Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1884-05-08
Statesmen at Whist.

| suppose the greatest whist quartet
in Washington for many years was
that made up of Garfield, Frye, Kan
dali, and '.Alec'' Stephens. The house
committee on rules, of which they were
mem bers, met at Long Branch in the
summer of 1878. They began playing
there, Frye and Stephens against Gar
field and Randall Stephens played
wonderful game Bolstered up with
pillows in his chair he would sit by the
hour without becoming wearied. At
ter the first two or three turns he had
an unfailing power of telling where
the cards were held. de hated to have
poor partner, for it disturbed his cal
culations, but with Frye he was always
content and serene. Frye is a strong,
impulsive player. When winning, his
face beams like child's, but once be-
hind and it becomes serious affair
Then he is uneasy and restless until
few lucky deals put him ahead again.
Stephens and Frye were in excellent
contrast, for the former never appar-
emily took the slightest interest, save
as his eyes lighted up occasionally at L
remarkably strong suit. Garfield
never concealed anything. His plays
were always 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 hap
pen again. Randall, in whist, as
everywhere else, is cold and caIculat-
ing: He does not play scientific
game, but welI-sustained one, and is
a safe partner. You can see that the
four are pretty we'll balanced. But
Frye and Stephens won. FRYE was
fortunate and Stephens skillful. Day
after day they kept ahead. Afterward,
when the four returned TO Washington,
the games were kept up, Twice u
week regularly the others would 90
down TO Stephens Old-fashiOned parlor
ut the National hotel, aud there play
exactly up to midnight. OF course,
they had varying fortune but in the
long run the first winners came out
ahead. The morning afterward the
members would always ask them, if
they appeared at the capitol, how the
games of the night before resulted.
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 intention of resuming af-
ter he was once fairly seated in the
white house. But he was shot so soon
that the plan came to nothing. Ste
phens wanted to keep on and to fill
Garield'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, Miller, Al
drich, and others, made up a club and
played often, but it is not continued.
Sherman is one of the best players in
the senate. Ben. Harrison is reputed
to be, bur | never heard of his playing.
Senator Bayard likes to take q hand,
but he has not the book knowledge
that some of his brother senators
boast of. But the critical scientists on
this subject are not so numerous as
they were 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 bandana on the table to dry
his face with, he was alternately in the
highest state of exultatiOn and despair.
At times Nine. Thurman would find it
necessary to take q seat by his side
with her quiet Don't grow excited,
Allen" to keep her husband in his
chair - Washington Cor. Troy Times