The Unmentionable

[Teheuti]

I watched the PBS special on Pocohontas last night on Nova and was struck by the detail that the first Jamestown colonists set up households with Indian women yet never mentioned it in any of their written documents. Yet the obvious has been discovered to be true according to archeological findings and accounts by Spanish spys. For the British, co-habitation was too taboo (beneath their sense of self and cultural-image) to be written down. It was an embarassment that was unmentionable. An exception was later allowed when John Rolf married the chieftain's daughter and took her to England but the exception only proves the rule. BTW, John Smith didn't record the famous Pocohontas story until long after the fact (after she became well known and respected!).

Anyway, my point is that something of this sort could be behind the lack of mention of early card divination—especially if it was done primarily by old women (the unseen) who were snuck into the house through the kitchen door to consult with young women (unsullied valuable property) who wanted to know about their futures.

Mary

 

[Tarotphelia]

That's a very valid point Mary . Especially in light of the religious oppression and even the possible threat of death that could have resulted long ago . The officially recorded story of how things were , and what the actual common person really did can be two very different things . We have to remember also who chooses what facts to record , what their motives and experiences are , and what their limitations and prejudices can be.

And , we should not forget that what is left out can be just as important as what is included when we are trying to discern a pattern.

 

[baba-prague]

Anyway, my point is that something of this sort could be behind the lack of mention of early card divination—especially if it was done primarily by old women (the unseen) who were snuck into the house through the kitchen door to consult with young women (unsullied valuable property) who wanted to know about their futures.

Mary

While I was doing research for the Victorian Romantic companion book I came across a rather surprising reference to the fact that cartomancy was associated with courtesans and "houses of ill repute" - could be another reason it was unmentionable. I'll pull out the quote and reference and post them when I can.

 

[baba-prague]

none but courtesans...

Yes, here it is:

Formerly, none but courtesans here drew the cards; now, almost every female, without exception, has recourse to them. Many a fine lady even conceives herself to be sufficiently mistress of the art to tell her own fortune; and some think they are so skilled in reading futurity in the cards, that they dare not venture to draw them for themselves, for fear of discovering some untoward event.
Francis W Blagdon, Paris As It Was and As It Is (1803).

Of course, we don't know how far back in history is indicated by the vague "formerly".

 

[Teheuti]

Baba -

Thank you so much for sharing this gem. It's really a detective story and every little bit helps.

 

[kwaw]

Yes, here it is:

Formerly, none but courtesans here drew the cards; now, almost every female, without exception, has recourse to them. Many a fine lady even conceives herself to be sufficiently mistress of the art to tell her own fortune; and some think they are so skilled in reading futurity in the cards, that they dare not venture to draw them for themselves, for fear of discovering some untoward event.
Francis W Blagdon, Paris As It Was and As It Is (1803).

Of course, we don't know how far back in history is indicated by the vague "formerly".

Thanks for the reference; the book is available as free ebook from project Gutenberg:

http://www.gutenberg.org/etext/8998

Kwaw

 

[baba-prague]

Thanks Kwaw! And Mary, yes, I found it an intriguing little snippet - it would be good to know more about how the association with courtesans came about and whether it was purely in Paris (which seems unlikely) or more widespread.

Coincidentally I've just finished Sarah Dunant's book "In the Company of a Courtesan" and it does bring home the fact that high-class courtesans were expected to be entertaining - able to put on a wonderful evening for their clients in more than one way. Perhaps fortune-telling was one of the skills in their repetoire?

 

[firemaiden]

That was a spectacular PBS program wasn't it. I was totally captivated by it.

 

[Teheuti]

it would be good to know more about how the association with courtesans came about and whether it was purely in Paris (which seems unlikely) or more widespread.

Etteilla supposedly learned his card meanings from an old Italian woman. Aretino wrote about courtesans and gambling in 16th century Italy and mentioned how the women would use anything for fortune-telling. Does anyone know of a full translation of his "Le carte parlanti"?

In Aretino's Dialogues (translated by Raymond Rosenthal (NY: Ballantine Books, 1971)), he describes a conversation between a procuress and a prostitute:
“NANNA: So it is clear that the real difficulty is keeping lovers, not acquiring them.
“PIPPA: There’s not a doubt of it.
“NANNA: Turn the card, and now you’ll find a man who isn’t jealous and yet loves you, despite all those who say that one can’t love without jealousy.” p. 209
And later: “...she, who had as much good sense as a crayfish out of the moon...” p. 304.

In another section:
MIDWIFE (Procuress): I also claim to be able to foretell the future, but in another fashion from the gypsies who see it in the palm of your hand. And all the thievish prognostications I make from knowing the science of physiognomy! And there’s not an illness I cannot cure wither with words or recipes, and scarcely has someone said: "I have such-and-such an illness" than I give him the appropriate remedy; and Saint Apollonia has not as many votive offerings attached to her feet as I sometimes have requests to stop toothaches. And if you have ever seen the wretched crew that waits for the monks’ scullion to come out with cauldrons of broth, you have seen the mob which early in the morning holds court at my door. (p.366-367)

Re: bagatto etc.
"Then you swing the piece of linen in which the beans are tied three times over your head and let it fall on the floor, and if it falls with the knot uppermost it signifies love in the lover. Having performed all the *bagatelles* that I have said . . ." [The midwife goes on to explain how she "fixes" the results of such divinations. Bagatelles here seems to indicate meaningless gestures that are used to con the gullible into thinking something is happening.]

Mary

 

[jmd]

Wonderful references!

...and certainly adds to the wealth of the invisible part of the iceberg!