Lastly，becauseIfeelmylifedecay，IyieldandgivetoWisbichCOCKTHEDAY！’[70]
[70]ThepassagesleftoutintheWill，asmarkedbyasterisks，thoughwitty，arerathertoogrossformoderneyes。
ToquotefromPeggeoncemore:——WhataggravatesthereproachanddisgraceuponusEnglishmen，arethosespeciesoffightingwhicharecalled——\"thebattleroyalandtheWelshmain\"——knownnowhereintheworld，asIthink，buthere；neitherinChina，norinPersia，norinMalacca，noramongthesavagetribesofAmerica。
Thesearescenessobloodyasalmosttobetooshockingtorelate；andyetasmanymaynotbeacquaintedwiththehorriblenatureofthem，itmaybeproper，fortheexcitementofouraversionanddetestation，todescribetheminafewwords。
’Inthebattleroyal，anunlimitednumberoffowlsarepitted；
andaftertheyhaveslaughteredoneanother，forthediversion(diiboni！)oftheotherwisegenerousandhumaneEnglishman，thesinglesurvivingbirdistobeesteemedthevictor，andcarriesawaytheprize。TheWelshmainconsists，wewillsuppose，ofsixteenpairsofcocks；ofthesethesixteenconquerorsarepittedasecondtime；and，lastly，thetwoconquerorsofthesearepittedafifthtime；sothat(incrediblebarbarity！)
thirty-onecocksaresuretobemostinhumanlymurderedforthesportandpleasure，thenoiseandnonsense，nay，Imaysaytheprofanecursingandswearing，ofthosewhohavetheeffronterytocallthemselves，withallthesebloodydoings，andwithallthisimpietyaboutthem——Christians！’Moreover，thisungenerousdiversionwasthebaneanddestructionofthousands，whothusdissipatedtheirpatrimonialfortunes。Thatitsattractionswereirresistibleisevidentfromthedifficultyexperiencedinsuppressingthepractice。Downtoaveryrecentdatecock-
fightingwascarriedoninsecret，——thepolicenowandthenbreakingintothesecretpits，dispersingandchasingamotleycrewofnoblemen，gentlemen，and’thescumofrascaldom。’
Thepracticeisveryfarfromhavingdiedout；mainsarestillfoughtinvariouspartsofthecountry；butofcoursethegreatestprecautionsaretakentoinsuresecrecyandtopreventtheinterferenceofthepolice。
Inconnectionwithcock-fightingIrememberahorribleincidentthatoccurredintheWestIndies。Agentlemanwhowaspassionatelyfondofthesport，andpridedhimselfonthevictoriesofhiscocks，hadthemisfortunetoseeoneofhisbirdssoterriblywoundedinthefirstonsetthat，althoughnotkilled，itwasimpossibleforittocontinuethefight。Hisrageatthemishapknewnobounds，andheventeditmadlyonthepoorcreature。Heroasteditalive——standingbyandhearingitspiteouscries。Inthemidstofthehorribletorturethewretchedmanbecamesoexcitedthatafitofapoplexysupervened，andhepositivelyexpiredbeforethepoorbirdatthefire！
CHAPTERXII。
THETURF，HISTORICAL，SOCIAL，MORAL。
Itappearsthathorse-raceswerecustomaryatpublicfestivalsevenasearlyasthetimesofthepatriarchs。Theyoriginatedamongtheeasternnations，whowerethefirsttodiscoverthephysicalaptitudesofthenobleanimalandthespiritedemulationofwhichheiscapable。ThePersians，theGreeks，theRomans，insuccession，allindulgedintheexcitement；anditisacuriousfactthattheRomans，liketheEnglishjockeysofthepresentday，rodeindifferentcolours。
Horse-racingbeganveryearlyinEngland。Fitz-Stephen，whowroteinthetimeofHenryVIII。，mentionsthedelighttakenbythecitizensofLondoninthediversion。InthereignofQueenElizabethitappearstohavegreatlyflourished，andtohavebeencarriedtosuchanexcessastohaveruinedmanyofthenobility。
ThecelebratedGeorge，EarlofCumberland，issaidtohavewastedmoreofhisestatesthananyofhisancestors，andprincipallybyhisloveoftheturfandthetilt-yard。InthereignofJamesI。，CroydonintheSouth，andGarterlyintheNorth，werecelebratedcourses。Camdenalsostatesthatin1607thereweremeetingsnearYork，andtheprizewasasmallgoldenbell；hencetheoriginofthesaying’bearingoffthebell。’
LordHerbertofCherburydenouncedthepractice。’Theexercise，’
saysthisgallantphilosopher，’Idonotapproveofisrunningofhorses——therebeingmuchCHEATINGinthatkind，——neitherdoIseewhyabravemanshoulddelightinacreaturewhosechiefuseistohelphimtorunaway。’Asfarasthecheatingisconcerned，thephilosophermayberight，butmostassuredlyhisviewsofthehorsedonocredittohisLordship’sunderstanding。
Itappearsthattheturf-menofthosedayswentonbreedingforshapeandspeedalone，withoutconsidering’bottom，’untilthereignofQueenAnne；whenapublic-spiritednoblemanleftthirteenplatesorpursestoberunfor，atsuchplacesastheCrownshouldappoint，uponconditionthateveryhorseshouldcarrytwelvestoneforthebestofthreeheats——fourmiles。Bythismeansastrongerhorsewasraised，who，ifhewasnotgoodenoughupontherace-course，madeahunter。
TheMerryMonarch，CharlesII。，hadgivencupsorbowls，estimatedatonehundredguineasvalue，anduponwhichthenamesofthewinninghorses，thewinner，andjockeywereusuallyengraved。WilliamIII。addedtotheplates，asdidQueenAnne；
butin1720GeorgeI。discontinuedthisroyalencouragementtothesport，apparentlythroughsheermeanness。Sincethatperiod’King’sPlates’and’Queen’sPlates’havebeenpaidinspecie。
InthereignofCharlesI。raceswereperformedinHydePark；anduntilaveryrecentperiod’theRing’intheParkwastherendezvousofgentlemen’sservants，forthepurposeofbettingormakinguptheirbettingbooks。
NewmarketraceswereestablishedbyCharlesII。，in1667。Epsom，byMrParkhurst，in1711。Ascot，bytheDukeofCumberland，uncletoGeorgeIII。Doncaster，byColonelStLeger，in1778。
Goodwood，bytheDukeofRichmond，whodiedin1806。
TheJockeyClubbeganinthetimeofGeorgeII。Itslatestrules，bywhichracesareregulated，wereenactedin1828。
Tattersall’s，the’HighChangeofHorse-flesh，’wasestablishedbyRichardTattersall，nearHydeParkCorner——hencetermed’TheCorner’——in1766，forthesaleofhorses。Theleaseofthegroundhavingexpired，thenewpremisesatBromptonwereerected，andopenedforbusiness，in1803。
OntheaccessionofQueenVictoriatheRoyalstudwassoldforL16，476，inOct。，1837。[71]
[71]Haydon，BookofDates。
AmongthedistinguishedmenwhohavesupportedtheturfinthiscountrymaybementionedGeorgeIV。[72]andWilliamIV。；thelateDukeofYork；theDukesofRichmond，Cleveland，Grafton，Bedford，andBeaufort；MarquisesofExeterandWestminster；EarlsofGlasgow，Stradbrooke，Wilton，Chesterfield，Eglintoun，Verulam，andLonsdale；LordsGeorgeBentinck，Foley，Kinnaird，&c。；andlast，thoughnotleast，theRightHonourableCharlesJamesFox。
Astotheturf，Foxusedalwaystoanimadvertonhislosses，andrepeatedlyobserved——that’hishorseshadasmuchbottomasotherpeople’s，butthattheyweresuchslow，goodonesthattheyneverwentfastenoughtotirethemselves。’Hehad，however，thegratificationofexperiencingsomefewexceptionstothisimaginaryrule。InApril，1772，hewassoluckyatNewmarketastowinnearlyL16，000——thegreaterpartofwhichhegotbybettingagainstthecelebratedPincher，wholostthematchbyonlyhalfaneck。TheoddsatSTARTINGweretwotooneonthelosinghorse。AtthespringmeetingatNewmarket，in1789，FoxissaidtohavewonnotlessthanL50，000；andattheOctobermeeting，atthesameplace，thefollowingyear，hesoldtwoofhishorses——SeagullandChanticleer——for4400guineas。Inthecourseof1788FoxandtheDukeofBedfordwon8000guineasbetweenthemattheNewmarketspringmeeting，andduringtheseracesFoxandLordBarrymorehadaheavymatch，whichwasgivenasadeadheat，andthebetswereoff。
[72]Forsomeperiodpreviousto1790，GeorgeIV。hadpatronizedhorse-racingandpugilism；butinthatyear，havingattendedaprizefightinwhichoneoftheboxerswaskilled，heceasedtosupportthering，declaringthathewouldneverbepresentatsuchasceneofmurderagain；andin1791hedisposedofhisstud，onaccountofsomeapparentlygroundlesssuspicionbeingattachedtohisconductwithregardtoarace，intheeventofwhichhehadlittleornorealinterest。
OncomingintoofficewithLordNorth，in1783，MrFoxsoldhishorses，anderasedhisnamefromseveraloftheclubsofwhichhewasamember。Itwasnotlong，however，beforeheagainpurchasedastud，andinOctoberheattendedtheNewmarketmeeting。Theking’smessengerwasobligedtoappearonthecourse，toseekoneoftheministersofEnglandamongthesportsmenontheheath，inordertodeliverdespatchesuponwhichperhapsthefateofthecountrymighthavedepended。Themessengerontheseoccasionshadhisbadgeofoffice，thegreyhound，notlikingthattheworldshouldknowthattheking’sadviserwasamusinghimselfatNewmarket，whenheshouldhavebeenservinghiminthemetropolis。ButCharlesFoxpreferredthebettingroomstoDowningStreet。
Again，intheyear1790，hishorseSeagullwontheOatlandsstakesatAscot，of100guineas(19subscribers)，beatingthePrinceofWales’sEscape，Serpent，andseveraloftheverybesthorsesofthatyear——tothegreatmortificationofHisRoyalHighness，whoimmediatelymatchedMagpieagainsthim，torunfourdaysafterwards，twomiles，for500guineas。Thismatch，onwhichimmensesumsweredepending，waswonwitheasebySeagull。
AtthisperiodLordFoleyandMrFoxwereconfederates。InthosedaystheplatesaveragedfromL50toL100。
LordFoley，whodiedin1793，enteredupontheturfwithaclearestateofL1800ayear，andL100，000readymoney，whichwasconsiderablydiminishedbyhislossesatNewmarket，Ascot，andEpsom。
Therace-horseofthiscountryexcelsthoseofthewholeworld，notonlyforspeed，butbottom。Thereisagreatdifference，however，betweenthepresentraceandthatoffiftyorsixtyyearsago；forinthosedaysfour-mileheatswerethefashion。
Thesportingrecordsattheendofthelastcenturygivethefollowingexploitsofhorsesofthatandpreviousperiods。
Childers，knownbythenameofFlyingChilders，thepropertyoftheDukeofDevonshire，waslookeduponasthefleetesthorsethateverwasbred。Hewasneverbeaten；thesireofthiscelebratedhorsewasanArabian。
Dorimont，belongingtoLordOssory，wonprizestotheamountofL13，360。
EclipsewasallowedtobethefastesthorsethateverraninEnglandsincethetimeofChilders。Afterwinninglargelyforhisowner，hecovered，bysubscription，fortymaresat30guineaseach，or1200guineas。
Highflyer，byKingHerod，wasthebesthorseofhisday；wasneverbeaten，norpaidforfeitbutonce。HiswinningsamountedtoaboveL9000，althoughheonlyranasathree，four，andfiveyearsold。
Matchemstoodhighbothasaracerandasthesireofmanyofourmostfavouritehorses。AsastallionherealizedforhismastermorethanL12，000。Hediedin1781，attheadvancedageofthirty-three。
Sharkwonacupvalue120guineas，elevenhogsheadsofclaret，andaboveL16，000inplates，matches，andforfeits。[73]
[73]LordWilliamLennox，MerrieEngland。
AmongrecentcelebritiesmustbementionedLordStamford，whoissaidtohaveengagedJemmyGrimshaw，alight-weightedjockey，atasalaryofL1000ayear。
Themostastounding’event’oflateyearswasthatof1867，whenthehorseHermit——previouslyrepresentedasbeinginanunfitconditioneventorun，wontherace——totheunspeakableruinofverymany，andinflictingonthelateMarquisofHastingstheenormouslossofaboutL100，000，which，however，inspiteofunseemlyrumoursand，itissaid，hopesofthatnobleman’sruin，washonourablypaid，tothedayandhour。
