Part 31

Jack of Hearts--A gay young bachelor who thinks only of pleasure.

Ace of Diamonds--A letter, soon to be received.

Queen of Clubs--An affectionate woman, but quick tempered and touchy.

Eight of Spades--If reversed, a marriage broken off, or offer refused.

It will thus be seen that each card forms, as it were, a phrase, from an assemblage of which nothing but a little practice is required to form complete sentences. Of this a further example will be given by interpreting the signification of the three other packs.

"For the house" is supposed to consist of the queen of hearts, the jack of spades reversed, the ace of clubs and the nine of diamonds, which are supposed to read thus: "The queen of hearts--a fair woman, mild and amiable in disposition--jack of spades reversed--will be deceived by a dark, ill bred young man--the ace of clubs--but she will receive some good news, which will console her--nine of diamonds--although it is probable that this news may be delayed."

The pack "for those who do not expect it," consists of the queen of diamonds, the king of spades, the ace of hearts reversed, and the seven of spades: "The queen of diamonds--a mischief-making woman--the king of spades--in league with a dishonest lawyer---ace of hearts reversed--they will hold a consultation--seven of spades--but the harm they will do will soon be repaired."

Last comes "the surprise," formed by, it is supposed, the jack of clubs, the ten of diamonds, the queen of spades and the nine of spades, of which the supposed interpretation is: "The jack of clubs--a clever, enterprising young man--ten of diamonds--about to undertake a journey--queen of spades--for the purpose of visiting a widow--nine of spades--but one or both their lives will be endangered."

THE TWENTY-ONE CARD METHOD

After the thirty-two cards have been shuffled and cut with the left hand, the first eleven are withdrawn from the pack and laid on one side. The remainder--twenty-one in all--are to be again shuffled and cut, that being done, the topmost card is laid on one side to form "the surprise," and the remaining twenty are ranged before the dealer in the order in which they come to hand. If the card representing the person consulting be not among them, one must be withdrawn from the eleven useless ones placed at the right extremity of the row, where it represents the missing card, no matter what it may really be. Let us suppose that the person wishing to make the essay is an officer in the army, and consequently represented by the king of diamonds, and that the twenty cards ranged in front of you are: Queen of diamonds, king of clubs, ten of hearts, ace of spades, queen of hearts reversed, seven of spades, jack of diamonds, ten of clubs, king of spades, eight of diamonds, king of hearts, nine of clubs, jack of spades reversed, seven of hearts, ten of spades, king of diamonds, ace of diamonds, seven of clubs, nine of hearts, ace of clubs. You now proceed to examine the cards as they lay, and perceiving that all the four kings are there, you can predict that great rewards await the person consulting you, and that he will gain great dignity and honor. The two queens, one of them reversed, announce the reunion of two sorrowful friends; the three aces, foretell good news; the two jacks, one of them reversed, danger; the three tens, improper conduct.

You now begin to explain the cards, commencing with the first on the left hand: "The queen of diamonds is a mischief-making, under-bred woman--the king of clubs--endeavoring to win the affections of a worthy and estimable man--ten of hearts--over whose scruples she will triumph--ace of spades--the affair will make some noise--queen of hearts reversed--and greatly distress a charming fair woman who loves him--seven of spades--but her grief will not be of long duration. Jack of diamonds--an unfaithful servant--ten of clubs--will make away with a considerable sum of money--king of spades--and will be brought to trial--eight of diamonds--but saved from punishment through a woman's agency. King of hearts--a fair man of liberal disposition--nine of clubs--will receive a large sum of money--jack of spades reversed--which will expose him to the malice of a dark youth of coarse manners. Seven of hearts--pleasant thoughts, followed by--ten of spades--great chagrin--king of diamonds--await a man in uniform, who is the person consulting me--ace of diamonds--but a letter he will speedily receive--seven of clubs--containing a small sum of money--nine of hearts--will restore his good spirits--ace of clubs--which will be further augmented by some good news." Now turn up "the surprise" which it is supposed will prove the ace of hearts, "a card that is taken to predict great happiness, caused by a love letter, but which, making up the four aces, is said to show that this sudden joy will be followed by great misfortunes."

The cards are now gathered up, shuffled, cut, and formed into three packs, at the first deal one being laid aside to form "the surprise." By the time they are all dealt out it will be found that the two first packets are each composed of seven cards, whilst the third contains only six. The person consulting is desired to select one of these, which is taken up and spread out from left to right, being explained as before described. The cards are again gathered up, shuffled, cut, formed into three packs, one card being dealt to "the surprise," and then proceeding as before. The whole operation is once more repeated, then the three cards forming "the surprise" are taken up and their interpretation given.

