Telling fortunes by cards : $b a symposium of the several ancient and modern methods as practiced by Arab seers and sibyls and the Romany GypsiesAli, Mohammed
Religion
Telling fortunes by cards : $b a symposium of the several ancient and modern methods as practiced by Arab seers and sibyls and the Romany Gypsies
Ali, Mohammed
Card games; Fortune-telling; Fortune-telling by cards
A man asks the question:
_Shall I Marry the Woman I Love?_
The fortune-teller turns the cards by the 21-card method, with the
resultant layout as shown in the picture, and proceeds to read the
gentleman's answer in the following language:
You desire to learn, sir, whether you will marry the young lady to
whom you are now paying your addresses? You inform me that the lady is
a blonde; still it is necessary for me to inform you that in order to
be able to foresee whether or not the marriage be accomplished
according to your wishes, I am compelled to select as a representative
card of your future wife, a lady of your own color, for such a one is
necessary for the oracle, otherwise our labors go for nothing. You,
sir, are a middling dark man, and therefore would come up as a
_club_; as a representative card of your beloved we will take the
_queen of clubs_, as of your own complexion.
Now, sir, having performed our deal and arranged the oracle, permit
me, in the first place, to call your attention to the fact that you
stand represented by the _knave of clubs_, and in the next to observe
your position in the oracle.
The _eight of hearts_ coming as it does in company with the _eight of
clubs_, gives me satisfactory information that you entertain for the
young lady a most profound and honorable sentiment of affection, which
it appears to me she reciprocates with a no less degree of intensity.
I have chosen to designate your beloved by the _queen of clubs_, and
she is doubtlessly a personage well worthy of your love, as the _eight
of diamonds_, coming before her in conjunction with the _ace of
hearts_, demonstrates her to be a lady of wisdom, intelligence and
prudence. Observe, moreover, that the _nine of hearts_ intervenes
between you both, but is placed nearest the lady. This card predicts a
union, which is much desired by her, while on your part you regard
your intended with a spirit of admiration bordering almost upon
adoration. Such a union will assuredly be followed by domestic
happiness, by peace and concord in your domestic circle, by a reign of
harmony within your household.
I assure you, sir, that, scrutinizing this oracle from every aspect,
I fail to perceive any obstacle which can interpose to prevent your
contemplated marriage. On the other hand, the prognostications are
decidedly in its favor, for you will be pleased to notice that the
_eight of hearts_ and the _eight of clubs_, coming up side by side,
and between you and your intended, predict a success. Remark more,
that there are _three tens_ at your back, which denotes a change in
your estate or an alteration in your manner of life and social
position.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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