Butifruindidnotimmediatelycomeupontheyoungmarquis，stillthewoundwasdeadly，inflictedasthoughwiththeferocityofademon。Inhisbrokenhealthandrapiddecaysympathywasnotwithheldfromhim；andwhenaprematuredeathputanendtohissufferings，andwasspeedilyfollowedbythebreakingupofhisestablishmentandthedispersionofhisancestraleffects，mostmenfeltthathehad，perhaps，atonedforhiserrorsandindiscretions，whilstallunitedinconsideringhimanotherunfortunatevictimaddedtothelonglistofthosewhohavesacrificedtheirfortune，health，andhonourtotheGamblingMolochpresidingovertheTurfofEngland。[74]
[74]The’Odds’orprobabilitiesofhorseracingareexplainedinchapterVIII。，inwhichtheentire’DoctrineofChances’isdiscussed。
Sucharetheleadingfactsofhorse-racinginEngland。OnecannothelpobservingthatthesturdystrengthandmuscularexertionsofanOlympiccharioteerofoldexhibitastrikingcontrasttothespider-likeformandemaciatedfigureofaNewmarketjockey。
Quistudetoptatamcursucontingeremetam，Multatulit，fecitquepuer，SUDAVATetalsit。
’Whoinaracewouldreachthelong’d-forgoal，Mustsuffermuch，domuch，inyouth，indeed，MustSWEATandfag。’
ThisisliterallytruerespectingtheEnglishjockey，whoseattenuatedformisaccountedforinthefollowingdialogueinanoldworkentitled’Newmarket，oranEssayontheTurf，’1771。
’Stop，stop，OLDGENTLEMAN！Idesiretospeakawordtoyou；praywhichisthewayto。’
’Ibeg，sir，youwillnotinterruptme。IamaNewmarketjockey——amtorideinafewdaysamatch，uponwhichthereisagreatdealdepending，andIamnowPREPARING。’
’Oh，Iseenow，youareaYOUNGman，insteadofthatoldoneforwhomImistookyoubyyourwrappings；butpray，explain。’
’Why，yourHonourmustknowthatwejockeys，inordertobringourselvesdowntotheweightrequiredforthehorseswearetoride，sweatunderaloadofflannelwrappedaboutusbeneathcoatsandgreatcoats，andwalktwoorthreemilesintheheatofsummer，tillwearereadytofaintunderourburden。’
’Indeed！Why，yougothroughadeal！’
’Ah，sir，agreatdealindeed！Why，wesometimesliehoursandhoursbetweentwofeather-beds——tomeltawayourextraordinaryweight。’
’Butwillyougivemeleavetoexamineyourpresentdress？Hum！
Twoflannelwaistcoats，athickclothcoat，aBathsurtout！Itisavastweighttocarrythiswarmweather。Ionlyhopeyouwon’tsinkunderit。’
’Neverfear，sir，IdonotdoubtbutIshalldoverywell。’
TherewardsofvictorywereasplainandsimpleintheGreciangamesastheyweredistinguishingandhonourable。Agarlandofpalm，orlaurel，orparsley，orpineleaves，servedtoadornthebrowofthefortunatevictor，whilsthisnamestoodachanceofbeingtransmittedtoposterityinthestrainsofsomeloftyPindar。Therewardsofmoderndaysareindeedmoresubstantialandsolid，beingpaidinweightygoldoritsequivalent，nomatterwhetherobtainedbytheruinofothers，whilethefleetcoursersandtheirexultingproprietorsstandconspicuousinthelistoftheRacingCalendar。Theingeniousandironicalauthorof’Newmarket，oranEssayontheTurf，’intheyear1771，bestowedthefollowingtitlesandhonoursonthemostfamoushorseoftheday——Kelly’sEclipse:——’DukeofNewmarket，MarquisofBarnet，EarlofEpsomandYork，ViscountCanterbury，BaronEclipseofMellay；LordofLewes，Salisbury，Ipswich，andNorthampton；Comptroller-Generaloftherace-grounds，andPremierRacerofAllEngland。’Tobearcoatofarms——’APegasusargentonafieldverd；——thesupporters——twoEnglishmeninerminedrobesandducalcoronets；——thecrest——apurse，Or；——themotto——\"VolatociorEuro。\"’[75]
[75]’Hefliesswifterthantheeastwind。’
Again，intheexhibitionofthoseusefulandhonourableOlympicpastimesofold，thecauseofmoralitywasnotoverlooked:——therewasinthemahappyunionofutility，pleasure，andvirtue。A
spotlesslifeandunblameablemanners，apurityofdescentbybeingborninwedlockthroughseveralgenerations，andaseriesofcreditablerelations，wereindispensablequalificationsofacandidateontheOlympicturf。Itistrue，thereisatleastasmuchattentionpaidtopurityandfaultlessnessontheplainsofNewmarket；buttheapplicationistothebloodandpedigreeofthehorse，notofhisrider。
Nay，itwas，andis，notoriousthattheword’jockey’hasacquiredthemeaningof’totrick，’’tocheat，’asappearsinallourdictionariesandincommonparlance。Whatistheinferencefromthisbutthatthewinningofracesisnoabsoluteproofofthesuperiorityofthehorse——forwhoseimprovementracingissaidtobeencouraged；butrathertheresultofasecretcombinationofexpedientsorarrangements——inaword，jockeying，thatis，cheating，tricking。Theonly’moral’characterrequiredinthejockeyisthedeterminationtodowhatsoevermaybeagreeduponordeterminedbythosewhoarewillingandabletogive’aconsideration’fortheconvenientaccommodation。
Butitis，orwas，theassociations，theinevitableconcomitants，oftheturfandracingthatstampit，notonlyassomethingquestionable，butasabaneandinfamytothenation；andifthereisonespotmoreeminentlydistinguishedforageneralrendezvousoffraudandgambling，thatplaceisNewmarket。
Thediversionsoftheseplainshaveprovedadecoytomanyanobleandingenuousmind，caughtinthesnareslaidtoentrapyouthandinexperience。Newmarketwasawilylabyrinthoflossandgain，afruitfulfieldforthedisplayofgamblingabilities，theschoolofthesharpingcrew，theacademyoftheGreeks，theunfathomablegulfthatabsorbedprincelyfortunes。
Theamusementsoftheturfwereinallotherplacesintermixedwithavarietyofsocialdiversions，whichwerecalculatedtopromoteinnocentmirthandgaiety。Thebreakfastings，theconcerts，theplays，theassemblies，attractedthecircleoffemalebeauty，enlivenedthescene，engagedtheattentionofgentlemen，andthuspreventedmuchoftheevilcontagionanddestructionofmidnightplay。ButencouragementtotheGAMBLER
ofhighandlowdegreewastheverycharterofNewmarket。Everyobjectthatmettheeyewasencompassedwithgambling——fromthearistocraticRougeetNoir，Roulette，andHazard，downtoThimble-rig，Tossing，andTommyDodd。Everyhourofthedayandnightwasbesetwithgamblingdiversified；inshort，gamblingmustoccupythewholeman，orhewaslosttothesportandspiritoftheplace。Theinhumanityofthecock-pit，theiniquitousvortexoftheHazardtable，employedeachleisuremomentfromtherace，andeitherswalloweduptheemolumentsofthevictoriousfield，orsankthejockeystilldeeperinthegulfofruin。
ThecommonpeopleofEnglandhavebeenstigmatized(andperhapstoojustly)fortheirloveofbloodysportsandcrueldiversions；
cock-fighting，bull-baiting，boxing，andthecrowdedattendanceonexecutions，arebuttoomanyproofsofthissanguinaryturn。
Butwhytheimputationshouldlieatthedoorofthevulgaralonemaywellbequestioned；forwhilethestarofnobilityanddignifieddistinctionwasseentoglitteratacock-matchoronaboxing-stage，ornearthe’Ring’——whereitsproprietorwasliabletobeelbowedbytheirhighnessesofgreaseandsoot，andtobehemmedinbyknightsofthepostandcanditatesforTyburntree——
whenthismotleygroupalikewerefixedineagerattention，alikebettedonandenjoyedeachblood-drawingstrokeoftheartificialspur，orblowofthefistwelllaidin——whatdistinctionwastobemadebetweenpeerandplebeian，exceptinderogationoftheformer？
Therace-courseatNewmarketalwayspresentedarareassemblageofgrooms，gamblers，andgreatness。
’See，sidebyside，thejockeyandSirJohnDiscusstheimportantpointofsixtoone；
For，OmyMuse！thedeep-feltblisshowdear——
Howgreatthepridetogainajockey’sear！’[76]
[76]Wharton’sNewmarket。
Newmarketfamewasanobjectofambitionsoughtbythemostdistinguishedpersonages。
’Goon，braveyouths，tillinsomefutureageWhipsshallbecomethesenatorialbadge；
TillEnglandseeherthrongingsenatorsMeetallatWestminsterinbootsandspurs；
SeethewholeHousewithmutualphrensymad，Herpatriotsallinleathernbreechesclad；
Ofbetsfortaxeslearnedlydebate，Andguidewithequalreinsasteedorstate。’[77]
[77]Ibid。
Andthenatthewinning-postwhatmotleyconfusion——
’AthousandtonguesJabberharshjargonfromathousandlungs。
****
Direwasthedin——aswhenincavernspent，HoarseBoreasstormsandEurusworksforvent，Theaeolianbrethrenheavethelabouringearth，Androarwithelementalstrifeforbirth。’[78]
[78]’TheGamblers。’Horacehadsaidlongbefore——Tantocumstrepituludispectantur，’Sogreatanoiseattendsthegames！
ThefraudsandstratagemsofwilycraftwhichoncepassedcurrentatNewmarket，surpassedeverythingthatcanbeimaginedatthepresentday。Theintrudinglightofthemorningwasexecratedbythenightlygamblers。’Grantusbuttoperishinthelight，’wastheprayerofthewarlikeAjax:——’Grantusblacknightforever，’
exclaimedthegambler；andhiswisheswereconsistentwiththeplaceandthefouldeedsperpetratedtherein。[79]
[79]Theprincipalgambling-roomatNewmarketwascalledthe’LittleHell。’
Sitmihifasauditaloqui——sitnuminevestro，Pandereresaltaterraetcaliginemersas。
Theturf-eventsofeverysucceedingyearverifythelamentofthelateLordDerby:——
’Thesecessionfromtheturfofmenwhohavestationandcharacter，andtheaccessionofmenwhohaveneither，aresignsvisibletothedullestapprehension。Theoncenationalsportofhorse-racingisbeingdegradedtoatradeinwhichitisdifficulttoperceiveanythingeithersportiveornational。Theoldpretenceabouttheimprovementofthebreedofhorseshasbecomeadelusion，toostaleforjesting。’
NothingismoreincontestablethanthefactthatthebreedofEnglishhorseshasnotbeenreallyimproved，certainlynotbyracinganditsrequirements。Ithasbeentrulyobservedthat’whatiscalledtheturfismerelyanamefortheworstkindofgambling。Themenwhoengageinitareasfaraspossiblefromanyidealofsportingmen。Itisagrimjoke，infact，tospeakof\"sport\"atallintheirconnection。Theturftothemisbutawiderandmorevicioussortoftapisvert——theracingbuttherollingoftheballs——thehorsesbutanimateddice。Itisdifficulttonameasinglehonestormanlyinstinctwhichispropagatedbytheturfasitis，orwhichdoesnotbecomedebasedandvitiatedbytheassociation。Fromapublicrecreationthethinghasgottobeapublicscandal。Everyyearwitnessesaholocaustofgreatnamessacrificedtotheinsatiabledemonofhorse-racing——ancientfamiliesruined，oldhistoricmemoriesdefiledattheshrineofthisvulgarestandmostviciousofpopularpassions。’
AmongthosewhohavesoughttoreformtheturfisSirJosephHawley，wholastyearsucceededinprocuringtheabolitionoftwo-year-oldracesbeforethe1stofMay。Heisnowendeavouring，togomuchfurther，andhasgivennoticeofamotionfortheappointmentofacommitteeoftheJockeyClubtoconsiderthequestionofthewholeconditionoftheturf。
Therecanbenodoubt，that，ifSirJosephHawley’spropositions，asannounced，beadopted，eveninamodifiedform，theywouldgototheveryrootoftheevil，andpurifytheturfoftheworstofthepresentscandals。