No matter how the cards are dealt, whether by threes, fives, sevens, fifteens or twenty-one, when those lower than the jack predominate it is considered to foretell success. If clubs are the most numerous, they are supposed to predict gain, considerable fortune, etc. If picture cards, dignity and honor; hearts, gladness, good news; spades, death or sickness.

THE WAY TO TELL A FORTUNE

Illustrating the 21-card deal and the expert fortune-teller's method of constructing a complete and connected reading of the same, which you are advised to carefully consider, as a guide for your own use in delivering an intelligent, interesting and coherent oracle in all cases where you are rendering an interpretation for others.

A man asks the question:

Shall I Marry the Woman I Love?

The fortune-teller turns the cards by the 21-card method, with the resultant layout as shown in the picture, and proceeds to read the gentleman's answer in the following language:

You desire to learn, sir, whether you will marry the young lady to whom you are now paying your addresses? You inform me that the lady is a blonde; still it is necessary for me to inform you that in order to be able to foresee whether or not the marriage be accomplished according to your wishes, I am compelled to select as a representative card of your future wife, a lady of your own color, for such a one is necessary for the oracle, otherwise our labors go for nothing. You, sir, are a middling dark man, and therefore would come up as a club; as a representative card of your beloved we will take the queen of clubs, as of your own complexion.

Now, sir, having performed our deal and arranged the oracle, permit me, in the first place, to call your attention to the fact that you stand represented by the knave of clubs, and in the next to observe your position in the oracle.

The eight of hearts coming as it does in company with the eight of clubs, gives me satisfactory information that you entertain for the young lady a most profound and honorable sentiment of affection, which it appears to me she reciprocates with a no less degree of intensity. I have chosen to designate your beloved by the queen of clubs, and she is doubtlessly a personage well worthy of your love, as the eight of diamonds, coming before her in conjunction with the ace of hearts, demonstrates her to be a lady of wisdom, intelligence and prudence. Observe, moreover, that the nine of hearts intervenes between you both, but is placed nearest the lady. This card predicts a union, which is much desired by her, while on your part you regard your intended with a spirit of admiration bordering almost upon adoration. Such a union will assuredly be followed by domestic happiness, by peace and concord in your domestic circle, by a reign of harmony within your household.

I assure you, sir, that, scrutinizing this oracle from every aspect, I fail to perceive any obstacle which can interpose to prevent your contemplated marriage. On the other hand, the prognostications are decidedly in its favor, for you will be pleased to notice that the eight of hearts and the eight of clubs, coming up side by side, and between you and your intended, predict a success. Remark more, that there are three tens at your back, which denotes a change in your estate or an alteration in your manner of life and social position.

The presence of the queen of hearts in immediate vicinity to the seven of diamonds, indicates not only the receipt of pleasant intelligence from a relative able to give you assistance, but permanent prosperity should you continue in her good graces. I perceive, likewise, from the seven of hearts, that you are at this moment thinking of visiting your intended father-in-law, formally to demand the hand of his daughter.

Do not hesitate, my dear sir, to do so, for you will risk nothing by such an act of courtesy, as it will be crowned with the most happy results. There can be no doubt on that head, as the presence of the king, queen and knave of hearts, coming almost together, and blended with your new estate, assure you of the respect and esteem of the family. True, the young lady entertains such affection (seven of spades) for her parent that when she comes to be separated (nine of diamonds) from him upon marriage (king of diamonds) the native impulse of her heart will cause her to shed tears (ten of spades) at the thought (seven of hearts) of leaving her paternal roof (ace of hearts).

And now, sir, your surprise. It is a letter (ace of diamonds), which, placed upon the last card to the left, which is the king of clubs, announces to you that you will be surprised through receipt of a most gratifying epistle from your intended father-in-law in relation to your approaching marriage.

THE ITALIAN METHOD

Take the pack of thirty-two selected cards, shuffle them well, and either cut or have them cut for you, according to whether you are acting for yourself or another person. Turn up the cards by threes, and when the triplet is composed of cards of the same suit, lay it aside; when of three different suits, pass it by without withdrawing any of the three; but when composed of two of one suit and one of another, withdraw the higher card of the two. When you have come to the end of the pack, gather up all the cards except those you have withdrawn; shuffle, cut, and again turn up by threes. Repeat this operation until you have obtained fifteen cards, which must then be spread out before you, from left to right, in the order in which they come to hand.

Care must, however, be taken that the card representing the person making the essay is among them; if not, the whole operation must be recommenced until the desired result is obtained. We will suppose it to be some dark lady--represented by the queen of clubs--who is anxious to make the attempt for herself, and that the cards are laid out in the following order, from left to right: Ten of diamonds, queen of clubs, eight of hearts, ace of diamonds, ten of hearts, seven of clubs, king of spades, nine of hearts, jack of spades, ace of clubs, seven of spades, ten of spades, seven of diamonds, ace of spades, jack of hearts.