The Washington herald. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1906-1939, 1912-12-29
ANC|ENTS KNEW
ALL ABOUT CARDS
Their Early Use Remains Shrouded
in 0bscurity Despite All
Research.
TRACED BACK TO ISRAELITES
DiviEation and 0ccultism Have
Played a Part in Producing
the Modern Game.
TRACED BACK TO ISRAELTTEs

The origin of playing cards is lost in a
dim and obscure past, and their authentic
history can only be traced as far back as
the fifteenth century. Various theories
have been brought forward as to the
source from which European countries
obtained then. Some contend that they
came from the East; others. that they
had an independent origin, like that of
the Swastika, the Egyptian charm, which.
though discovered in China centuries ago,
was known at the same time in Mexico.
An idea once prevailed that they were
invented to amuse n mad French king.
but the only foundation for this hypoth-
esis is the fact that a French document,
dated 1892, shows an entry of a payment
made for painting cards for Charles vi
They seem 10 have been used by the
Arabs and Saracens for divination. and
even now they are still used to some con-
siderable extent for that purpose. 1t is
also an established fact that in past ages
many Eastern peoples, especially those
of India and China, possessed cards
which differed materially both in use and
in design from those known to the West
ern world at a later date. 1t is impos-
sIble for one to trace the beginnings of
card lore, but there is little doubt that the
people of the East held playing cards in
high esteem as mediums for the partial
revelation of the unknown and included
them as part Of their mystic lore.
Numbers that Were Ideas.
The earliest cards were the Tarots. and
and they are supposed to have been the
invention OF Jacques Gringonneur, an as
trologer and cabalist, who was probably
Of Jewish extraction, the Tarots packs
eXtant in Europe being Of an IsraeIitish
character. occulists trace the Tarots
pack into the distant past. According to
them, hieroglyphics were based upon an
alphabet in which the gods were letters.
the letters were ideas, the ideas numbers,
and the numbers perfect signs. This al
phabet is supposed to date back to the
days of Abraham, and is known as the
Book Of Thoth." Moses, who was learn
ed in Egyptian lore, took the secret to
his people, and 1t is supposed to have
come down to US in the Tarots
The famous cartomancer EtteiIla, who
was eagerly sought after as an exponent
OF the mysteries Of the Tarots during the
Reign of Terror in France, gives another
theory of the Tarots, when he says: ION
table or altar in the Temple of Ptah
at Memphis, at the height of the breast
Of the Egyptian Magus, were, on one side
book or collection Of cards, or plates
of gold Ghe Tarots), and on the other a
vase" According to this authority, the
name Tarot is derived from the pure
Egyptian word tar a path. and TO"
''ros, ''rog," royal; the combined mean
ing reading, THE Royal Path of Life"
One writer on occult science, Macgreg-
or Mathers, says that the title Book Of
Thoth," or the Tarot cards, is derived
from the Egyptian word "taru," which
means ito consult" Papus, in his Key
to Occult Science" gives a reason why
the ancient Egyptians confided their Sc
crets to the Book Of Thoth." He SAYS
that when the overthrow OF the kingdom
was at hand the priests met in solemn
conclave to decide what means might be
used to keep their secrets inviolate for
the initiates Of all future ages. After
much elaboration and debating II was
held best to conflde these secrets to
something which appealed to vice in man
and not to his nobler qualities; thus the
Book of Thoth" was compiled.
A fifteenth century writer says that