Itwouldrequireavolume，orperhapsmanyvolumes，totreatofthesubjectofthepresentchapter——theTurf，Historical，Social，Moral；butImustnowleavethistopic，ofsuchterriblenationalinterest，tosomeotherconscientiouswritercapableof’doingjustice’tothetheme，inallitsrequirements。
CHAPTERXIII。
FORTUNE-TELLINGBYCARDS(FORLADIES)。
Itmustbeadmittedthatthispractice——howeverabsurdinitsobjectandapplication——doesgreatcredittohumaningenuity。
Onceadmittingthepossibilityofsuchconjuring，itisimpossibletodenytheproprietyofthereasoningsdeducedfromtheturningup，thecollocation，orthejuxta-positionofthevariouscards，whentheformalitiesofthepeculiarshuffleandcutrequiredhavebeendulycompliedwithbytheconsulter。
Thecardsarefirstshuffledadlibitum，thencutthreedifferenttimes，andlaidonatable，faceupwards，onebyone，intheformofacircle，ormorefrequentlynineinarow。Iftheconjurerisamanhechoosesoneofthekingsashisrepresentative；ifawoman，sheselectsoneofthequeens。Thisisonthesuppositionthatpersonsareconsultingforthemselves；otherwiseitisthefortune-tellerwhoselectstherepresentativecard。Thenthequeenofthechosenking，orthekingofthechosenqueen，standsforahusbandorwife，mistressorlover，ofthepartywhosefortuneistobetold。Theknaveofthesuitrepresentsthemostintimatepersonoftheirfamily。
Theninthcardeveryway，thatis，countedfromtherepresentative，isofthegreatestconsequence，andthatintervalcomprisesthe’circle’oftheinquirer，forgoodorforevil。
Now，allthecardshavehadassignedtothemarbitrary，butplausible，characteristics。Thus，theaceofclubs(thatsuitrepresentingoriginallythe’fortunatehusbandmen’)promisesgreatwealth，muchprosperityinlife，andtranquillityofmind——
ifitturnsupwithinyourcircle，asbeforementioned。Kingofclubsannouncesamanofdarkcomplexionwhoishumane，upright，&c。，infact，justthemanforahusband。Queenofclubsisequallypropitiousastheemblemofadarkladywhowouldproveaparagonwife。Knaveofclubs，ajollygoodfriendineveryway。
Tenofclubsalwaysflurriestheheartoftheinquirer——
especiallyif’hardup’——foritdenotesrichesspeedilyforthcomingfromanunexpectedquarter——whichisusuallythecaseinsuchcircumstances；butthenitalsothreatensthelossofsomedearfriend——which，however，cannotsignifymuchifyouget’themoney。’Sevenofclubspromisesthemostbrilliantfortune，andthemostexquisiteblissthisworldcanafford；butthenyouareungallantlywarnedthatyoumust’bewareoftheoppositesex’——whichseemsacontradictioninterms——forhowcall’themostexquisiteblissthisworldcanafford’besecuredwithouttheaidof’theoppositesex’？Fiveofclubsisthemainpointofmaid-servants，younggirlsfromthecountry，governesses，inshort，ofallthefloatingwomanhoodoftheland——for’itdeclaresthatyouwillshortlybemarriedtoapersonwhowill——MENDyourCIRCUMSTANCES。’Thetreyofclubsisscarcelylessexhilarating，foritpromisesthatyouwillbemarriedthreetimes，andeachtimetoawealthyperson。Onthewholethesuitofclubsisverylucky，but，veryappropriately，thedeucethereofportendssome’unfortunateoppositiontoyourfavouriteinclination，whichwilldisturbyou。’[80]
[80]Accordingtootherauthorities，theaceofclubsmeansaletter；thenine，dangercausedbydrunkenness；theeight，dangerfromcovetousness；theseven，aprison，anddangerfromtheoppositesex；thesix，competencebyhard-workingindustry；thefive，ahappybutNOTwealthymarriage；thefour，dangerofmisfortunescausedbyinconstancyorcapricioustemper；thetrey，quarrels。
Thesuitofdiamondsisbynomeanssosatisfactoryasthegemofanamewouldseemtoindicate；butperhapswemustrememberthatthissuitrepresentedoriginallytheCOMMERCIALCLASSES，andthatprobablythisdivinationbycardswasinventedbysomeproudARISTOCRATinthosetimeswhentradesmendidnotstandsohighastheynowdoinmorality，uprightness，&c。Theaceofdiamondsputsyouonthequiviveforthepostman；itmeansaLETTER。Itisonlytobehopedthatitisnotoneofthosenastythings，yellowoutsideandbluewithin——adunfromsomeimportunatebutcher，baker，grocer，or——tailor。Thekingofdiamondsshowsarevengeful，fiery，obstinatefellowofveryfaircomplexioninyourcircle；thequeenofdiamondsisnothingbutagaycoquette，ofthesamecomplexionastheking，andnot’over-virtuous’——averyoddphraseinusefortheabsenceofvirtuealtogether；theknaveofdiamondsisaselfish，impracticablefellow；tenofdiamondsisoneofthefewexceptionstotheevilomensofthissuit，itpromisesacountryhusbandorawifewithgreatwealthandmanychildren——thenumberofthelatterbeingindicatedbythenextcardtoit；italsosignifiesapurseofgold——butwhere？Oh，where？Nineofdiamondsindicatessimplyavagabond，fullofvexationanddisappointment；eightofdiamondsshowsanenemytomarriage，whomay，however，’marrylate，’andfindhimselfinaterrible’fix；’sevenofdiamondsisworsestill，portendingallthehorrorsofthedivorcecourtandthebankruptcycourt——conjugalprofligacyandextravagance；sixofdiamondsmeansearlymarriageandprematurewidowhood，andasecondmarriage，whichwillprobablybeworse；fiveofdiamondsisthenextexceptiontothemiseryofthissuit，itpromises’goodchildren，whowillKEEPYOUFROMGRIEF’——atbest，however，onlyamakeshift；fourofdiamondsisasbadassevenofdiamonds——portendingthesameresults；thetreyofdiamondsthreatensallmannerofstrife，law-suits，&c。，promisesavixenforawife，toyourgreatdomesticmisery；thedeuceofdiamondsconcludesthecatalogueofwretchednesswiththeassurancethatyouwillfallinloveearly，thatyourparentswillnotapproveofyourchoice，andifyoumarry，notwithstanding，thattheywillhardlyeverforgiveyou。[81]
[81]Otherwisetheaceofdiamondsmeansaweddingring，theking，afierybutaplacableperson，ofveryfaircomplexion；theten，money，successinhonourablebusiness；theeight，ahappyprudentmarriage，thoughlateinlife；thefive，unexpectedandmostlikelygoodnews；thefour，afaithlessfriend，abetrayedsecret。
Thesuitofhearts，aspreviouslyexplained，representedoriginallytheecclesiasticalorder，thejollymonks，churchmenofalldegrees；howfartheindicationstallymustbelefttotheingeniousreadertodetermine。Theaceofheartsmeansfeastingandpleasure；butifattendedbyspades，itforetellsquarrelling；ifbyheartsitshowsaffectionandfriendship；ifbydiamonds，youwillhearofsomeabsentfriend；ifbyclubs，ofmerry-making:thekingofheartsdenotesanotVERYfairman，good-natured，buthotandhastyindividual，andveryamorous；thequeenofheartspromisesaladyofgoldenlocks(notnecessarily’carrots’)，faithfulandaffectionate；theknaveofheartsisaparticularfriend，andgreatattentionmustbepaidtothecardthatstandsnexttohim，asfromitaloneyoucanjudgewhetherthepersonitrepresentswillfavouryourinclinationornot，becauseheisalwaysthedearestfriendornearestrelationoftheconsultingparty；thetenofheartsshowsgoodnatureandmanychildren，andisacorrectiveofthebadtidingsofthecardsthatstandnexttoit；andifitsneighbouringcardsareofgoodimport，itascertainsandconfirmstheirvalue:nineofheartspromiseswealth，grandeur，andhighesteem；ifcardsthatareunfavourablestandnearit，youmayexpectdisappointments；
andthereverse，iffavourablecardsfollow；iftheselastbeatasmalldistance，expecttoretrieveyourlosses，whetherofpeaceorgoods:eightofheartssignifiesdrinkingandfeasting；
sevenofheartsshowsafickleandunfaithfulperson，vicious，spiteful，malicious；sixofheartspromisesagenerous，open，credulousdisposition，oftenadupe；ifthiscardcomesbeforeyourkingorqueen(asthecasemaybe)YOUwillbethedupe；ifafter，youwillgettheupperhand:fiveofheartsportendsawavering，unsteady，unreliableindividualofeithersex:fourofheartsindicateslatemarriagefrom’delicacyinmakingachoice:’treyofheartsisrathera’poser；’’itshowsthatyourownimpudencewillgreatlycontributetoyourexperiencingtheill-willofothers:’deuceofheartspromisesextraordinarysuccessandgoodfortune，though，perhaps，youmayhavetowaitlongfor’thegoodtimecoming。’[82]
[82]Or，——theaceofheartsdenotesthehouseoftheconsulter；
thequeen，aladynotVERYfair；seven，manygoodfriends；six，honourablecourtship；five，apresent；four，domestictroublescausedbyjealousy。
ThesuitofspadesoriginallyrepresentedtheNOBILITY，andthefollowingareitssignificancesinfortune-telling。Theaceofspadeswhollyrelatestolove-affairs，withoutspecifyingwhetherlawfulorunlawful——aprettygeneraloccupationofthe’nobility，’ofcourse；italsodenotesdeathwhenthecardisupsidedown:thekingofspadesshowsamanambitiousandsuccessfulatcourt，orwithsomegreatmanwhowillhaveitinhispowertoadvancehim——but，lethimbewareofthereverse！thequeenofspadesshowsthatapersonwillbecorruptedbytherichofbothsexes；ifsheishandsomegreatattemptswillbemadeonhervirtue:theknaveofspadesshowsafellowthatrequiresmuchrousing，although’quitewillingtoserveyou’withhisinfluenceandpatronage——likemanyamemberinthecaseofhisimportunateconstituents:thetenofspadesisacardofcaution，counteractingthegoodeffectofthecardnearyou:thenineofspadesispositivelytheworstcardinthewholepack；itportendsdangeroussickness，totallossoffortune，cruelcalamities，endlessdissensioninyourfamily，anddeathatlast——Ihopeyoumayneverseeitnearyou:theeightofspadesindicatesmuchoppositionfromyourFRIENDS，orthoseyouimaginetobesuch；ifthiscardcomesnearyou，leaveyourplanandadoptanother:sevenofspadesshowsthelossofamostvaluable，influentialfriend，whosedeathwillplungeyouinverygreatdistressandpoverty:thesixofspadesannouncesamediocrityoffortune，andgreatuncertaintyinyourundertakings:thefiveofspadesisratherdoubtfulastosuccessorariseinlife；butitpromisesluckinthechoiceofyourcompanionforlife，althoughitshowsthatyourowntemperisrathersullen——andsotogeta’fondcreature’totakecareofyou，withsuchatemper，isamightygreatblessing，andmorethanyoudeserve:thefourofspadesshowssicknessspeedily，andinjuryoffortunebyfriends:
thetreyofspadesshowsthatyouwillbefortunateinmarriage，butthatyourinconstanttemperwillmakeyouunhappy:
thedeuceofspadesistheUNDERTAKER，atlast；itpositivelyshowsaCOFFIN，butwhoitisformustdependentirelyonthecardsthatarenearit。[83]
[83]Or，——theaceofspadesdenotesdeath，malice，aduel，ageneralmisfortune；theking，amanofverydarkcomplexion，ambitious，andunscrupulous；thequeen，averydark-complexionedwomanofmaliciousdisposition，orawidow；theknave，alawyer，apersontobeshunned；theten，disgrace，crime，imprisonment，deathonthescaffold；theeight，greatdangerfromimprudence；
thesix，achild，totheunmarriedacardofcaution；thefive，greatdangerfromgivingwaytobadtemper；thetrey，ajourneybyland，——tears；thedeuce，aremoval。
