Gilpin observer., 1914-09-10
WORLDS OLDEST BOOK
SOME FACTS CONCERNING PACK
OF PLAYING CARDS.
Have Been Known as Far Back a.
History Reaches, and Their signifi-
canoe Has Seldom Been Thor
oushly Appreciated.

"The Oldest book in the world" said
the wise woman of the party of card
players. indicating the pack of cards
held In her hands. Its leaves have
been called playing cards since the
fourteenth century, but they were
known as far back as history reaches,
by the Chinese, Persians and Egyp-
tians, not to name the ancients of
prehistoric times. A pack Of cards
said to be a thousand years old is
preserved in the museum of the Roy
al Asiatic society.
THE women who play bridge all
the morning and then all the after
noon. and after that go to bridge par
ties in the evening" said another Of
the party, little think what ancient
things they are playing with. But.
what was the purpose of this book
in the time before it became gamer"
The mystic book" answered the
wise woman, held the hidden wis
dom of the ancient world. 1t was
used by the priests in their temples
when time was young. Call its orr
gin Egyptian or what you will, it is
full of astronomical symbolism, and
the wisdom of numbers; such learn
ing as men had of old was carefully
concealed from the uninitiated. But
to- those who could read it the mys-
tic test book was veritable book Of
fate.
THE cards, for one thing. are all
symbols of the astrological art. Each
one is an emblem. 1t would tire you
il would attempt to go into the sub
ject deeply. 1 can only glance along
the top waves of the deep ocean.
But notice a few particulars which
lie upon the surface.
"The So emblems or pages of this
book represent the so weeks in the
year The 12 court emblems are the
12 months, the 13 cards in each suit
represent the sun and the IL signs
Of the zodiac. the four suit figures the
four seasons.
"Further-but this you can easily
see-the heart is the emblem Of spring
and love, the trefoil or clover leaf
we call it club-of summer and knowl
edge, the diamond of autumn and
wealth, and the acorn or spade. of
winter, labor and death.
The pages of this book are in red
and black. White was once used in
place of red. These colors in the
cards symbolic night and day, astro-
nomically, and the lights and shades
of life as applied to man.
Look closely at the court cards and
notice the emblems carried. These
all survive from the ancient forms.
| The queens hold the lotus flower.
supplemented in the case of the queen
of spades by the distaff. emblem Of
industry, kept through all the long
centuries. The king and queen Of
clubs bear symbols of wisdom, the
king still plainly showing the winged
globe.
Each suit has its mystic symbol
ism, corresponding to the planets. in
both suit. and spots. Venus and Mer-
curry rule hearts, Mars and the earth
| rule clubs, Jupiter and Neptune, dia-
monds: Saturn and Uranus. spades.
But am becoming too astronomical
must close this fascinating book "
mo. no." the others protested. And
what about the joker?'
"Oh. the joker is modern inveu'
ton He does not count in any Sc
rious game of life or of cards. Yet
there was in the days of old always a
court jester so this new card Is not
really out of place among queens and
kings"