CARDS AND SUPERSTITION.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2049, 9 April 1907, Page 4

CARDS AND SUPERSTITION.

Card playing gives an observer an I insight into one of the many curious I phases of human nature —the almost universal belief in luck even amidst educated men of more than average intelligence. Probably only a very few persons would not have repudiated tlio assertion that they believed in luck ; and yet I can recall hardly one who had not some crotchet of li is own that could be justified only on the ground that the fall of the cards may be influenced by unknown causes which can in our present state of knowledge only be described as belonging to the category of luck. One player I knew well—l must admit he also believed in astrology who absolutely refused to play cards during one special month in that year, because he had reason to believe that that month was unlucky to him. Yet he was one of the most level headed card players I have known, and in ordinary matters a man of great common sense. I was at one time intimately acquainted with a club where the stakes played for were comparatively high, and the play was consequently very good; and where the players were, with hardly an exception, hard-headed men, who were keen about winning, and who were at the same time a singularly social, kindly and liberalminded body of men. Amongst the members was a very pleasant, quiet old gentleman, whose only occupation was to spend his days at his club, and especially in its card room. At the period when I first knew him he had.ceased playing cards himself, but was extremely fond of watching other people play. He was the most inoffensive of spectators, never made comments or criticisms, and simply amused himself in watching the fall of the cards. Gradually, however, experience showed—or was imagined to show —that any player* whose cards ho overlooked held bad hands, as it was assorted, an extraordinary regularity. Ho invariably asked permission beforehand before sitting down beside a player, and the moment the player held bad card? he offered, without being asked, to leave the table —an offer which, I

am ashamed to say was invariably accepted. To put the fact plainly, he was tabooed from watching card playing, because he was supposed to bring ill-luck by the mere fact of his vicinity.—From an article on whist by Mr Edward Dicey, C. 8., in the Pall Mall Magazine.”