’Thenineofheartsistermedthewishcard。Afterthegeneralfortunehasbeentold，aseparateanddifferentmanipulationisperformed，tolearnifthepryerintofuturitywillobtainaparticularwish；andfromthepositionofthewishcardinthepacktherequiredanswerisdeduced。
’Theforegoingismerelythealphabetoftheart；theletters，asitwere，ofthesentencesformedbythevariouscombinationsofthecards。Ageneralideaonlycanbegivenhereofthemannerinwhichthosepropheticsentencesareformed。Asbeforestated，ifamarriedwomanconsultsthecards，thekingofherownsuit，orcomplexion，representsherhusband；butwithsinglewomen，thelover，eitherinesseorposse，isrepresentedbyhisowncolour；
andallcards，whenrepresentingpersons，losetheirownnormalsignifications。Thereareexceptions，however，tothesegeneralrules。Aman，nomatterwhathiscomplexion，ifhewearuniform，evenifhebethenegrocymbal-playerinaregimentalband，canberepresentedbythekingofdiamonds:——note，thedressofpolicemenandvolunteersisnotconsideredasuniform。Ontheotherhand，awidow，evenifshebeanalbiness，canberepresentedonlybythequeenofspades。
’Theaceofheartsalwaysdenotingthehouseofthepersonconsultingthedecreesoffate，somegeneralrulesareapplicabletoit。Thustheaceofclubssignifyingaletter，itsposition，eitherbeforeoraftertheaceofhearts，showswhethertheletteristobesenttoorfromthehouse。Theaceofdiamondswhenclosetotheaceofheartsforetellsaweddinginthehouse；
buttheaceofspadesbetokenssicknessanddeath。
’Theknavesrepresentthethoughtsoftheirrespectivekingsandqueens，andconsequentlythethoughtsofthepersonswhomthosekingsandqueensrepresent，inaccordancewiththeircomplexions。
Forinstance，ayoungladyofaratherbutnotdecidedlydarkcomplexion，representedbythequeenofclubs，whenconsultingthecards，maybeshockedtofindherfairlover(thekingofdiamonds)flirtingwithawealthywidow(thequeenofspades，attendedbythetenofdiamonds)，butshewillbereassuredbyfindinghisthoughts(theknaveofdiamonds)incombinationwithaletter(aceofclubs)，aweddingring(aceofdiamonds)，andherhouse(theaceofhearts)；clearlysignifyingthat，thoughheisactuallyflirtingwiththerichwidow，heis，nevertheless，thinkingofsendingaletter，withanofferofmarriage，totheyoungladyherself。Andlook，whereareherownthoughts，representedbytheknaveofclubs；theyarefarawaywiththeoldlover，thatdarkman(kingofspades)who，asisplainlyshownbyhisbeingattendedbythenineofdiamonds，isprosperingattheAustraliandiggingsorelsewhere。Letusshufflethecardsoncemore，andseeifthedarkman，atthedistantdiggings，everthinksofhisoldflame，theclub-
complexionedyoungladyinEngland。No！hedoesnot。Herearehisthoughts(theknaveofspades)，directedtothisfair，butrathergayandcoquettish，woman(thequeenofdiamonds)；theyareseparatedbutbyafewhearts，oneofthem，thesixth(honourablecourtship)，showingtheexcellentunderstandingthatexistsbetweenthem。Count，now，fromthesixofheartstotheninthcardfromit，andlo！itisaweddingring(theaceofdiamonds)；theywillbemarriedbeforetheexpirationofatwelvemonth。’
Suchistheschemeoffortune-tellingbycards，aspropoundedinthelearneddisquisitionsoftheadepts，andBetty，orMartha，orhermistresscanconsultthembythemselvesaccordingtotheestablishedmethod——withoutexposingthemselvestotheextortionatecunningofthewanderinggipsiesorthepermanentcroneofthecityorvillage。Theymayjustaswellbelievewhatcomesoutaccordingtotheirownmanipulationasbythatoftheheartlesscheatsinquestion。Yourordinaryfortune-tellersarenotover-particular，beingonlyanxioustotellyouexactlywhatyouwanttoknow。Soifablackcourtcardgetsinjuxta-
positionwithandlookingtowardsaredcourtcard，thefairconsulter’srepresentative，thenitisevidentthatsome’darkgentleman’is’afterher；’andviceversa；andifawife，suspectingherhusband’sfidelity，consultsthecards，theprobabilityisthatherSUSPICIONSwillreceive’confirmationstrong’fromthefactthat’somedarkwoman，’thatis，ablackqueen，’isafterherhusband；’orviceversa，ifahusbandconsultsthecard-womanrespectingthesuspicionshemayhavereasontoentertainwithregardtohis’weakerrib’orhis’intended。’
Itneedscarcelybeobservedthatfortune-tellersinanyplaceare’postedup’inallinformationorgossipintheneighbourhood；andthereforetheyreadilyturntheirknowledgetoaccountintheanswerstheygivetoanxiousinquirers。
Apartfromthis，however，theinterpretationsaresoelaboratelycomprehensivethat’something’MUSTcometrueintherevelations；
andweallknowthatinsuchmattersthatsomethingcomingtopasswillfaroutweighthenon-fulfilmentofotherfatalordinations。Ofcoursenoprofessionalfortune-tellerwouldinformanoldmanthatsomedarkorfairmanwas’after’hisoldwoman；butnothingismoreprobablethantheconverse，andmuchfamilydistractionhasfrequentlyresultedfromsuchperverserevelationof’thecards。’Inlikemanneryourcleverfortune-tellerwillneverpromisehalf-a-dozenchildrento’anoldlady，’butshewillveryprobablyholdforththatpleasantprospect——ifsuchitbe——toabuxomlassofseventeenoreighteen——especiallyinthosecountiesofEnglandwheretheladiesareremarkableforsuchprofusebountytotheirhusbands。
Asageneralproposition，itmattersverylittlewhatmaybethemeansofvaticinationorprediction——whethercards，thetea-
groundsinthecup，&c。，——allPOSSIBLEeventshaveadegreeofprobabilityofcomingtopass，whichmayvaryfrom20to1downtoaperfectequalityofchance；andthecleverfortune-teller，whomaybemindfulofherreputation，willtakecaretoregulateherpromisesorpredictionsaccordingtothatproposition。
Manyeducatedladiesgivetheirattentiontothecards，andsomehaveacquiredgreatproficiencyintheart。OnboardasteamersailingforNewYork，ononeoccasionaFrenchladyamongthesaloon-passengersundertooktoamusethepartybytellingtheirfortunes。AScotchyounggentleman，whowasgoingouttotryandgetacommissionintheFederalarmy，hadhisfortunetold。
Amongtheannouncements，asinterpretedbythelady，wastheratherunpleasantprospectthattwoconstableswouldbe’after’
him！Wealllaughedheartilyattheoddthingsthatcameoutforeverybody，andthenthethingwasforgotten；thesteamerreachedherdestination；andallthecompanionsofthepleasantvoyageseparatedandwenttheirdifferentways。
Somemonthsafter，Imettheyounggentlemanabovealludedto，andamongthevariousadventureswhichhehadhad，hementionedthefollowing。HesaidthatshortlyafterhisarrivalinNewYorkhepresentedaten-dollarnotewhichhehadreceived，atadrinking-house，thatitwasdeclaredaforgednote，andthathewasgivenintocustody；butthatthemagistrate，onbeingconclusivelyconvincedofhisrespectability，dismissedthechargewithouteventakingthetroubletoestablishtheallegedfactthatthenotewasaforgery。Sofarsogood；butonthefollowingmorning，whilstatbreakfastathishotel，anotherpolice-officerpounceduponhim，andledhimoncemoreonthesamechargetoanothermagistrate，who，however，dismissedthecaseliketheother。[84]
[84]ItappearsthatthisisallowableinNewYork。Theexplanationoftheperverseprosecutionwas，thattheyounggentlemandidnot’fee’theworthypolicemen，accordingtocustominsuchcases。
ThereuponIsaid——’Why，theFrenchlady’scard-predictiononboardcametopass！Don’tyourememberwhatshesaidabouttwoconstablesbeing\"afteryou\"？’
’NowIrememberit，’hesaid；’butIhadpositivelyforgottenallaboutit。Well，shewasrightthere——butIamsorrytosaythatnothingelseshePROMISEDhascometopass。’
Doubtlessallotherconsultersofthecardsandofastrologerscansaythesame，althoughallwouldnotwiselyconcludethatasystemmustbeerroneouswhichmisleadshumanhopeinthegreatmajorityofcases。Infact，likethepredictionsinourweather-
almanacks，thefortune-teller’sannouncementsareonlyrightBY
CHANCE，andwrongONPRINCIPLE。
FORTUNE-TELLINGFORTYYEARSAGO，OR，THESTORYOFMARTHACARNABY。
AcertainMarthaCarnaby，atidybutrather’unsettled’servantgirl，somefortyyearsagowenttoanoldfortune-teller，tohaveherfortunetold，andthedoingsonbothsidescameoutasfollows，beforethemagistrateattheBowStreetpolice-court。
Thefortune-tellerwas’hadup，’asusual，’forobtainingmoneyandothervaluables’fromtheformer。
MissMarthaCarnabysaidthatthiscelebratedoldfortune-tellerhadfirstgainedheracquaintancebyattendingathermaster’shouse，beforethefamilyhadrisen，andurginghertohaveherfortunetold。Atlength，aftermuchpersuasion，sheconsented；
butthefortune-tellertoldherthatbeforethesecretsofherfuturedestinywererevealed，shemustdepositinherhandssomelittletoken，TOBINDTHECHARM，whichtheoldladysaidshewouldinvokethesameevening——’ifIwouldcallatherlodgings，andalsocastmynativitybyhercards，andtellmeeveryparticularofthefutureprogressofmylife。IaccordinglygaveherwhatmoneyIhad；butthat，shetoldme，wasnotenoughtobuytheingredientswithwhichshewastocomposethecharm。I
atlengthgaveherfoursilverteaspoonsandtwotablespoons，whichsheputcarefullyinherpocket；andthenaskedmetoletherlookatmyhand，whichIshowedher。Shetoldmethereweremanylinesinitwhichclearlyindicatedgreatwealthandhappiness；and，aftertellinghermynamewasMarthaCarnaby，shetookherdeparture，andIagreedtomeetheratherlodgingsthesameevening。Agreeablytoherdirections，IdressedmyselfinasfashionableamannerasIcould，becauseIWASTOSEEMY
SWEETHEARTTHROUGHAMIRROR，ANDHEWASTOSEEME。’
Thepoordeludedcreaturethenstatedthatsheattendedpunctuallyatthehourappointed，attheoldlady’ssanctum，andseatingherselfuponanoldchair，beheldwithastonishmentquiteasmuchasshebargainedfor。’Ifeltmyself，’saidpoorMartha，’onenteringtheroom，allofatwitter。Theoldwomanwasseatedinherchairofstate，and，reachingdownfromthemantel-pieceapackofcards，began，aftermutteringafewwordsinalanguageIcouldnotunderstand，tolaythemverycarefullyinherlap；shethenforetoldthatIshouldgetmarried，butnottothepersoninourhouse，asIexpected，buttoanotheryoungman，whom，ifIcouldaffordatrifle，shewouldshowmethroughherMATRIMONIALMIRROR。TothisIconsented，andshedesiredmetoshutmyeyesandkeepmyfacecoveredwhileshemadethenecessarypreparations；andthereshekeptme，withmyfacehidinherlap，untilIwasnearlysmothered；whensuddenlyshetoldmetoturnround，andlookthroughthemirror，whichwasseenthroughaholeinacurtain，andIsawayoungmanpassquicklybeforeme，staringmeintheface，atwhichIwasmuchsurprised，sheassuringmethathewouldbemyhusband。Itwasthenagreedthatshewastocallonmethenextmorning，andreturnthesilverspoons；but，yourWorship，’saidthepoorgirl，’shenevercame；andasIwasafraidmymistresswouldsoonwantthem，I
askedtheadviceofawomaninourneighbourhood，astowhatI
hadbetterdo，andtowhomIrelatedallthecircumstancesIhavetoldyourWorship；whenthewomanaskedmehowIcouldhavebeensuchafoolastobedupedbythatoldcheatatthebar，——thatshewasanotoriousoldwoman，thatshehadinheremploysomeyoungman，whowasalwayshidintheroom，tooverheartheconversation，andtorunfromoutofthehiding-placebeforethemirror；andthatIoughttobethankfulIcameawayaswellasI
