The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1889-08-07
OBSERVATIONS ON WHIST.
There Are TGy" Ways to Play the Game
According to an Enthusiast.

There Are Two Ways to Play the Game
According to an Enthusiast.
There are two kinds of whist. One is solely
a game for amusement. In this game, all the
cards having been dealt out to the four play
ers and the last one turned up to show the
trump, about all that each player is required
to remember is that the ace is the highest
card and that the deuce is the lowest; that
you must follow suit so long as you have any
cards left of the suit led; that in case you
haven't you can trump or discard from an
other suit, as you think best, and that, in a
general way, it is best to play second hand
low, third hand high, and not to trump your
partners ace. At this game one can laugh
and talk as much as hs pleases, but in the
strict sense this is not whist. The real whist
is a game to be studied The real game is
objected to by some people on the ground
that it is too much like work.
"When we play cards" say they, "we do
it for amusement-to kill time If we want
to study anything we will take up some use
full branch of knowledge If we don't want
to do this alone, why, we will club together,
but the idea of four people sitting down with
out saying a word for hours at time and
at intervals slapping pieces Of pasteboard on
the table and then imagine they are having
good time-bahI"
Now, this sounds very well, but there is a
hitch in it, The point is right here. People
don't play whist for study alone. If they did
there would be very few whist players. They
play it for amusement. That is the way the
game started. But after awhile people be-
gan to perceive that by following certain
rules they could get more enjoyment out of
the game than if they played it at random.
Thus the game advanced to its present state
of perfection. 1t was found that not only
was it a source ofgreat pleasure, but of great
intellectual profit. 1t strengthened the men,
ory; it had the effect Of making the mind
more systematic, and it offered q splendid
field for the study of human nature.
But it must not be imagined that in order
to enjoy the game it is first necessary to at
tain any great proficiency. A few simple
rules are all that are necessary to start with.
After the novice has learned these rules be
will take as much enjoyment out Of the game
as he would get from casino, eucher, Dom
Pedro OF other familiar games. But after he
has practiced for some little time he will per-
ce1ve that whist is good deal more than he
at first thought-that it is various language
spoken by the silent cards, SO TO speak, and
which constantly grows more beautiful and
harmonious as he advances into its mysteries,
so that the enjoyment of the game is ever on
the increase and the player has the great
satisfaction of knowing that when he sta
down to play not only will he have goo'l
time, but also a profitable one. Of course,
be might spend his time to better advantage,
but one must have some mental recreation,
and all that whist players claim for the gains
is that the person who once gives it a fail
trial will never desert it for any other.
Tom LANSING.