Mythology

105 cal and without reason; others indicative of observation, and having a basis in commonsense. I propose first to enumerate a few of them, and afterwards to make an attempt at the discovery of their origin. OMENS RELATING TO CARD GAMES. 1. To play cards on the table without a table-cloth is unlucky. 2. He who lends money at play will lose; he who borrows money at play will win. 3. In playing cards, walk straight from the table and make a round turn, if playing for money. 4. There is a superstition at Monto Carlo that immediately after a suicide all those playing against the bank will win. There is therefore a perfect rush for the tables when the lugubrious news is known. 5. If you wish a person to win at cards, stick a pin in his coat. 6. To drop a card on the floor when playing is a bad omen. 7. To sing while playing cards is a sign that your side will lose. 8. Don t play at a table with a cross-eyed man whether he is your partner or opponent; you will lose. 9. If you get into a passion when playing cards you will have more bad luck; for the demon of bad luck always follows a passionate player, It is truly difficult to imagine how the first item could have originated; there is absolutely no sense in a connection between skill in a game and the covering of the table on which it is played; if the objection had arisen out of the difference between a mahogany table and a steel table, one might have fancied electric forces, or mesmeric forces, had something to do with the origin of this vain notion. It has been suggested that the table-cloth gives an opportunity of manipulating cards which a bare table does not. Perhaps. And yet all superstitions cannot have arisen in the minds of cheats and dubious people. No. 2 is contrary to experience, at anyrate the second half is. The plunger who will lose all his own money and borrows to continue playing, generally loses. No. 3 has a touch of humour in it grim humour, no doubt. It seems to come from the heart of a wily but skilful player, who knows the fascination of the game to the novice with keenly awakened desires; and when age and experience speak they counsel a walk away from the table, a round turn and well, that is just it; it is a chance afforded the player to think. Shall I play or shall I not for it is for money? This is about as sensible a bit of superstition as could be invented. NO. 4 is a specimen of the modern mind at work. And how like the old mind! It is as if the players said, The God of Chance has had a big success; he has won thousands and thousands; and he has driven his victim to suicide and death. He can t be the same god for a day

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