did，asmanyyounggirlshadbeenruinedthroughgoingtothisoldcreature；that，fromheracquaintancewithsomanyservantgirls，shealwayscontrivedtogetfromthemsuchintelligenceasenabledhertoanswerthosequestionsthatmightbeputtoher，astothebusiness，name，placeofabode，country，andothercircumstancesofthepartyapplying，theansweringofwhichalwaysconvincedthecredulouscreatureswhowenttoher，ofhergreatskillintheartofastrology；andwhenshewasrightinherguessing，shealwaystookcaretohaveitwellpublished。’
Ofcourse，andagain，asusual，themagistrate’hopeditwouldbealessontoMartha，andtoallotherfoolishgirls，nevertohearkentothoseinfernal，wickedoldwretches，thefortune-tellers——manyagirlhavinglosthercharacterandvirtuebylisteningtotheirnonsense；’buttherehavebeenhundredsandthousandsofsuchMarthassincethen，andnodoubttherewillbeverymanymoreinfuture——inspiteoftheridiculousexposureofsuchdupeseverandanon，incourtsofjusticeandinthecolumnsofthedailypapers。
’Theartofcartomancy，ordivinationbyplaying-cards，datesfromanearlyperiodoftheirobscurehistory。InthemuseumofNantesthereisapainting，saidtobebyVanEyck，representingPhilippeleBon，ArchdukeofAustria，andsubsequentlyKingofSpain，consultingafortune-tellerbycards。Thispicturecannotbeofalaterdatethanthefifteenthcentury。ThentheartwasintroducedintoEnglandisunknown；probably，however，theearliestprintednoticeofitinthiscountryisthefollowingcuriousstory，extractedfromRowland’sJudicialAstrologyCondemned:——\"Cuffe，anexcellentGrecian，andsecretarytotheEarlofEssex，wastold，twentyyearsbeforehisdeath，thatheshouldcometoanuntimelyend，atwhichCuffelaughed，andinascornfulmannerentreatedthesoothsayertoshowhiminwhatmannerheshouldcometohisend，whocondescendedtohim，andcallingforcards，entreatedCuffetodrawoutofthepackanythreewhichpleasedhim。Hedidso，anddrewthreeknaves，andlaidthemonthetablebythewizard’sdirection，whothentoldhim，ifhedesiredtoseethesumofhisbadfortune，totakeupthosecards。Cuffe，ashewasprescribed，tookupthefirstcard，andlookingonit，hesawtheportraitureofhimselfcap-a-pie，havingmenencompassinghimwithbillsandhalberds。
Thenhetookupthesecond，andtherehesawthejudgethatsatuponhim；andtakingupthelastcard，hesawTyburn，theplaceofhisexecution，andthehangman，atwhichhelaughedheartily。
Butmanyyearsafter，beingcondemned，herememberedanddeclaredthisprediction。\"
’TheearliestworkoncartomancywaswrittenorcompiledbyoneFrancescoMarcolini，andprintedatVenicein1540。’[85]
[85]TheBookofDays，Feb。21。InthisworkthereisasomewhatdifferentaccountofcartomancytothatwhichIhaveexpounded’onthebestauthorities’andfrompracticalexperiencewiththeadeptsintheart；but，inamatterofsuchimmenseimportancetoladiesofalldegrees，Ihavethoughtpropertogive，infoot-notes，thedifferinginterpretationsofthewriterintheBookofDays，whoprofessestospeakwithsomeauthority，nothowever，Ithink，superiortomine，forIhaveinvestigatedthesubjecttotheutmost。
CHAPTERXIV。
AMUSINGCARDTRICKS。[86]
[86]ThesetricksappearedoriginallyinBeeton’sChristmasAnnual，andareherereproducedwithpermission。
Althoughmyworkisahistoryofgambling，inallitshorrors，andwithallitsterriblemoralwarnings，Igladlyconcludeit’happily，’afterthemannerofthemostpleasingnovelsandromances，——namely，byamethodofcontrivinginnocentandinterestingamusementwithcards，withoutthe’chance’ofencounteringtherisks，calamities，anddisgraceofgambling。
Iwasledtotheinvestigationofthisbranchofmysubjectbythefollowingincident。Beingpresentatapartywhenagentlemanperformedoneofthetricksdescribed，No。7，therestofthecompanyandmyselfwereallmuchsurprisedattheresult，andurgentlyrequestedhimtoexplainthemethodofhisperformance，which，however，hestoutlyrefusedtodo，averringthathewouldnottakeL1000forit。ThiswassoridiculouslyprovokingthatIofferedtobethimL5thatIwoulddiscoverthemethodwithin24hours。Tomyastonishmenthedeclinedthebet，not，however，withoutasortofcompliment，admittingthatI
MIGHTdoso。Hewasright；for，asEdgarPoeaverred，nomancaninventapuzzlewhichsomeothermancannotunravel。Ineffect，Icalleduponhimthefollowingday，andperformedthetricknotonlyaccordingtohismethod，butalsobyanother，equallysuccessful。Ihavereasontobelievethatmostofthetricksofmyselectionhadnotpreviouslyappearedinprint；atanyrate，I
havegiventoallofthemanexpositionwhichmayentitlethemtosomeclaimoforiginality。
PRELIMINARYHINTS。
I。Shuffling，inthesimpleandinoffensivesenseoftheexpression，isanimportantpointinalltrickswithcards。Forthemostpart，itisonlyapretenceordexterousmanagement——
keepingacardorcardsinyourcommandwhilstseemingtoshufflethemintothepack。
Everyperformerhashismethodofsuchshuffling。Someholdthepackperpendicularlywiththelefthand，thenwiththerighttakeaportionofthepack——aboutonehalf——andmakeashowofshufflingthetwopartstogetheredgeways，but，inreality，replacethemastheywere。Withrapidityofexecutioneveryeyeisthusdeceived。
Ifasinglecardistobeheldincommand，placeitatthebottomofthepack，whichyouholdinyourleft，andthen，withyourrightthumbandmiddlefinger，raiseandthrowsuccessivelyportionsofthepack，leavingthebottomcardincontactwiththefingersofthelefthand。
Withdexterity，anyportionofthepackmaybeshuffled，leavingtheremainderjustasitwas，byseparatingitduringtheprocessbyinsertingoneormorefingersofthelefthandbetweenitandtheportionsshuffled。
II。Cutting——notinthesenseofboltingatthesightof’blue，’
thoughthatisofconsequencetocard-sharpers——isofimportanceinallcardtricks。Inmanytrickscuttingthecardsisonlyapretence，asitisnecessaryforthesuccessofthetricktoreplacethemastheywere；intechnicalterms，wemust’blowupthecut。’[87]
[87]ThisisthesauterlacoupereferredtointhechapterontheGamingClubs，intheaccountofthetrialofLorddeRos。
See’Graham’sClub。’
Thereareseveralwaysofperformingthissleight-of-hand。Thecardsbeingcut，andformingtwolotsonthetable，smartlysnatchupthelotwhichshouldbeplacedontheother，withthelefthand。
Thislotbeingtakenupandthehandbeinginthepositionshowninthefigure，snatchupinlikemannertheotherlot，and，byamovementofthepalmofthehandandthetipsofthefingers，passthesecondlotunderthefirst。
Thedeceptionofthetrickdependsuponitsdexterity，andthiscanonlybeacquiredbypractice。Butreallyitmaybedispensedwith；foritisacuriousfactthat，ineverycasewhenthecardsarecut，youmayactuallyreplacethemjustastheywerewithoutbeingobservedbythespectators——forthesimplereasonthattheruseisnotsuspected，especiallyiftheirattentionisotherwiseengagedwithyourpointedobservations。
The’giftofthegab’isinthiscase，asinmanyothers，averygreatresource。Astrikingremarkorbonmotwilleasilymystifythespectators，andattracttheirattentionfromwhatyouareDOING。Henceallprestidigitatorsarealwayswellstockedwithanecdotesandfunnyobservations；indeed，theytalkincessantly:
theyspeakwell，too，andtheytakecaretotimethewordaccuratelywiththemomentwhentheirfingersactmostenergetically。
III。Toslipacard——Toslipacardistopretendtotakethebottomcardofthepack，andinrealitytotakethecardwhichprecedesit。Toperformthisfeatwithoutdetectionisaverysimpleaffair，butitrequirespractice。
Thepackofcardsbeingheldintherighthand，advancethelefthand——palmupwards——justasifyouwereseizingthelastcardwiththemiddlefinger；but，havingslightlymoistenedthisfingerwiththelips，pushbackthiscard，andmakeitslipunderthepalmoftherighthand，whilstyouseizetheprecedingcardwiththethumbandforefinger。
Inthismanneryoumaysuccessivelydrawoutseveralcardsbesidesthelast，andonlydrawthelastasthesixth，seventh，&c。，whichwillservetoeffectseveralinterestingtrickstobeexplainedinthesequel。
IV。Tofilethecard——Tofilethecardis，whenacardhasbeentakenfromthepacktopretendtoplaceitaboutthemiddleofthepack，whilst，inreality，youplaceitatthebottom。
Thepackmustbeheldinthelefthand，betweenthethumbandforefinger，sothatthethreeotherfingersbefree。Oneofthemiddlecardsshouldprojectalittle。Thentakethecardtobefiledbetweentheforefingerandthemiddlefingeroftherighthand；advancetherighthandfromtheleft，andwhilstthethreedisengagedfingersofthelefthandseizeandplacethecardunderthepack，thethumbandforefingeroftherightseizetheprojectingcardbeforementioned，sothatitseemstobethatcardwhichyouhaveslippedintothemiddleofthepack。Thesemovementsareveryeasy，and，whenrapidlyperformed，theillusioniscomplete。
TRICKS。
1。Totellacardthoughtofbyapartyafterthreedeals。
Taketwenty-onecardsofapack，anddealthemoutonebyoneinthreelots，requestingthepartytothinkofacard，andrememberinwhichlotitis。
Havingdealtoutthecards，askthepartyinwhichlotthecardis。
Takeupthelotssuccessively，andplacethelotcontainingthecardintheMIDDLE。
Dealoutthecardsagain，andaskthepartytostateinwhichlotthecardis；andproceedasbefore，placingthelotcontainingthecardinthemiddle。
Dealoutthecardsinlikemannerathirdtime，proceedingasbefore。
Thendealthemoutasusual，andtheeleventhcardwillbetheonethoughtof，infallibly。Thisistheusualwayofshowingthecardthoughtof；but，asthetrickmaybepartlydiscoveredbythecounting，itisbettertoholdthecardsinyourhand，andtakeouttheeleventhcard，countingtoyourself，ofcourse，fromthelefthand，butpretendingtobeconsideringtheguess。
Thisisapparentlyamostmysterioustrick，althoughanecessaryconsequenceofthepositionofthelotcontainingthecardinthethreedeals。
2。Thefourinseparablekings。
Takefourkings。Beneaththelastplaceanytwocards，whichyoutakecaretoconceal。Thenshowthefourkingsandreplacethesixcardsunderthepack。
Thentakeakingandplaceitinthetopofthepack，placeoneoftheTWOOTHERCARDSinthemiddle，andtheotheraboutthesameplace，andthen，turningupthepack，showthatonekingisstillatthebottom。Thenletthecardsbecut，andasthreekingswereleftbelow，allmustnecessarilygettogethersomewhereaboutthemiddleofthepack。Ofcourseinplacingthetwoothercardsyoupretendtobeplacingtwokings。
3。Thebarmaidandthethreevictimizers。
Forthisamusingtrickyouarrangethecardsthus:Holdingthepackinyourhands，findalltheknaves，placeoneofthemnexttoyourlefthand，andtheotherthreeonthetable。Thenfindaqueen，whichalsoplaceonthetable。Thensay:——
’Threescampswentintoatavern，andordereddrink。Heretheyare——thethreeknaves。\"Who’stopay？Ican’t，\"saidthefirst。
