The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1885-08-15
THE GENrLEMAN's GAME"

The GENTLEMANNS GAME"
Whist and It's Boston Devotees-The whist
Ciub and Chess-A Problem for Players
to Solve.
Almost any afternoon, in elegant
Apartments, seated at handsome little
tables, with cigars in hand, scores of
the smartest business men in Boston
and the highest "club fellows" knit
their brows over the game of whist.
Tho increasing popularity of the game
Is surprising even its Oldest devotees.
Though there are many social
clubs in this city in which whist is
played, there is really but one that was
organized and now exists with whist as
its chief, though not sole, item of
amusement, the Boston Whist Club.
This club was organized in 1877 in a
modest way, meeting first in private
parlors, and later securing rooms. AZ
ter several removals it now is estab-
lished in q richly-furnished club house
at 20 Boylston street, and now has a
membership of one hundred and fifty
five. The original intent of the club
was to furnish facilities for its members
to perfect themselves in and entertain
themselves with the game of whist, and
this idea is practically carried out now,
though the value of the club from a
social standpoint has been recognized,
also, and its scope of purpose enlarged
accordingly.
A statement has been published re-
Gently to the effect that the member
ship list of this club is so full that can
didates for membership are compelled
to wait some time for admission, and
limiting, also, that it is a matter of some
considerable expense to be q member.
These statements, while not intention
ally false, are certainly altogether mis-
taken. The list of members is very
heavy, but the limit of membership is
not reached; in fact, the club has facili-
ties for an indefinite number of good
whist players, and gladly welcomes
such to its table.
Some idea of the playing done at the
club may be gained by glance at the
records. For the year ending April 4,
1884, the number of rubbers played
was 52,940 From then till April 4,
1885, the record is: Number of rub
bers played, 70,26O Gan increase of
1890; number of players, SO; winning
scores, SO; losing scores, "a; largest
winning score in 2,517 rubbers, plus
1,0o1 points; largest losing score in
playing 2,570 rubbers, minus 1873; larg-
est number of rubbers by one player,
3,529; number of scores plus 100 or
more, 20; number of scores minus 100
or more, 20. The number of rubbers
played in the year ending April z, 1882,
was only SO, 1854, and in the year ending
April z, 1883, 1886.
That the popularity of whist in this
city is wonderfully on the increase is
also proved by the amount of attention
other clubs purely social are giving to
it. Naughty poker, tabooed by the
more select, finds its place readily taken
by whist; private circles sit for hours
about the fascinating table, and the
clubs boast the exploits of their skilled
whist players. The latest work of its
advance that is of practical interest is
the fact that but short time ago sew
eral gentlemen ranking among the best
whist players in the city applied for
membership in the Boston Chess Club
with the intention of securing the in
PRODUCTION of whist as a recognized
element of the club. Though no official
action has been taken, it is under
stood that the club look favorably
upon the proposed plan, as many
of its members are fine whist players,
and this fact is important for the reason
that till recently the club has played
chess exclusively. For some time past
whist playing in the rooms, though not
permitted by the laws of the club, has
been winked at, and the probability
now is that these gentlemen will be
acquitted and the privilege of playing
whist extended them and the members
of the club, till eventually the bylaws
will be reconstructed and the organiza-
ton will declare itself a chess and
whist club. The. organization of a
separate club of whist men who shall
hire room of the chess club at SO
Pemberton Square also has been dis
cussed, but it seems doubtful if the
chess club will vote that this shall be
done, as they think the former plan
more conducive to harmony. They
are ready to welcome whist, but will
insist that their present ideas as to
how it should be played must be carried
out.
Not only in Boston, but in other
cities is whist gaining a substantial
foothold. In Portland, Me-, in the
Cumberland Club, started about two
years ago, is developing many fine
players. New Orleans has 'iwhist,
chess and checker" club that is an
ideal in some respects. California
even is sending to Boston for informa-
ton on whist, and all over the country
a decided interest in the game is show
ing itself. In the Boston Whist Club,
the English club game of five points
with honors is played solely.-Boston
Globe.
"A city-bred young man. just out OF
college, hired out to a Vermont farmer
| to "brace I'm his constitution a IittIa ;,