put up the cards and added,
this is no place for one to play cards.
II am not playing cards; I am only
| looking at them" the soldier replied.
mo matter. put them up" said the
| marshal. The soldier obeyed. When leav-
| ing the church the soldier was again
accosted by the marshal who said:
| Young man, you must come with me"
Where to-" inquired the soldier.
Before the mayor" said the marshal.
What for?" anxiously asked the SOL
! der.
For playing cards in church during
| divine services" said the marshal
The soldier accompanied the marshal to
| the mayors office.
| Your honor. l have brought this man
before you for playing cards in church
| during divine services" said the marshal.
land I hope you will punish him accord
| ingly."
| II was not playing cards: ! was only
| looking at them and can give a very
| clear description of this pack of cards II
! your honor will permit me-" protested the
soldier.
The mayor replied that II he could not
! give n clear account of himself and the
| cards he would be punished moro severely
| than any man who had ever been brought
! before his court.
| Very we'll" said the soldier. 1T will
commence with the ace. When I look Mt
| the acc It reminds mo that there is but one
| God. When look at the deuce IL reminds
me of the Father and the Son. When l
/ Al
! Trinity. the Father. Son and Holy Ghost.
| When look at the four spot II reminds Of
the four evangelists preaching the gospel.
| namely, Matthew. Mark. Luke and John.
| When look at the FIVE spot IL reminds me
! OF the five wise virgins who trimmed their
| lamps; there were formerly ten but Ave
| were discarded. When I look at the six
| spot II reminds me that in six days God
| created the earth. When I look at the
! seven spot II recalls TO my mind that on
| the seventh day God rested from all his
work that he had created and made beau
tiful. When look at the eight spot It
minds me of the eight persons who were
saved when God destroyed the world by
| nood-Noah his wife and his three sons and
| their wives. When look at the nine spot
| Il puts me in mind of the nine lepers who
| were cleansed by our LORD and Saviour.
Jesus Christ. There were ten. but one
| never returned thanks to God. When I
| look at the ten spot il puts me in mind OF
| the ten commandments that God gave
| Moses on Mount Sinai written on a tablet
| OF stone. When look at the queen IL puts
me in mind of the queen of Sheba, who
| came from tho farthest parts of the earth
| to hear the wisdom of King Solomon she
being as wise a woman as he was a man.
| She brought fifty boys and girls all clothed
| in boys apparel to see if he could distin-
| guish the boys from the girls. He could
| not tell until he called for water and d.
| rected them to wash their hands. The girls
| washed up to their elbows and the boys
only washed to their wrists, and that is
| how ne distinguished the boys from the
girls When / look at the king 1t puts mo
in mind of the Great King of heaven and
earth.
when I count how many spots there
are in a pack OF cards / find there are S65.
| the number of days in the year. When
| I count how many cards there are in
pack / find there are fifty-two, the num-
Der of weeks in a year. When ] count
how many tricks there are in pack
find there are twelve-the number of months
in year
There is one card lacking" said the
mayor.
(Which card is that, your honor" the
soldier inquired.
1.-The knave," said the mayor. meaning
the jack.
81 will give you very clear account
that card II your honor will not be angry
with me-"
81 will not be angry unless you liken me
TO the knave"
We'll. the greatest knave that l can
think of is the marshal who brought me
before you. do not know that he is the
greatest knave, but ! am sure that he is
the greatest fool"
well done" said the mayor. Here's a
six-pence, some bread and cheese and a
jug OF ale; go your way. for you are the
cleverest man who has ever been brought
before this court. Denver Post.
Preaching and Practice.
| ap,{papt phvsician declares that tu,o