“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--Knave of Spades--a wild young man--Seven of Hearts--will be overjoyed at receiving--Nine of Clubs--some unexpected tidings. The cards of surprise--viz., the King of Diamonds and the Ace of Clubs--predict that a letter will be received from some military man, and that it will contain money.” THE STAR METHOD OF CONSULTING THE CARDS. We will suppose the person making the essay to be a widow, and consequently represented by the Queen of Spades. This card is, therefore, to be withdrawn from the pack, and laid, face uppermost, upon the table. The remaining thirty-one cards are then to be well shuffled, cut, the topmost card withdrawn and placed lengthwise, and face uppermost, above the head of the Queen of Spades. The cards are to be shuffled, cut, and the topmost card withdrawn, twelve more times, the manner of their arrangement being this: The Queen of Spades in the center, the first card lengthwise above her head, the second ditto at her feet, the third on her right side, the fourth on her left, the fifth placed upright above the first, the sixth ditto below the second, the seventh at the right of the third, the eighth at the left of the fourth, the ninth, tenth, eleventh, and twelfth, at the four corners, and the thirteenth across the center card--the Queen of Spades--thus forming a star. [Illustration] We will suppose these fourteen cards to be the Queen of Spades, which represents the person making the essay; then--1. The Ace of Hearts; 2. The King of Clubs; 3. The Ten of Clubs; 4. Nine of Diamonds; 5. Queen of Clubs; 6. The Eight of Hearts; 7. The Ten of Spades; 8. The Knave of Clubs; 9. The Seven of Clubs; 10. The Ten of Hearts; 11. The Knave of Diamonds; 12. The Eight of Diamonds; 13. The Nine of Clubs. These being placed at right angles, the person consulting them takes them up two by two, beginning with those last laid down.