Mohammed Ali

“ The third pack is "for those who do not expect it," and will be composed of four cards: the ten of hearts, the nine of clubs, eight of spades, and ten of diamonds: "The ten of hearts—an unexpected piece of good fortune and great happiness—nine of clubs—caused by an unlooked for legacy—eight of spades—which joy may be followed by a short sickness—ten of diamonds—the result of a fatiguing journey." ”

“ 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. ”

“ In the first place, the large number of small cards foretells success in enterprises, although the presence of three sevens predicts an illness. The eight of clubs—a dark young girl—ten of clubs—is about to inherit a large fortune—seven of diamonds—but her satirical disposition will destroy—ten of hearts—all her happiness. Seven of clubs—a little money and—nine of hearts—much joy—ace of hearts—will be announced to the person making the essay by a letter, and—jack of spades—a wild young man—seven of hearts—will be over joyed at receiving—nine of clubs—some unexpected tidings. ”

“ The king of hearts is here made the god of love, and claims double, and professes to give a faithful swain to the fair one who has the good fortune to draw him; if Venus, the queen of hearts, is with him, it is the conquering prize, and clears the pool; fives and nines are reckoned crosses and misfortunes, and pay a forfeit of the sum agreed on to the pool, besides the usual stipend at each new game; three nines at one draw is supposed to portend the lady will be an old maid, three fives, a bad husband. ”

“ Josephine, when the widow of Gen. Beauharnais, during the bitter days of the Reign of Terror, was induced to consult a distinguished seeress of the Faubourg St. Germain, who relied upon cartomancy as a means for elucidating the mysteries of the past, present, and future. Although her visitor was disguised as a waiting woman, the seeress, through a simple resort to her pack of cards, read most correctly the entire past existence of her consultant. Then, by the same means, she laid bare the gloomy picture of Josephine's present situation ”

“ The pack of thirty-two selected cards is taken, and a card is selected to represent the dealer, supposing he is making the essay on his own behalf; if not, it must represent the person for whom he is acting. In doing this, if the Consultant card be not used, it is necessary to remember that the card chosen should be according to the complexion of the chooser. King or queen of diamonds for a very fair person; king or queen of hearts for one rather dark; clubs for one darker still; and spades only for one very dark indeed. ”

“ It appeared wonderful to these men of science that the mere combination of a series of cards, which they had been accustomed to look upon as a mere species of diversion, could be employed as well to read the past as to penetrate the mysteries of the future ”

“ If a married lady doth lay the cards, she must then make her husband the king of the same suit she is queen of; but if a single lady, she must make her lover what king she may think proper. The jacks of the same suits are supposed to be men's thoughts, so that they may know what they are thinking of, counting nine cards from where they are placed, and it is said if any lady should wish to know whether she shall obtain her desires in any particular subject, matter, or thing whatsoever, let her shuffle the cards well, most seriously and earnestly wishing all the time for one thing ”

“ The wit of our friends from the Emerald Isle is proverbial, and none is so ready to see and appreciate the point of it as the American. Its humor is so spontaneous that it creates laughter in spite of one's self, and that is the kind of wit all of us prefer. ”

“ Take a pack of fifty-two cards and shuffle them three times well over, and making the significator whichever queen you please (if a lady performs the operation for herself; or king, if a gentleman) , then proceed to lay them on the table, nine in a row, and wherever the operator finds himself placed, count nine cards every way, not forgetting the said significator, then it will be seen what card the significator comes in company with, and read from that.
When several diamonds come together, the interpretation is that some money will soon be received; several hearts, love ”

“ Four young persons, but not more, may play at this game, or three by making a dummy hand. This game is played exactly the same in every game, making the queen, which is called Venus, above the ace; the ace in this game only stands for one, and hearts must be led off by the person next the dealer. He or she who gets most tricks this way (each taking up their own and no partnership) is supposed to have most lovers, and the king and queen of hearts in one hand is said to denote matrimony at hand ”

“ King of Clubs—Upright. As the representative of an individual, this card designates a man of a complexion neither very dark nor exceedingly light, but a person with medium colored brown hair, grayish eyes, and of an easy, plodding disposition. He will be a man humane, honest and affectionate, given to business, and faithful in all his engagements; he will be personally happy in all his relations in life, as father, husband and citizen, and make everyone happy about him. ”

“ 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. ”

“ HOW TO ACQUIRE THE ART.
The would-be adept is advised to study in detail every word in this book, as he would any other lesson he desired to master. Learn the various methods of dealing and of reading the layout; consult the several interpretations of the meanings and learn to apply them, first in reading your own fortune and later that of friends,—this only after you have memorized many of the meanings and acquired a degree of fluency in elaborating the "talk" or "patter" that goes with a successful "reading." ”

“ Should the young lady be a blonde who consults the oracle upon questions of marriage, she should pick out the jack of hearts and the queen of hearts, and taking these two cards from out of the pack, place them aside ”

“ To a married woman, or widow, it is a warning that some unscrupulous individual, under garb of friendship, contemplates her injury, which will be followed by almost immediate desertion, if near the ace of spades. ”

“ If the ace be not out and the queen conquers, it is supposed that the person who played her will be married that year without a doubt, though it may perhaps seem unlikely at that time; but if she loses her queen, she must wait longer. ”

“ The art of telling fortunes by cards, known professionally as Cartomancy, has been practiced for centuries.
In our day and generation divination by cards is chiefly employed for amusement and pastime, for the entertainment of one's self or one's company, or at church fairs, charity bazars, and the like ”