\"Iwon’t，\"saidthesecond。\"Iwishshemaygetit，\"saidthethird。\"I’llmanageit，\"saidthefirst，thegreatestrogueofthethree。\"Isay，myprettygirl，haven’tyousomeveryoldwineinyourcellar？\"Here’sthebarmaidthusaddressedbytherogueinquestion(showingthequeen)，andshereplied:——\"Ohyes，sir，primeoldwine。\"\"Let’shaveabottle。\"[Offwentthebarmaid。Putthequeeninyourpocket。]\"Nowforit，mylads，\"
saidtheknaveinquestion；\"’mizzle’istheword。Let’sbeoffinoppositedirections，andmeetto-night；youknowwhere。\"
Hereupontheydecamped，takingoppositedirections，whichIwillindicatebyplacingoneonthetopofthepack，oneatthebottom，andtheotherinthemiddle。
’Whenthepoorbarmaidreturned[takingoutthequeenfromyourpocket]withthewine，greatwasherastonishmenttofindtheroomempty。\"Lor！\"sheexclaimed，\"why，Idodeclare——didyouever！——Oh！butI’mnotagoingtobesarvedso。I’llcatchtherogues，allofthem——thatIwill。\"Andoffshewentafterthem，asshownbyplacingherON，oratanyrate，AFTERthefirst。
’Now，tocatchthethreeseemedimpossible；buttheladieshavealwayssmiledatimpossibilities，andwondersnevercease；for，ifyouhavethegoodnesstocutthesecards，youwillfindthatsheHAScaughtthethreerogues。’
Whenthecardsarecut，proceedintheUSUALWAYaftercutting——NOTasrequiredinthelasttrick；andtakingupthecards，youwillfindthequeenandthreeknavestogether，whichyoutakeoutandexhibittotheastonishedaudience。
Ofcourse，oneoftheseknavesisnotoneofthethreefirstexhibited，buttheonewhichyouslippedonyourlefthandatfirst。Thereisnochanceofdetection，however；simplyforthereasonbeforegiven——nobodysuspectsthetrick。
4。Howtonameeverycardinapacksuccessivelyturnedupbyasecondparty，andwineverytrickatahandofWhist。
Thisis，perhaps，themostastonishingofalltrickswithcards。
Althoughitmaybetruethatwhateverpuzzleonemaninvents，someothermanmayunravel，asbeforeobserved，Iamdecidedlyofopinionthatthistrickdefiesdetection。Atthefirstblushitseemsverydifficulttolearn；butitissimplicityitselfinexplanation。
Beginbylayingoutthecardsinfourrowsaccordingtothesuits，allofasuitinarowsidebyside。
Thecardsmustnowbearrangedforthetrick。Takeupthesixinthetoporbottomrow，thenthetwointhenextrow，theteninthethird，andthenineinthefourth，placingthemoneupontheotherinthelefthand。Thenbeginagainwiththerowfromwhichyoutookthesix，andtakeupthethree。Fromthenextrowtaketheking。Thesenumberswillbeeasilyrememberedwithalittlepractice，amountingaltogetherto30，madeupthus——6and2are8，8and10are18，18and9are27，27and3are30——KING。
Byrepeatingthisadditionafewtimes，itwillbefixedinthememory。
Proceedbynextbeginningwiththerownexttotheonefromwhichyoutookthelastcardortheking，andtaketheeight；fromthenextrowtakethefour；fromthenexttheace；fromthenexttheknave。Thesecardsmakeup13。Thereforesay，8and4are12
and1are13——knave。
Fromthenextrowtothatwhenceyoutooktheknave，taketheseven；fromthenextrowtakethefive；fromthenextthequeen。
Thesecardsmakeup12。Thus，7and5are12——queen。
Itthusappearsthatyouhavetakenupthirteencardsconsistingofthefoursuits，successivelytakenandbeingarrangedasfollows:——6，2，10，9，3，king；8，4，1，knave；7，5，queen。
Proceedinlikemannerwiththeremainderofthecards，beginningwiththerownexttothatfromwhichyoutookthequeen，andtakethesix，thenfromthenextrowthetwo，andsoonasbefore，makingupanotherbatchof13cards。
Repeattheprocessforathirdbatch，andfinishwiththeremainderforthefourth——alwaysrememberingtotakethecardfromthenextrowinsuccessioncontinually；inotherwords，onlyonecardmustbetakenfromeachrowatatime。
Whenthecardsarethusarranged，requestapartytocutthem。
Thisisonlypretence；foryoumusttakecaredexterouslytoreplacethecutjustasitwasbefore。Letthembecutagain，andreplacethemasbefore。Yourrusewillnotbedetected，simplybecausenobodysuspectsthepossibilityofthething。
Nowtakeupthepack，andfromtheBOTTOMtakethefirstfourcards；handingtheremaindertoaparty，sittingbeforeyou，saying——’Ishallnowcalleverycardinsuccessionfromthetopofthepackinyourhand。’
Todothis，twothingsmustberemembered；andthereisnodifficultyinit。First，thenumbers6，2，10，9，3，king，&c。，beforegiven；andnexttheSUITofthosecards。
NowyouknowtheNUMBERSbyheart，andtheSUITisshownbythefourcardswhichyouholdinyourhand，fan-like，intheusualway。Ifthefirstofthefourcardsbeaclub，thefirstcardyoucallwillbethesixofclubs；ifthenextbeaheart，thenextcardcalledwillbethetwoofhearts，andsoonthroughoutthethirteenmadeupfromeveryrow，asbeforegiven，andthesuitsofeachcardwillbeindicatedsuccessivelybythesuitofeachofyourfourindicatorcards，thus，asthecasemaybe，clubs，hearts，diamonds，spades；clubs，hearts，diamonds，spades，andsoon。
Afteralittleprivatepractice，youwillreadilyandrapidlycall，asthecasemaybe，fromthefourcardsinyourhand:——thesixofclubs，twoofhearts，tenofdiamonds，nineofspades，threeofclubs，kingofhearts，eightofdiamonds，fourofspades，aceofclubs，knaveofhearts，sevenofdiamonds，fiveofspades，queenofclubs——andsoontothelastcardinthepack。
Inthemidstoftheastonishmentproducedbythisseeminglyprodigiousdisplayofmemory，say——’Now，ifyoulike，wewillhaveahandatWhist，andIundertaketowineverytrickifIbeallowedtodeal。’
LettheWhistpartybeformed，andgetthecardscutasusual——
onlytakingcaretoREPLACEthem，asbeforeenjoined，preciselyastheywere。Dealthecards，andtheresultwillbethatyourthirteencardswillbeALLTRUMPS。Letthegameproceeduntilyouropponents’giveitup’inutterbewilderment。
Thissplendidtrickseemsdifficultindescription，butitisoneoftheeasiest；andevenwereittentimesmoredifficultthanitis，thereaderwillperhapsadmitthatitisworthmastering。
Oncecommittedtomemorythefiguresareneverforgotten，andafewrepetitions，withthecardsbeforeyou，willsufficetoenableyoutoretainthem。
5。Twopersonshavingeachdrawnacardandreplacedtheminthepack，toguessthesecards。
Makeasetofalltheclubsandspades，andanothersetofheartsanddiamonds。Shufflewelleachset，andevenletthembeshuffledbythespectators。Thenrequestapersontodrawacardfromoneofthesets，andanotherpersontodrawonefromthesecondset。
Younowtakeasetineachhand，presentingthemtothetwopersons，requestingthemtoreplacethedrawncards。Youmustpretendtopresenttoeachpersonthesetfromwhichhedrewhiscard，butinrealityyoupresenttheredsettothepersonwhodrewtheblackcard，andtheblacksettothepersonwhodrewtheredcard。
Eachpersonhavingreplacedhiscard，yougeteachsetshuffled。
Thenyoutaketheminhand，andbyrunningthemoveryoueasilyfindtheredcardamongsttheblack，andtheblackcardamongstthered。
Ofcourseyouwillhavepreparedthesetsbeforehand，andtakecaretoalterthearrangementassoonaspossibleafterthetrick。Butyoucanpreparethepackinthepresenceofotherswithouttheirdetectingit。Distributethecardsbydealingaccordingtothetwocolours；takethemup，andhavingplacedtheredsetalittleprojectingovertheblack，setthemdown，and，pretendingtocutthem，separatethesets。
6。Twentycardsbeingarrangeduponatable，apersonthinksoftwo，andyouundertaketoguessthem。
Layouttwentycardsofanykind，twobytwo，——
|c|i|c|o|s|——
|d|e|d|i|t|——
|t|u|m|u|s|——
|n|e|m|o|n|——
andrequestapartytothinkoftwoinaline；thatis，oneofthetensetsformedbythetwentycards。Thisdoneyoutakeupthesetsintheorderinwhichtheylie，andplacetheminrowsaccordingtothelettersofthewords。Youmayuseadiagramlikethepreceding，butasthewordsareeasilyretainedithadbetterbedispensedwith，distributingthecardsonthetablejustasthoughuponthediagram，whichwillmakethetrickmorepuzzlingandextraordinary。Proceedasfollows:——Placethecardstwobytwoonsimilarletters:thus，placethetwocardsofthefirstsetonthetwod’sindedit；thetwocardsofthesecondsetonthetwoi’sofcicosanddedit；thetwoofthethirdsetonthetwoc’s，andsoonwiththetensets。
Allthelettersofthewordsbeingthuscovered，askthepartywhohasthoughtofthecardstotellyouinwhichlinesthesecardsare。Ifbothareinthefirstline(cicos)，theymustbethoseonthetwoc’s；iftheyarebothinthesecondline，theycoverthed’sindedit；bothinthethirdline，theycovertheu’sintumus；bothinthefourth，theycoverthen’sinnemon。
Ifonebeinthefirstlineandtheotherinthesecond，theycoverthei’sincicosanddedit，andthusoftherest——thetwocardsthoughtofNECESSARILYcoveringtwoSIMILARLETTERS，whilsteachofthelettersoccursonlyTWICEinthediagram。
7。Totellacardthoughtofwithoutevenlookingatthecards。
Takeanynumberofcards，——saytwenty。Pretendtoshufflethemwiththefacestowardsyou，andREMEMBERTHEFIRSTCARDasyouclosethepack——supposethetenofdiamonds。TellthepartythattheonlyconditionyourequireistobetoldtheORDERinwhichthecardisdealtoutbyyou；inotherwords，hemusttellyouwhetherindealingitcomesoutfirst，second，third，&c。
Rememberingyourfirstcard，youmaythenturnyourbacktohim，anddealoutthecardsonebyone，andoneuponthetopoftheother，requestinghimtothinkofacardanditsorderasbeforesaid。
Thentakeupthecards，andshufflethemrepeatedly，bythrowingaportionofthemfromthebottomtothetop，takingcarenottomixthecardsorletanydrop，andthenletthepartycutthemasoftenashepleases。Then，takethecardsinhand。Pretendtoexaminethemmysteriously，butinrealityonlylookforYOUR
card——thefirstdealtout——thetenofdiamondsforinstance。
Now，supposehetellsyouthatthecardhethoughtofcameoutFIFTH。Then，foracertainty，itisthefourthcardontheRIGHT
ofthetenofdiamonds，inspiteofallYOURshuffling，andallregularcutting，forsuchshufflingandregularcuttingcannotaltertheorderorsequenceofthecards。Alwaysremembertocountfromyourowncardinclusivetothenumberofthecardthoughtoftowardsyourrighthand。Butshouldyourcardhappentobesoneartherighthandorthetopasnottoallowsufficientcounting，thencountasfarasitadmitstotheRIGHT
andthencontinueattheLEFT。Thus，supposethereareonlytwocardsabovethetenofdiamonds，thencounttwomoreontheleft，makingthefifth。Ifthecardyouremember，oryourfirstcard，isfirst，thencounttherequisitenumberontheleft，alwaysbeginningwithYOURcard，however。
TheREASONofthistrickissimplythatbymerelycuttingthecards，andshufflingtheminthewayindicated，youdonotaltertheSEQUENCEofthecards。WithregardtothissortofSHUFFLING，ImaysaythatitissimplyCUTTINGthecards——alwayspreservingtheirsequence——amostimportantfactforcard-players，sinceitmayleadtoaprettyaccurateconjectureofallthehandsafteradeal，fromthestudyoftheoneinhand，withreferencetothetricksturneddownafterthepreviousdeal，asalreadysuggested。Hence，inshufflingforwhistorothergames，thecardsshouldnotbeshuffledinthisway，butmorethoroughlymixedbytheedgewiseshufflingofcertainplayers。
ThisisthetrickIalludedtoatthecommencementofthechapter，themodeofperformingwhichIsucceededindiscovering。
OfcourseANYNUMBERofpersonsmaythinkofcards，rememberingtheirorder，andtheoperatorwilltellthem，inlikemanner。
