The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1885-03-06
PROGRESSIVE EUCHRE.
The Latest Popular Craze and its Advsn-
tages as Social Game. 80.

The Latest Popular Craze and It's Advan-
tages as Social Game. fa
The Americans are an amusement
loving people, but 1t has often been
questioned whether they are always
judicious In their selections Of methods
for recreation. All other nationalities
have their time-honored sports which
are % popular to-day % they were q
century ago, but In America We are
opposed to old things and always on
the lookout for something new and
original. We take up new games and
amusements and make them the rage
for O season, only to find that they are
not satisfying, and we are compelled TO
90 back to the old sports Of our fore
fathers, against which we have hurled
ell the anathemas that could be found
In the English tongue by either the
moralists or the aesthetics, who find
them terribly wicked or stupidity ridic-
ulous and old fogyish.
The latest craze which has struck
society people Is progressive euchre.
Whenever q circle OF half o dozen
quartets can be brought together there
will center progressive etiehre party,
and the men who have found the sim
pie old game OF euchre too tame for
any but children. and the ladies who
did not care for card games anyway,
because they are so old, are all per-
fectly charmed with the new game,
which furnishes such delightful recre-
alton from the cares Of the Office and
household. II the object 10 to drive
cares of the day from the mind, pro-
gressiye euchre must be q grand sue
cess, for certainly one engaged in the
game can give little thought to any
thing else. A those who have entered
the lists to engage in mortal combat
for the pleasure Of king in the olden
time, waited for the sound of the
trumpet that would signal them to the
strife, so the euchre-players wait with
nervous impotence for the tap. of the
bell that viii permit them TO shuttle the
cards and begin three-hours' strug-
gle for golden stars that decorate the
victor Of every game played at the
head table. When the game il in full
progress the eager expectancy written
upon each face reminds one Of the
character pictures to be found on
Change when the markets are shaky
and fortunes are being made in one
minute and melt away in the next, or
they might be likened to the faces seen
grouped around the tables in the gam
ing houses where bank cashiers have
staked the depositors' money with the
hope Of winning fortune for himself.
And as the game proceeds, and the
records Of points made and lost ut
each table stare the players in the face,
while they wait for the sound of the
bell that will call the successful to
higher places, the expressions would
give suggestions to an artist about to
paint o picture of the last day when
the people will be gathered together
waiting for tho sound of the trumpet
of Gabriel. Each player Is determined
to be among the elect and tho cards
fall upon the table like snowfiakes and
arc whirled into little drifts at this or
that side % the jack, king, or an ace
dictates, with such rapidity Is to make
the uninitiated stare In blank amaze.
ment.
To the man who has been in a men
tai fever at his Office all day and can
not drive his business from his mind.
or to the mother who has worried over
her children and wants to forget them
for time, progressive euchre comes
as. counter irritant and will certainly
effect cure. But to the man who
goes home with tired brain seeking
rest II brings the tolls Of another day
without the intervening hours of sleep.
and after another strain sends him to
his couch to toss about the remainder
of the night, cursing the bad luck that
the red stars which decorate his record
and mark the number OF defeats at the
last table, making his chances for win
ming the "booby prize" redoubled
certainty. And that bell keeps ring
ing in his ears like a knell of departed
hopes aud disappointed aspirations.
This Is progressive euchrs as recre-
alton.
It's advantages as social game are
almost as great and add to the firm
hold II has upon popular favor. IL the
players are strangers they are intro
duced to the partners which chance
ktfus tuCui III Custius "tS AOi to0avs
and position. and those to whom bad
luck at play assigns At the foot of the
list at each defeat, must remain to
them as mysterious doubles Of them
selves who shall be addressed as my
partner" until the game and the worry
are over, at midnight, and run the risk
Of somebody still being possessed OF
mental equilibrium enough to make the
introductions that will enable them to
recognize each other In the future.
Surely with such advantages in the
way Of recreation and sociability there
is great field for progressive euchre,
and II Is not at oil surprising that its
popularity has developed into craze
In the very outset Of its career. And
no one will doubt that the love OF Or
iginality among Americans has at last
been productive Of q genius in the so
cial realm worthy to inscribe his name
BY the side Of Kelley, of motor fame.
Americans love that which is novel.
and at last they have found 9 recreation
from work that does honor to their
judgment.
How Meals are Served In New Or
IAana.