Playing Cards

The Chiue.-;ü, who, according to their histories, invented everything before anybody else, claim the merit of having first designed playing carda and developed the gaines arising out of them. The Emperor Soun-Ho had many wives, who naturally found time hanging heavily on their hands, so the emperor devised amusement f or them by inven ting cards - that is, if we are to put any belief in the words of the Chinese historians. There were 30 cards in each of bis packs - three suits of nine each and three extra or superior cards. The Chinese cards were oblong as ours are, while those of the Hindoos were round. Surprising though it uiay seem, it is nevertlieless trae that the queeu in our suits is a comparatively modem innovation. The jicl-ure cards were at firsi entirely military - king, kniht and knave. The Italiana wore the first, it is said, to give the lady a place in the pack.