8。Apersonhavingthoughtofoneoffifteencardspresentedtohim，toguessthecardthoughtof。
Formthreeranksoffivecardseach，andrequestapartytothinkofoneofthesecards，andtellyouinwhichrankitis。Takeupthecardsofthethreeranks，takingcaretoplacethecardsoftheranksinwhichisthecardthoughtofbetweenthoseofthetwootherranks。
Makethreemoreranksasbefore。Askthepartyagaininwhichrankthecardis，andtakethemup，placingtherankinwhichthecardisbetweenthetwoothers。Operateinlikemannerathirdtime，andthecardthoughtofwillinfalliblybetheTHIRDoftheranknamedbytheparty。
Observe，however，youmustnotformeachrankwithfiveconsecutivecards；butyoumustplacethecardsonebyone，placingonesuccessivelyineachrank；thus，oneatthetopontheleftofthefirstrank，onebelowthatfirstforthesecondrank，onebelowthesecondforthethirdrank，thenoneinthefirst，oneinthesecond，oneinthethird，andsoon。
Thistrick，whichisveryeasy，alwaysproducesagreateffect。
Itonlyrequiresalittleattention，anditcanneverfailunlessyoumakeamistakeinarrangingthecards，which，however，istoosimpletoadmitoferror。
9。Twopersonshavingeachdrawnacardfromapack，andhavingreplacedthem，totellthesecardsafterthepackhasbeenshuffledandcutbythespectatorsasoftenastheylike。
Thecardsmaybeeasilydividedintotwonumericalparts，evenandodd:bytakingakingforfourpoints，aqueenforthree，aknavefortwo，andtheothercardsfortheirespecialpoints，wemaymakeuptwosetsofsixteencardseach，theevencomposingone，andtheoddtheother。Thesetwosetsbeingbeforetheperformer，hetakesone，shufflesitwell，andletsapartytakeacard。Hethentakestheother，shufflesit，andletsanotherpartytakeacard。Then，whilsteachpartyislookingathiscard，whichHEISREQUESTEDTODO，theperformerdexterouslychangestheplaceofthetwosets，andherequeststhepartiestoreplacethecardsinthesetwhencetheytookthem。ItfollowsthatthepartywhotookacardfromtheEVENsetplacesitintheODDset，andhewhotookitfromtheODDsetplacesitintheevenset。Consequently，alltheshufflingandcuttingintheworldwillbeuseless，fortheperformerhasonlytospreadoutthecardsofeachsettopointoutthecardsdrawn。
10。Singulararrangementofsixteencards。
Takethefourkings，thefourqueens，thefourknaves，andthefourtensofapack，andaskiftherebeanyoneinthecompanywhocanformasquarewiththeminsuchamannerthat，takeninanydirection，fromrighttoleft，fromthetoptothebottom，bythediagonal——anyhow，infact——therewillalwaysbeineachlineaking，queen，knave，andaten。Everybodywillthinkthethingeasy，butitiscertainthatnoonewillsucceedindoingit。
Whenthey’giveitup，’takethesixteencardsandarrangethemasshown，whentheking，queen，knave，andtenwillstandasrequired。
11。Theseventrick。
Makeupthefoursevensofapack，andtakesevenothercards，nomatterwhich，foranotherlot，and，presentingbothlots，yousay:——Herearetwolotstotallydissimilar；nevertheless，thereisoneofseven，andIdeclareitwillbethefirsttouchedbyanypartypresent。Ofcourse，whentouched，youatonceproveyourwordsbyexhibitingeitherthesevensorthesevencards——
takingcaretomixthecardsintothepackimmediatelytopreventdetection。
12。Infalliblemethodforguessinganynumberthatapartyhasthoughtof。
Takethefirsttencardsofapackof52cards。Setoutthesetencardsasshownbelow，sothatthepointAshouldcorrespondtotheace，andto1——thepointFtothecardrepresentingthe6——andEtothe10。
234
BCD
1A——E5
10K——F6
IHG
987
Thusprepared，yourequestapartytothinkofacard，andthenyoutellhimtotouchanynumberhepleases，requestinghimtonameitaloud。Then，addingthewholenumberofthecardstothenumbertouched，youtellhimtocountbackwardstohimself，beginningwiththecardtouched，andgivingtothatcardthenumberoftheonethoughtof。Bycountinginthisway，thepartywillatlengthcounttheentirenumberonthecardthoughtof，whichyouwillthusbeabletodesignatewithcertainty。
Example:——SupposethecardthoughtofisG，marking7；again，supposingtheonetouchedtobeD，equalto4；youaddtothisnumbertheentirenumberofcards，whichis，inthiscase，10，whichwillmake14。Then，makingthepartycountthissum，fromthenumbertouched，DtoC，B，A，andsoon，backwards，sothatincommencingtocountthenumberthoughtof，7onD，thepartywillcontinue，saying，8onC，9onB，10onA，11onK，12onI，13onH，andendwithcounting14onG；andyouwillthusdiscoverthatthenumberthoughtofis7，whichcorrespondstoG。
OfcoursethepartycountsTOhimself，andonlyspeakstodesignatethepointonwhichhestops，namely，Ginthisexample。
Thistrickmaybeperformedwithanynumberofcards——asfewassix，orasmanyasfifteen。Thenyoumustalwaysaddtothenumberthetotalofthecardsused。Thetrickwillbemuchmoreinterestingandstrikingifyouturnthecardsfacedownwards，onlytrustingtoyourmemorytoretaintheorderofthenumbers。
Ofcourse，thelettersareonlyusedtofacilitatetheexplanation。Thecardsreallyformasortofcircle，beginningat1ortheaceontheleft，andthencontinuingwiththe2，the3，the4，the5，andsoon，tothe10belowtheace；and，bynecessity，thepartymustendhiscountingwiththeverycardhethoughtof，beginningfromtheonehehappenstopointout。
13。Thecardthatcannotbefound。
Takeanynumberofcardsandspreadthemoutfan-likeinyourhand，facesfrontingthespectators。
Askoneofthemtoselectacard。Youtellhimtotakeit，andthentoplaceitatthebottomofthepack。Youholdupthepack，sothatthespectatorsmayseethatthecardisreallyatthebottom。Supposethiscardisthekingofhearts。
Then，pretendingtotakethatcard，youtakethecardprecedingit，andplaceitatapointcorrespondingtoAinthefollowingfigure。
AC
BD
Youthentakethecarddrawn，namely，thekingofhearts，andplaceitatthepointcorrespondingtoBintheabovefigure。
Finally，youtakeanytwoothercards，andplacethematCandD。
Ofcourse，thecardsareplacedfacedownwards。
Afterthislocationofthecards，youtellthepartywhohaschosenthecardthatyouwillchangethepositionofthecards，bypushingalternatelythatatthepointAtoB，andthatatDtoC，andviceversa；andyoudefyhimtofollowyouinthesegyrationsofthecard，andtofindit。
Ofcourse，seeingnodifficultyinthething，andbelievingwitheverybodythathiscardisplacedatthepointA，hewillundertaketofollowandfindhiscard。Thenperformingwhatyouundertaketodo，yourapidlychangetheplacesofthecards，andyetslowlyenoughtoenablethepartytokeepinviewthecardwhichhethinkshisown，andsothatyoumaynotlosesightoftheoneyouplacedatB。
Havingthusarrangedthecardsforafewmoments，youaskthepartytoperformhispromisebypointingouthiscard。Feelingsurethatheneverlostsightofit，heinstantlyturnsoneofthecardsandisastonishedtofindthatitisnothisown。Thenyousay:——’Itoldyouyouwouldnotbeabletofollowyourcardinitsramble。ButIhavedonewhatyoucouldn’tdo:hereisyourcard！’
Theastonishmentofthespectatorsisincreasedwhenyouactuallyshowthecard；for，havingmadethemobserveinthefirstinstance，thatyoudidnotevenlookatthedrawncard，theyareutterlyatalosstodiscoverthemeansyouemployedtofindoutandproducethecardinquestion。
14。Cardsbeingdrawnfromapack，togetthemguessedbyapersonblindfolded。
Atalltheseperformancestherearealwaysamongstthespectatorspersonsinleaguewiththeprestidigitator。Inthepresentcaseawomanistheassistant，withwhomhehasenteredintoanarrangementbywhicheachcardisrepresentedbyaletterofthealphabet；andthefollowingarethecardsselectedforthetrickwiththeirrepresentativeletters。
Theperformertakesahandkerchiefandblindfoldstheladyinquestion，andplacesherinthecentreofthecircleofspectators。Thenspreadingoutthecards，herequestseachofthespectatorstodrawacard。
Herequeststhefirsttogivehimthecardhehasdrawn；helooksatit，andplacingitonthetablefacedownwards，heaskstheladytonamethecard，whichshedoesinstantlyandwithouthesitation。
Ofcoursethisappearswonderfultothespectators，andtheirastonishmentgoesonincreasingwhilsttheladynameseverycardinsuccessiontothelast。
Itis，however，averysimpleaffair。Eachcardrepresentsaletterofthealphabet，asweseebythefigure，andalltheperformerhastodoistobegineveryquestionwiththelettercorrespondingtothecard。
Supposethepartyhasdrawnthekingofhearts。ItsletterisA。
Theperformerexclaims——’Ah！I’msureyouknowthis！’TheAatoncesuggeststhecardinquestion。Supposeitistheaceofclubs。Hesays——’Jumpatconclusionsifyoulike，butbesureinhittingthiscardonthenail。’Jbeginsthephrase，andrepresentsthecardinquestion。Supposeitisthetenofspades，hecriesout——’Zounds！ifyoumistakethisyouarenotsocleveramediumasItookyoufor。’Theaceofdiamonds——’Quiteeasy，mydearsir，’or’mydearma’am，’asthecasemaybe。Q
representstheaceofdiamonds。Thequeenofdiamonds——’Oh，thebeauty！’Theaceofhearts——’Dearme！whatisthis？’Theaceofspades——’Youarealwaysright，nameit。’Thenineofdiamonds——
’So！so！well，I’msuresheknowsit。’
Doubtlessthesespecimenswillsufficetosuggestphrasesforeveryothercard。Suchphrasesmaybewrittenoutandgotbyheart——onlytwenty-threebeingrequired；butthisseemsuseless，foritdoesnotrequiremuchtactatimprovisationtohituponaphrasecommencingwithanyletter。However，itwillbebettertotakeeveryprecautionratherthanruntheriskofstoppingintheperformance，whosesuccessmainlydependsupontheapparentlyinspiredrapidityoftheanswers。Theperformermightconcealinthehollowofhishandasmalltableexactlylikethefigure，tofacilitatehisquestions。Asforthemedium，he，orshe，mustrelyentirelyonmemory。Ofcoursethespectatorsmaybeallowedtoseethatthemediumiscompletelyblindfolded。Thismoderntrickhasalwayspuzzledthekeenestspectators15。Themysteryofdoublesight。
Allthecardsofapack，orindeedanycommonobjecttouchedbyaspectator，maybenamedbyanassistantinthefollowingway——
whilstinanotherapartment，orblindfolded。
Take32cardsandarrangetheminfourlines，oneundertheother。Youarrangewithyourassistanttonamethefirstlineafterthedaysoftheweek；thesecondwillrepresenttheweeks，thethirdthemonths，thefourththeyears。Theassistantisenjoinedtocountthedaysaloud，andthefirstcardbytheleft。
Thefollowingistheentirescheme:——
Days12345678*
Weeks12345678
Months123**45678
Years1234567***8
Thecardsbeingthusarranged，thepartywhohastoguessthemretiresfromtheroom。Whenheisrecalled，whetherblindfoldedornot，hepretendstocounttohimselfforaconsiderabletime，soastoallowhisassociatetimetosaytohim，withoutaffectationorexcitingsuspicionofcollusion——’Igiveyou，’or’IgivehimSOMUCHTIMEtoguesswhatisrequired；’foritisinthisphrasethatthewholesecretofthetrickiscontained，asI
shallproceedtodemonstrate。
Supposethecardtouchedbeoneofthosemarkedwiththeasterisks******；ifitbethefirst，theassociatesays，；I
givehimeightdaystoguessit。’Thenthemedium，beginningwiththeupperline，thatofthedays，willatoncebeabletosaythatthecardtouchedistheeighthofthefirsthorizontalline，orthefirstoftheeighthverticalline。
