Clergymen and Doctors: Curious Facts and Characteristic Sketches.

by Anonymous

PURITAN RECHRISTENING OF PLAYING CARDS.

The Puritans objected to the use of "heathen" names, not only for children, but for the "court" cards of the pack. They complained, according to Collier, of the appellations of Hercules, Alexander, Julius Cæsar, Hector, and such like; and they wanted to have the Kings called David, Solomon, Isaiah, and Hezekiah; the Queens, Sarah, Rachel, Esther, and Susannah; the Knaves, Balak, Achitophel, Tobit, and Bel. There was, however, it must be confessed, considerable toleration in their permitting the use of cards at all.