The Saline County journal. [volume] (Salina, Kan.) 1871-1893, 1884-05-08
sTkTEsnEN IA 80.
TIE erssg QusFisl Compesed of0uraold.
Randall FDs and ''Aiso" Stephens.


Tie Great QusFisi Composed of0uraoid,
Randall FBs end 'iAieo" Stephens.
H.hiuslua Or. Trsl Times
suppose thegreatett whist quartet
10 Washington for many years was
that made up Of Garfield, Frye, Ran
GALL and ALEC" Stephens. The
House COMMITTEES on Rules, Of which
lhey were members, met AZ Long
bfA1ca in ne SKINNER Of 1875. They
began playing there, Frye and Ste
stephens played q wonderful game.
BOlstered up with pillows In his chair
he would sit By the hour without be-
coming wearied. Amer the firsf two
or three turns be had an 'unaellinR
power Of telling where TIE cards
were held. he hated 20 have q poor
partner. for Il disturbed his caleula-
lions but With Frye hs We always
content a8d serene. Five Is 4 strong
impulsive player. When winning
bis face beams like q cbiIdis. but
once behind and Il becomes q serious
affair. Then he IL uneasy and rest
less until few lucky deals puts him
ahead again. Stephens and FRYE
were IN excellent contrast, for the
former never Apparently took the
slightest Interest, save az bis eyes
lighted up occasionally Rt g remarka-
bly, strong suit Garfield never con-
cealed anything. His plays were al
ways open. Only once did he ever
try 10 lead a sneak The look that
met him from Stephens was such that
u was never known 70 happen again. !
Randall, in whist, Is everywhere else,
Is cold and calculating. He does rot /
play 4 scientific game, bot q Well-sus. |
tanned one, aud is q safe partner. |
You can see that the four are pretty |
well balanced. But Frye and Ste /
phens won Frye was fortunate and |
Stephens skillful Day after day they |
kept ahead AfterWard, when the |
four returned 10 Washington, the /
games We're kept up. Twice q week ]
regularly, the others would 20 down 4
90 Stephens oid-fashi0ned paFl0r ~ 4
the National hotel, and there play /
exactly up % mid-night. or 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 II |
they appeared at the capitol how the /
games OF the night before resulted.
EveTy winter ap 90 the time Garfield
was nominated for the Presidency the /
four kept az IL, but then Il was broken
on, with the intention Of resuminF
after he was once faiTiy seated IN the
White House. But be vas shot 90
soon that the plan came % nothing.
stephens wanted TO keep on and to
I'LL Gariield's place. Harry Smith,
the journal clerk Of the House, was
taken. Very soon aflerWard Stephens
was elected Governor Of Georgia, and
went away, never 10 come back.
Withhis departure the series dropped,
he and Frye still ahead. Last Win
ter several senators, including Messrs
HOar, Frye, Sherman, Morrill,, Warn
eF, Miller, Aldrich, and Others made
up g club and played often, but Il Il
not continued. Sherman r. one of
the best players 10 the sensie. Ben
Harrison IL reputed to be, but ] never
heard Of his playing, Senator Bay
ard likes TO take q hand, but he has
not the book ofknoWledge that some
OF his brother Senators boast Of. But
the critical scientists on this subject
are not 80 numerous as they were IN
the Senate OF 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 bandaua on the table 10 dry /
his iace with be WaB alternately Ii
the highest state Of eXultation and de.
spaiT. AT times Mime. Thurman 6
would find Il necessary to take a seat
by bis side with Der quiet Don't
grow excited, Allen,n to keen her :
husband In his chair.