The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-03-29

Characteristics of Famous Men Who Indulge
in the Game.

in the Game.
Washington Letter.
/ suppose the greatest whist quartet in Wash
ington for many years was that made up OF Gar
field Frye, Randall, and Alec Stephens. The
! House committee rules, of which they were
members, met at Long Branch in the summer Of
1873 They began playing there, Frye and
Stephens against Garfield and Randall.
Stephens played a wonderful game. Bolstered
up with pillows in his chair he would sit by the
hour without becoming wearied. After the first
two or three turns he had an unfailing power of
telling where the cards were held lie hated to
have poor partner, for it disturbed his caleula-
tons, but with Frye he was always content and
serene. Frye IS Il strong. nnpulslVe
player. When winning, his face beams
like a child's, but once behind and it becomes
a serious affair. Then he is uneasy and rest
less until few lucky deals put him ahead
again. Stephens and Frye We're in excellent con
trast, Tor the former never apparently took the
slightest interest, as his eyes lighted up oc
casionaly at remarkably strong suit Garfield
never concealed anything. His plays were al
ways open. Only once did he ever try leading
from sneak The look that met him from
Stephens was such that it was never known to
happen again. Randall. in whist as everywhere
else, is cold and calculating. He does not play
scientific game, but well sustained one. and Is
a safe partner You can see that the four are
pretty well balanced. But Frye and Stephens
won. Frye was fortunate and Stephens slullful.
Day after day they kept ahead. Afterwards,
when the four returned to Washington. the
games Kept up. Twice week regularly
the others would go down to Stephenss old fash
toned parlor at the National Hotel and there
play exactly up to midnight. OF course, they
had varying fortunes, but in the longsrun the
first winners came out ahead. The morning
atterward members would always ask
them as they appeared at the Capitol how
the games of the night before re
suited. Every winter, up to the time Garfield
was nominated for the presidency the four kept
at it, but then it was broken off, with the inten-
,+asl
in the White House. But he was shot so soon
that the plan came to nothing stephens wanted
to keep and to fill Garfeld's place Harry
Smith, the journal clerk of the House, was
taken. Very soon afterward Stephens was
elected Governor of Georgia. and went away,
never to come back. With his departure the
series dropped he and Frye still ahead. Last
winter several senators, including Messrs Hoar,
Frye. Sherman Morrill,, Warner Mills Aldrich
and Others, made up club and played often,
but 1t is not continued Sherman is one of the
best players in the Senate Ben Harrison Is re
puted to be- but L never heard of his playing.
Senator Bayard likes to take hand, but he
has not the book knowledge that some of his
brother senator's boast of. But the critical
scientists on this subject are not so nu-
merous as they in the Senate
few years ago, when half the members
were noted hands. No man ever
loved the game more than old Judge Thurman.
With his old red bandanna ON the table to dry
his face with, he was alternately i'll the highest
state of eXultation and despair At times Nine.
Thurman would find it necessary to take d seat
by his side with her quiet Don't grow excited.
Allan to keep her husband in his chair. One
night the Judge was playing at an evening party,
having most charming young lady for part
ner The game waxed fast and furious. A throng
Of idlers were looking on as the deciding game
was being played Both sides had six points, and
needed but one to go out. At the critical mo-
ment the young lady made misplay, which lost
the game. 1t was evident soon as the card
reached the table Unable to control himself,
the Judge brought his hand down the table
with crash that stopped further proceedings,
and blurted out, My G-d!7 in way that
made the poor girl tremble To him it was
a proclamation that any one should play whist
badly.