Newark leader. ([Newark, Ohio]) 1917-1946, 1924-04-25
PACK OF CARDS FOR PRAYER
BOOK

Among the many "reminiscences OF
the world war the following is told
about hoary-headed British
Tommy" member of a regiment
about to embark for France during
the world war. The soldiers were at
service in ST. Paul's Cathedral, when
Tommy pulled out Of his hip pocket
a worn and greasy deck Of cards.
These he spread on his knees during
the service, laying them out one by
one.
The provost guard at the end of the
seat signaled to him to put away the
cards, but Tommy paid no attention
After the service the soldier was
placed under arrest and turned over
to a "bobbie," the familiar London
policeman, on charge Of disturbing
public worship. Of course Tommy
accepted the situation as an insult to
his pride, for in Britain the soldier
and policeman are ever ready to scrap
at the drop of hat
Next morning Tommy was brought
before a magistrate, kindly old man,
who wanted to know why the soldier
had played cards in church.
In rich cockney accent, Tommy
enlightened the court: "Sir," he said,
owe been fighting under the British
flag the greater part of my life. /
love my king and | believe in a God.
| am a poor old soldier and | can't
afford a Bible or prayer book, and
this deck of dirty, greasy cards that
you see here serves me as Bible,
prayer book and almanac"
The magistrate was taken aback by
this, and directed the soldier to eX-
plain.
Tommy went on: GAS | shuttle my
cards, and find the ace, / am remind
ed of the great Jehovah, God |
shuttle again and get the deuce or
two-spot, which speaks to me of God
the Father and God the Son.. Then
| look for the three spot and | am re-
minded Of the holy trinity. The four
spot tells me Of the four gospellers,
Matthew, Mark, Luke and John. AS |
look at the five spot | think of the
five wise virgins, who went into the
wedding feast because they had their
lamps trimmed. Five others were
turned away because they had let
their oil run out
"The six spot reminds me of the
six days it took God to make heaven
and earth, and the seven spot indi-
Gates the seventh day He rested and
commanded US to keep holy. The
eight spot reminds me of the eight
people who were saved in the deluge
Noah, his wife, his three sons and
their wives. The nine spot is a re-
minder of the nine lepers who were
oln
ing thanks. You remember there was
only one who came back and showed
appreciation Of the miracle. AS |
look at the ten spot | am reminded
of the ten commandments that God
gave Moses on Mount Sinai The
Queen reminds me Of the wise Queen
of Sheba, who took fifty boys and
fifty girls, all dressed alike, before
King Solomon and said: %, wise king,
which are boys and which are girls p
And you remember that King Solo
mon said, Boys and girls go wash
your hands, And the girls washed
to their elbows, but the boys only
washed to their wrists.
'Then as | look at the King, / am
reminded of God, who is king over
ALL"
The magistrate was deeply inter
ested, and to show his own knowledge
Of cards, commented, Every good
Tommy, but didn't you leave out the
knave, or jack?"
"Yes," acknowledged the soldier,
"but | didn't want to be personal.
That reminds me of the ass who
brought me here"
Then the magistrate said: "How do
you mean that the cards serve you
as an almanac?"
"Your honor, as l count the spots
on the cards | find that I have 365,
reminding me of the 365 davs in the
year. / have So cards in the deck,
which tells me of the 81 weeks in the
year. There are suits, reminding
me of the seasons. And in each
suit find II tricks, one for each
Of the II months.
Tommy had proved his case. He
was discharged