National Republican. (Washington City (D.C.)) 1872-1888, 1874-04-15
IatiuuaI gepnblifatr.
SH4RspF4PEgc5Nr VEG

Primero-a game Of the same family Is piquet
trump or ruff, the parent Of Whist-and gleek-
says q writer In BelsraVfG, were the card gamee
enieny played in England during the age Of
onakspeare. But In his youth the playing Of
oslus, except at Christmas, was confined to the
upper classes Of society. John Haywood the
pIsrsmmatist Of Shakspears's age, was accus-
lSmso, according TO Camden to say that men
P,sSsu u oardes at Christmasse, and than aIpnose
an, men and boyes."' 1t Is quite evident that
some such simple, foolish game as "a ooddxr a.
Deggar my neighbor" would be the highest AZ
.ulnao'e ngnt 70 those who played cards but AZ
Chnstmasse" For this reason and for no natural
dsinciination to games ofchance, We must ascrJb.,
Shakspeares ignorance Of cards For thess are .
tnings tnat, not acquired young men rarely
esfe W SECURE In after lfe- Had he lived in our
days, Shakespeare would have played whist.
our SHAKESPEARE Is no dicer either He mentIons
the pastime bore and there, but brings In mona or
the slang expressions familiar to dramatists Of =
similar period Dlcing and card playing indead +.
came not to full food in England tin tho STUART
came in, and with them q general change Of man
ners and modes Of feeling. Shakespeare only saw
the opening scenes OF this new drama Of natural
iie We ind no indications that Shakespeare was
player at tables-our backgammon or draughts,
We are pretty certain that he was not chess-
payer. The sole reference we can find to chess
IN the tempest" act 8, scene L Ferdinand
peru Praying At chess. Miranda SAYS: "SWeet
lord, you play me false" Ferdinand replIes.
mo, my dearest love, would not for the world
No chess-player would have put into the months
OF other players such phrases EsPIayipe falsa,.
at chess has ever been unknown; and a Urtter
conversant with the game would have had no
dificulty in finding some pleasant technical al
fusion for the lovers
Shakespeare seems to have known something or
tennis, but does not admire the game, which Was
somen nat OF o modern French importation. The
travelled couriers are called upon to put away
''The faith they have In tennis and tall stock
ings," ("Henry WILL" act 1, scene a. &Thers
falling out at tennis" (''Hamlet," act scene ID
The old ornament Of his cheek hath already
stuffed tennis balls" ('tMuch ADO" act 8, scene
~ He goes somewhat deeply into the technical
terms Of the game in his Henry w." but he il
rather driven to that by the Evolutionary account
Of Hsnry's invasion. The dauphin sends the
young king, in answer to his claim to certain
dukedoms of France, . ton Of treasure, which
turns out to be-tennis balls. Henry rejoins:
When we have matched our r1ckets to these balls,
Shall Strike his atieT iStS t R Sszsrd
Tell him he hath made match with such wran-
That an the courts of France will be dIsturb'd
Football we should fancy to be thorough game
for Shakespeare. A man who has brains hardly
cares to be kicked and knocked down for nothing.
We have traced one allusion to the game in king
Lear" Kent, tripping up the heels Of Oswald,
cries, "Nor tripped neither, you base football
player" That he was practiced sportsman our
knowledge Of the busy engrossing nature OF his
career forbids Us to believe but he had keen
appreciation of the pleasures of the chase Wit
ness these lines in the midsummer Nights
Dream" haekneyed, and yet ever fresh, where he
describes those hounds of Sparta:
''Slow in pursuit, but match In mouth like bella
Each under each. A cry more tuneabIe
Was never holla'd TO, nor cheered with horn"