This is a game for a large company, much played in France, where it is
the custom to mix three, four, or more packs of cards together. In
England it is played with one pack, after the following plan:--The
dealer, who has rather an advantage, begins by shuffling the cards,
and having them cut by any of the party. He then deals two cards on
his left hand, turning them up; then one for himself, and a fourth,
which he places in the middle of the table for the company, called the
_rejouissance_. Upon this card any or all of the company, except the
dealer, may stake their counter or money, either a limited or
unlimited sum, as may be agreed on, which the dealer is obliged to
answer, by staking a sum equal to the whole put upon it by different
players. He continues dealing, and turning the cards upwards, one by
one, till two of a sort appear: for instance, two aces, two deuces,
&c., which, in order to separate, and that no person may mistake for
single cards, he places on each side of his own card; and as often as
two, three, or the fourth card of a sort comes up, he always places
them, as before, on each side of his own. Any single card the company
have a right to take and put their money upon, unless the dealer's own
card happens to be double, which often occurs by this card being the
same as one of the two cards which the dealer first of all dealt out
on his left-hand. Thus he continues dealing till he brings either
their cards, or his own. As long as his own card remains undrawn he
wins; and whichever card comes up first, loses. If he draw or deal out
the two cards on his left, which are called the hand-cards, before his
own, he is entitled to deal again; the advantage of which is no other
than being exempted from losing when he draws a similar card to his
own, immediately after he has turned up one for himself. This game is
often played more simply without the _rejouissance_ card, giving every
person round the table a card to put his money on. Sometimes it is
played by dealing only two cards, one for the dealer, and another for
the company.--Generally Lansquenet is played with counters instead of
money. With counters at (say) a penny a dozen, it is a lively and
amusing game.
[A LADY IN AMERICA MADE A QUILT IN 55,555 PIECES.]