Ifitbethecardholdingtheplaceofthenumbermarkedwithtwoasterisks**theassociatesays’threemonths，’and’sevenyears’
fortheonemarkedwiththreeasterisks***。
Thus，whatevercardistouched，itwillbeeasytoindicateit，bybeginningwiththelineofdaysatthetop，countingonefromtheleftoftheassociateandmedium。
Suchisthesimpleprocess；andthefollowingistheconventionalcatechismadoptedbyalltheoperatorsindoublesight，withafewvariationsadaptedtocircumstances。
Withthiscollectionofwordsandphrases，everyexistingobjectcanbeguessed，providedcarebetakentoclassifythemaccordingtothefollowingindications。
Tooperate，twopersonsmustestablishaperfectunderstandingbetweenthem。Oneundertakesthequestions，theothertheanswers，thelatterhavinghiseyesperfectlyblindfolded。Bothofthemmustthoroughlyknowthefollowingnumberswiththeircorrespondences:——
1。Now。9。Quick。
2。Answerorreply。10。Say。
3。Name。20。Tellme。
4。Whatistheobject，orthing。30。Irequestyou。
5。Try。40。Willyou。
6。Again。50。Willyou(to)me。
7。Instantly。60。Willyou(to)us。
8。Which？
Example:——Addthequestionofthesimplenumbertothequestionofthedecadeorten。Thus，inpronouncingthewords’Saynow，’
11——forsayis10，andnowis1，total11。This，therefore，formsquestion11。
Again——’Tellmewhichnumber，’28——for’tellme’is20，and’which’is8，total28。
Thirdly:——’Irequestyouinstantly，’37；for’Irequestyou’is30，and’instantly’is7，total37。
Alltheexpressionsorwordsthatfollowaretotallyindependentoftheanswer，andareonlyadaptedtoembellishormystifythequestionasfarastheaudienceisconcerned。Forinstance:
Question7。Instantly，whatIhaveinmyhand？Answer，Awatch。
Question9。Quick，thehour？Answer，nineo’clock。
Question30，Irequestyou(2)reply——theminutes。Answer，32
minutes，thatis30and2，equalto32。
Itwouldbeuselesstogivetheentirecorrespondenceinventedforthisapparentlymysteriousrevelation，asafewspecimenswillsufficetoshowtheprinciple。
SaywhatIhold？Ahandkerchief。
SaynowwhatIhold？Asnuff-box。
Say，reply，whatIhold？Apairofspectacles。
SayandnamewhatIhold？Abox。
SayandtrytosaywhatIhold？Ahat。
SayquicklywhatIhold？Anumbrella。
Tellme，reply，whatIhold？Aknife。
TellmewhatIhold？Apurse。
TellmenowwhatIhold？Apipe。
TellmeandtrytosaywhatIhold？Aneedle。
TellmequicklywhatIhold？Acane。
IrequestyoutosaywhatIhold？Aportfolio。
IrequestyoutosaynowwhatIhold？Paper。
Irequestyoutosay，reply，whatIhold？Abook。
IrequestyoutosayquicklywhatIhold？Acoin。
Willyousay，reply，whatIhold？——Acigar。
Willyousay，namewhatIhold？——Acane。
Willyousay，again，whatIhold？——Anewspaper。
Now，whatIhold？——Abottle。
Reply，whatIhold？——Ajug。
NamewhatIhold？——Aglass。
Again，whatcontainsthisvessel？——Wine。
Instantly，whatthisvesselcontains？——Beer。
Nowtheform？——Triangular。
Reply，theform？——Round。
Nametheform？——Square。
Theform？——Oval。
Trytoindicatetheform？——Pointed。
Again，indicatetheform？——Flat。
Now，thecolour？——White。
Reply，thecolour？——Blue。
Namethecolour？——Red。
Thecolourofthisobject？——Black。
Trytotellthecolour？——Green。
Again，thecolour？——Yellow。
Now，themetal？——Gold。
Reply，themetal？——Silver。
Themetalofthething？——Copper。
Again，themetal？——Iron。
Instantly，themetal？——Lead。
Ah！thefigureorhour？——1。
Well？——2。’Tisgood？——3。
’Tiswell？——4。
Good？——5。
But？——6。
Let’ssee？——7。
That’sit？——8。
&c。
Nownamethesuitofthiscard？——Clubs。
Reply，thesuitofthiscard？——Hearts。
Namethesuitofthiscard？——Spades。
Thesuitofthiscard？——Diamonds。
Itisobvious，fromtheprecedingspecimen，thataconventionalcatechisminvolvingeveryobjectcanbecontrivedbytwopersons，andadaptedtoeverycircumstance。Thestrikingperformancesofthemostnotoriousmesmeric’patients’inthislineprovethepossibilityoftheachievement。The’agent’whoreceivesthequestionsinwritingorinawhisperthuscommunicatestheanswertothepatient，whoislaboriouslytrainedintheentireencyclopaediaof’commonthings’andthingsgenerallyknown；butitMAYhappenthatthequestionproposedbythespectatorhasbeenomittedinthescheme。
Ononeoccasion，whenthefamousPrudencewasthe’patient，’andwastellingthetasteofallmannerofliquidsfromaglassofwater，Iproposed’Blood’tothe’agent。’Heshookhishead，saidhewouldtry；butitwasuseless。Shesaidshe’couldn’tdoit，’andtheagentfranklyadmittedthatitwasafailure。
Now，ifthemesmericconsciousnesswerereally，aspretended，theresultofmentalintercommunicationbetweentheagentandpatient，itisobviousthatthewell-knowntasteofbloodcouldbecommunicatedaswellasanyothertaste。Thisexperimentsufficestoprovethattherevelationsarecommunicatedinthematter-of-factwaywhichIhavesufficientlydescribed。
Shouldithappenthataspectatorhasdiscoveredthemethod，theperformerseasilyturnthetablesagainsthim。Theyhavealwaysreadyaconventionallistofcommonthings；andtheagentundertakesthathismesmericpatientwillindicatethemwithouthearingawordfromhim，eveninanotherapartment。Theagentthenmerelytouchestheobject，andthepatientbeginswiththefirstnameinhislist。Thepatienttakescaretogivetheagentsufficienttime，lestheshouldnametheobjectnexttobetouchedbeforetheagentapplieshisfinger，andthus，asitwere，callforitratherthannameitwhentouched，asrequiredbythecase。
1。Guessing。
Fivepersonshavingeachthoughtofadifferentcard，toguessfivecards。
Taketwenty-fivecards，showfiveofthemtoaparty，requestinghimtothinkofone，thenplacethemoneupontheother。Proceedinlikemannerwithfivemoretoasecondparty，andsoon，fivepartiesinall，placingthefivesonthetopofeachother。
Then，beginningwiththetopcards，makefivelots，placingonecardsuccessivelyineachlot；andaskthefiveparties，oneaftertheother，inwhichlottheircardis。Asthefirstfivecardsarethefirstofeachlot，itisevidentthatthecardthoughtofbythefirstpartyisthefirstofthelothepointsto；thatofthesecond，isthesecondofthelothepointsto；
thatofthethird，thethirdofthethirdlot；thatofthefourth，thefourthofthefourthlot；thatofthefifth，thefifthofthefifthlot。
Ofcoursefivepersonsarenotnecessary。Iftherebebutoneperson，thecardmustbethefirstofthelothepointsto。
Itwouldbemoreartistic，perhaps，ifyoudispensewithseeingthecards，makingthelotsupwithyoureyesturnedawayfromthetable。Thenrequestthepartiestoobserveinwhichlottheirrespectivecardis，and，takingthelotssuccessivelyinhand，presenttoeachthecardthoughtofwithoutlookingatityourself。
17。TheArithmeticalPuzzle。
Thiscardtrick，towhichIhavealludedinapreviouspage，cannotfailtoproduceastonishment；anditisoneofthemostdifficulttounravel。
Handapackofcardstoaparty，requestinghimtomakeupparcelsofcards，inthefollowingmanner。Heistocountthenumberofpipsonthefirstcardthatturnsup，sayafive，andthenaddasmanycardsasarerequiredtomakeupthenumber12；
inthecaseheresupposed，havingafivebeforehim，hewillplacesevencardsuponit，turningdowntheparcel。Allthecourtcardscountas10pips；consequently，onlytwocardswillbeplacedonsuchtomakeup12。Theacecountsasonlyonepip。
Hewillthenturnupanother，countthepipsuponit，addingcardsasbeforetomakeupthenumber12；andsoon，untilnomoresuchparcelscanbemade，theremainder，ifany，tobesetaside，allbeingturneddown。
Duringthisoperation，theperformerofthetrickmaybeoutoftheroom，atanyrate，atsuchadistancethatitwillbeimpossibleforhimtoseethefirstcardsoftheparcelswhichhavebeenturneddown；andyetheisabletoannouncethenumberofpipsmadeupbyallthefirstcardslaiddown，providedheisonlyinformedofthenumberofparcelsmadeupandthenumberoftheremainder，ifany。
Thesecretisverysimple。Itconsistsmerelyinmultiplyingthenumberofparcelsoverfourby13(orratherviceversa)，andaddingtheremainingcards，ifany，totheproduct。
Thus，therehavejustbeenmadeupsevenpackets，withfivecardsover。Deducting4from7，3remain；andIsaytomyself13times3(orrather3times13)are39，andaddingtothisthefivecardsover，Iatoncedeclarethenumberofpipsmadeupbythefirstcardsturneddowntobe44。
Thereisanotherwayofperformingthisstrikingtrick。Directsixparcelsofcardstobemadeupinthemanneraforesaid，andthen，onbeinginformedofthenumberofcardsremainingover，addthatnumberto26，andthesumwillbethenumberofpipsmadeupbythefirstcardsofthesixparcels。
Sucharethemethodsprescribedforperformingthistrick；butI
havediscoveredanother，whichalthough，perhaps，alittlemorecomplicated，hasthedesirableadvantageofexplainingtheseemingmystery。
Findthenumberofcardsintheparcels，bysubtractingtheremainder，ifany，from52。Subtractthenumberofpipcardstherefrom，deductthislastfromthenumbermadeupofthenumberofparcelsmultipliedby12，andtheremainderwillbethenumberofpipsonthefirstcards。
Todemonstratethistakethecasejustgiven。Therearesevenparcelsandfivecardsover。First，thisprovesthatthereare47cardsinthesevenparcelsmadeupofpipsandcards。
Secondly，subtractthenumberofpipcards——sevenfromthenumberofcardsintheparcels；then，7from47，40remain(cards)。
Thirdly，now，asthesevenparcelsaremadeupbothofthepipcardsandcards，itisevidentthatwehaveonlytofindthenumberofcardsgotatasabove，togetthenumberofpipsrequired。Thus，therebeingsevenpackets，7times12make84；
take40，asabovefound(thenumberofcards)，andtheremainderis44，thenumberofpipsasfoundbythefirstmethodexplained，——theprocessbeingasfollows:——
52-5=47-7=40。
Then，7X12=84-40=44。
Ingeneral，however，thefirstmethod，beingtheeasiestofperformance，shouldbeadopted。Thesecondisinmanyrespectsveryobjectionable。
18。Togetacardintoapackfirmlyheldbyaparty。
Thistrickstrikinglyshowshoweasilywemayallbedeceivedbyappearances。
Selectthefiveorsevenofanysuit，saythesevenofhearts，andhandingtheremainderofthepacktoaparty，showhimthecard，withyourthumbontheseventhpip，soastoconcealit，saying:——’Now，holdthepackasfirmlyasyoucan，andkeepyoureyeuponittoseethatthereisnotrickery，andyetIundertaketogetintoitthissixofhearts。’Thisinjunctionrivetshisattention，anddoubtless，likeotherwisepeopledestinedtobedeceived，hefeelsquitesurethatnobodycan’takehimin。’Inthissatisfactoryconditionfortheoperationonbothsides，youflourishthecardsoasjusttoreachthelevelofthetopofyourhat(ifyouwearanAlpinescolloped，somuchthebetter)，andthen，bringingdownthecard，rapidlystrikeitonthepacktwice，utteringthewordsone，two，ateachstroke；but，onthethirdraisingofthecard，leaveitonthetopofyourhat，strikingthepackwithyourhand——withthewordthree。Thenrequestthepartytolookforthesixofheartsinthepack，andhewillsurelyfindit，tohisamazement。
Thistrickmaybeperformedinadrawing-room，iftheoperatorbeseated，droppingthecardbehindhisback，especiallyinaneasy-
chair。
EndofVolume2
