Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1881-03-16
COMMERCE"
A Card Game TO Relieve the En-
nut Of Northern Society
People.

y va w.
People.
So often has the game Of commerce
been referred to in the social notes
from eastern cities, that several in
uuiries have been received asking how
to play the game, and it seems not in
appropriate to record, in the society
columns, a description of one of tho
most pleasant amusements that have
entertained the fashionables of New
York, Washington, Philadelphia and
Chicago during the long winter even
ings. AS there are comparatively few
games which can be played by odd or
even numbers of people, commerce
has sprung into favor just at the mo-
ment when everyone is tired of Dom
Pedro" "rounce,' pope Joan" and
the few other round games familiar to
Americans.
Any number Of persons may join in
the game, from four to fourteen or
more, and when a large party desires
to play at the same table two packs Of
cards may be used, which gives each
player the chance Of holding five of a
kind, a hand literally better han the
best, and it gives the game to the
holder, according to the denomina-
ton of the cards. Five cards are
dealt to each player and FIVE on the
table for stock which must be
turned face up, and from it each in
turn, beginning with the player on
the left Of the dealer, may draw one
or more cards or exchange all OF his
cards for the five on the table, his
original hand becoming the stock"
from which the next draws, and so on
until one obtains a hand with which
he is content, when he raps on the
table, or more elegantly cries out,
MY ship sails" The Others may con.
tinue to draw around to him who is
ready to start on his commercial voy-
age, when the hands are all laid upon
the table and compared. The hands
are drawn with the same object and
their relative value is in the same
order as in the game of poker, as fol-
lows:
l. "a sequence flush" is a sequence
Of five cards, and all the same suit.
2. "Fours" are four of the FIVE
cards of the same denomination.
3. A full" is a hand consisting of
three cards of the same denomination
and a pair of another denomination.
4. A flush" is all FIVE cards of the
same suit.
g.. A sequence is all five cards
not of the same suit but in sequence.
6. "Threes" are three cards of the
same denomination, but the other two
of different denomination from each
Z. Two pairs.
s. One pair.
When the hands are shown, all
holding below a certain value-whieh
is decided by the players at the start
are dropped from the game and at
the next deal receive no cards, but
make every effort to induce those
holding cards speak to them, which
IS forbidden, and if they do so they
iorfeit their hand, which is taken by
him who has forced a reply, and 9TH
efforts are made by the outs to
get in, till some player cries My ship
when all who wish draw in turn
lround to him the cards are all laid
again and all NAV sneak without
ear Of forfeit. 1
In this way the game continues, ;
much laughter at the unsuc-
,essful attempts to keep silent, until on {
y two players are left in the game, all {
he rest of the party impOrtuning
hem with all sorts Of questions, hop I
ng at the last moment to get one syl- !
able in response, which would be !
te gain the hand; and when /
he merchant is ready the comparison l
axes place, and the highest hand wins /
he prize, which is carefully conceal I
ID until it is won. A pretty gift may
20 offered, such as a book, a painting,
ONE article of bric;a-brac, or a bon ,
.,onnier, and some ladies wishing to !
make the evening memorable to all, do !
lot distribute the prizes till the close :
# the evening, when a pretty souvenir :
s presented to each guest, whether :
hey have won a game Tor not. Very
,retty for this purpose are the satin
ablets much used for menu cards, on {
can be printed some novel de. $
ign With the date and residence of a
he giver, and the name of the recipi :
nf j