THE ENGLISH METHOD OF CONSULTING THE CARDS.
Having described the French and Italian methods of consulting the cards, we will proceed to notice the manner in which the art of fortune-telling is generally practiced in England and Scotland. Hitherto only thirty-two cards have been made use of, but now the whole pack is employed. The significations also slightly differ; therefore we shall first give a complete list of them, and then pass on to describe how the cards are to be arranged, so as to disclose their mystic meanings.
Ace of Clubs.—Wealth, happiness, and peace of mind.
King of Clubs.—A dark man, upright, faithful, and affectionate in disposition.
Queen of Clubs.—A dark woman, gentle and pleasing.
Knave of Clubs.—A sincere, but hasty friend—also a dark man’s thoughts.
Ten of Clubs.—Unexpected riches, and loss of a dear friend.
Nine of Clubs.—Disobedience to friends’ wishes.
Eight of Clubs.—A covetous man—also warns against speculations.
Seven of Clubs.—Promises good fortune and happiness; but bids a person beware of the opposite sex.
Six of Clubs.—Predicts a lucrative business.
Five of Clubs.—A prudent marriage.
Four of Clubs.—Cautions against inconstancy or change of object for the sake of money.
Three of Clubs.—Shows that a person will be more than once married.
Two of Clubs.—A disappointment.
Ace of Diamonds.—A letter—from whom, and about what, is seen by the neighboring cards.
King of Diamonds.—A fair man, hot-tempered, obstinate, and revengeful.
Queen of Diamonds.—A fair woman, fond of company, and a coquette.
Knave of Diamonds.—A near relation, who considers only his own interests. Also a fair person’s thoughts.
Ten of Diamonds.—Money.
Nine of Diamonds.—Show that a person is fond of roving.
Eight of Diamonds.—A marriage late in life.
Seven of Diamonds.—Satire, evil speaking.
Six of Diamonds.—Early marriage and widowhood.
Five of Diamonds.—Unexpected news.
Four of Diamonds.—Trouble arising from unfaithful friends. Also a betrayed secret.
Three of Diamonds.—Quarrels, law-suits, and domestic disagreements.
Two of Diamonds.—An engagement, against the wishes of friends.
Ace of Hearts.—The house. If attended by Spades, it foretells quarreling—if by Hearts, affection and friendship—by Diamonds, money and distant friends—and Clubs, feasting and merry-making.
King of Hearts.—A fair man of good-natured disposition, but hasty and rash.
Queen of Hearts.—A fair woman, faithful, prudent, and affectionate.
Knave of Hearts.—The dearest friend of the consulting party. Also a fair person’s thoughts.
Ten of Hearts.—Is prophetic of happiness and many children—is corrective of the bad tidings of cards next to it, and confirms good ones.
Nine of Hearts.—Wealth and high esteem. Also the wish card.
Eight of Hearts.—Pleasure, company.
Seven of Hearts.—A fickle and false friend, against whom be on your guard.
Six of Hearts.—A generous but credulous person.
Five of Hearts.—Troubles caused by unfounded jealousy.
Four of Hearts.—A person not easily won.
Three of Hearts.—Sorrow caused by a person’s own imprudence.
Two of Hearts.—Great success; but equal care and attention needed to secure it.
Ace of Spades.—Great misfortune, spite.
King of Spades.—A dark, ambitious man.
Queen of Spades.—A malicious, dark woman—generally a widow.
Knave of Spades.—An indolent, envious person; a dark man’s thoughts.
Ten of Spades.—Grief, imprisonment.
Nine of Spades.—A card of very bad import, foretelling sickness and misfortune.
Eight of Spades.—Warns a person to be cautious in his undertakings.
Seven of Spades.—Loss of a friend, attended with much trouble.
Six of Spades.—Wealth through industry.
Five of Spades.—Shows that a bad temper requires correcting.
Four of Spades.—Sickness.
Three of Spades.—A journey.
Two of Spades.—A removal.
Having given the signification of the various cards, we will now proceed to describe how they are to be employed. After having well shuffled, cut them three times, and lay them out in rows of nine cards each. Select any King or Queen you please to represent yourself; and wherever you find that card placed, count nine cards every way, reckoning it as one; and every ninth card will prove the prophetic one. Before, however, beginning to count, study well the disposition of the cards, according to their individual and relative signification. If a married woman consult the cards, she must make her husband the King of the same suit of which she is Queen; but if a single woman, she may make any favorite male friend King of whatever suit she pleases. As the Knaves of the various suits represent the thoughts of the persons represented by the picture-cards of a corresponding color, they should also be counted from.