H. D. Catlin

“ It is a truth in fact that "necessity is the mother of invention," and that "ignorance is the mother of genius;" and to both man may recognize his "birth-right"—so to speak—to the honors due, for the most, if not all, of the many enterprises which have rewarded his labors in many of the past centuries of the Christian era. ”

“ We have endeavored to cover, as briefly as possible, all the ground required to make clear and concise the method of the game, and give the reasons why, after a period of nearly four hundred years, a new, improved and superior game is now demanded to meet the progress of civilization, and give to the public a more modern and advanced game, more in keeping with the spirit of the times, and more congenial to the social enjoyment of the many modern entertainments of the present day and generation. ”

“ The "playing cards" are the production of an ingenious human device, derived from the divine origin of time; the history of which but little has heretofore been known and understood by the world of card players and the public in general. So far as the author is informed, no like historic record has ever been published, and card players have, seemingly, taken little or no interest to learn and know the historic origin of the greatest enterprise known to the sixteenth century, the period of their advent, so valuable and important to the present generation. ”

“ This embarrassment continued long, fatiguing and discouraging to their ambitious enterprise, which, in the past, has ever been the experience of man in many of the progressive enterprises of human genius which now contribute so largely to the growth of greater facilities for a larger volume and better economy in many of the departments of business. Their new and original game could not be made durable and popular without the favorable recognition, sanction and acceptance of their honored "king and queen." ”

“ It is now nearly four hundred years since the playing cards were first introduced, and with the exception of material and kind, of finish and design, there has been no change in the first original, fifty-two card pack, and never will be. The first original game of "Whist" could have had no previous history, no previous law and no rule beyond that adopted and practiced by the first original players for the edification, entertainment and amusement of their honored Egyptian king and queen, by whom their game was named, and will so remain, unchanged so long as playing cards continue in use. ”

“ The ambition to gratify their desire continued and repeated itself through ten succeeding generations without success, as they were wholly unable to cope with so great an undertaking, by reason of their native ignorance, and thus did fail to introduce and apply the science required. A like ambitious desire was subsequently manifested by the more advanced, better learned and more intelligent Egyptians, who struggled with the same four numbers, and for the same gratification of their native love for sports and amusements as a pastime enjoyment. ”

“ The "Joker," with the use of the right and left bowers, are of the same value as in "Euchre;" otherwise all suit cards are played as in "Whist" and "Euchre" and of like value.
There is no trump to be taken up, no trump to be ordered up, no trump to be turned down, no alone hand to be played, no cards out of use, no idle player, and no time to be lost. "Time is money." The foregoing objections are more than overcome and compensated by the use and application of a "lapse" of one or more points, in excess of the thirteen points, and made to apply on the next succeeding game. ”

“ It will be observed that the trump suit will always be one card more than one-fourth of all the cards in use, and the three side suits (not trump) will always be one card less than three fourths of all the cards in use—ten trumps and twenty-six suit cards. Thirteen points constitute the full game. ”

“ After giving due and proper place to the number 4 in recognition of the four suits required, and by applying the two red suits in recognition of spring and summer and the two black suits in recognition of autumn and winter, they could thus represent, in due and proper contrast, the four seasons of the year. ”