Evening star., 1934-05-06

forms the seal on every
deck of cards, showing
that Uncle Sam has collected 10 cents
But in reality the tax cards was prob
ably the first amusement tax, dating back
even before the 13 Colonies had won their in
dependence, and with penalties for evasion
much more severe than they would be today.
You would hardly believe that only 300 or
400 years ago. if you attempted to avoid pay
ment of the tax on cards, you might be stood
in the pillory have your ears cut off, or your
nostrils slit up and scared with hot iron.
Gruesome penalties, yes. but old court records
show that all these things happened-that even
death was inflicted those who would boot
leg" playing cards.
As you while away the moments at your
favorite solitaire game or struggle through
neighborhood bridge party, you have probably
noticed the artistry of modern playing cards.
their beautifully designed backs exhibiting
bathing beauties silhouettes Cooley prints. fu-
turistic distortions, nature scenes. even the big
bad wolf and the three little pigs
But have you ever reflected that the faces
of these same cards are of different time and
land that they have changed but little in nearly
500 years. ever since they came over to Merrie
England in the kit bags of her fighting men
returning from France?
THE little royalties of the cards still affect
the regal costumes of that day when kings
wore ermine- -bordered robes and great danes
were bedecked with elaborate headgear long
lappets their ears Gallant knaves, the
kings wardens, pictured with fiat caps
"broad on the crown like the battlements OF
house." also the courts jester who is perpetu-
ated with his cap and bells, IN the design of the
joker. in some packs.
Why so little change has occurred is diff
cult to understand The habit of card players
is strong and tradition may play a small part
And those odd-shaped spots. the pips that
designate the suits in this miniature pasteboard
army. Why are they So and where did they
come from?
French tradition informs that they SYM
bolize the divisions of society.
Spades represented the lance points of the
chivalrous knights. Diamonds the arrow heads
of the bowmen and archers, the yeomanry OF
the army Clubs. the clover leaf of husbandry,
symbolic the peasantry, and hearts stood for
the church.
Cards were not invented by French courte-
san. for the amusement of a sick king. nor by
a favorite concubine of the Chinese Emperor
Seun-ho in A. D. 1920, the Encyclo-
pedia Britannica suggests. They were, like
most of our well-rooted institutions. gradual
evolution through a complex social process,
rather than the invention of individual.
AS early as the sixth century the Chinese
began issuing paper money with which certain
games of chance were developed. but probably
due to their value and the fact they wore out
easily more durable cards were made in imita-
ton of these first bank notes.
The Chinese cards today still bear the money
symbols that first adorned their paper money
and denoted their value. There were four
suits. coins strings of coins, myriads of coins
and tens Of myriads, picturing those strange
Eastern coins with holes in the center. Some
time later honor cards were added to the pack
depicting the river folk of Chinese lore.
| IPON the authority of Catherine p Har-
- grave, who has devoted much study to
the history of playing cards, gathering of card
players occurred in the tenth century, when no
less parsonage than Emperor Tai Tsu
sembled his mobiles to play at the game of yu
p'u, which was played with cards, "for en-
broidered rugs and damasks and gauze of
Sorts
pleasant time evidently enjoyed by all,
for later. in the year $50, "K'itan. the Tartar
prince called his lords together for tourna-
ment of leaves The historian writing the
account explains that these "leaves" known as
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