The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1892-12-08
Belfast Plays Living Whist.

FROM EVERY STANDPOINT GREAT Sue
CESS. DELIGHTFUL MUSIC, DAINTY cos
TUNES AND BRILLIANT SPECTACLE.
1t was brilliant success. That is what
every one says who witnessed the presenta-
ton of Living Whist at the Belfast Opera
House last Tuesday evening. We are glad
to record this verdict for there had been ap-
prehensions that the result might not prove
satisfactory. 1t was said Belfast was too
small place to play game of this kind,
and even those who had hand in it felt
little dubious at times. This is not to be
wondered at. The labor involved in the un-
dertaking was greater than the outsider can
realize, the expense is heavy, and only
liberal patronage could avert pecuniary loss.
But fortune proverbially favors the brave
and the fair-the Belfast Band has vet to
make failure of any of it's under
takings, and unsteady and otherwise it
scored another success Tuesday evening.
The band concert of four numbers proceeding
Living Whist opened with the Penobscot
March, composed by Mr. r. p. Chase, of
Belfast, a member of the band, and given
for the tirst time in public that evening. 1t
is a spirited and pleasing composition. In
this and the other pieces that followed the
band delighted its hearers and added to its
laurels. The concert over, all awaited with
eagerness the beginning of the game Soon
to an inspiring march by the band the
pack of fifty-two ladies and gentlemen,
led by. the four "players," Messrs. John H
Quimby, Albert G. Burgess, William c. Mar
oh Or TobnSon entered the
hall from the left of the stage. The cards
We're formed in their suits, and the tableau
presented was fine one. The Kings, Queens
and Jacks were in costume, perfectly repro
duced from the whist pack, while the other
ladies and gentlemen We're in evening dress,
the ladies having on the fronts of their
dresses the diamonds, clubs etc, to denote
their rank, and the gentlemen the same on
sashes worn over the right shoulder. Aside
from royalty and the attendant Jacks, who
skilfully attended to the trains of the Queens,
the costumes worn by the lady participants
were many of them elaborate ,an,. all tasteful.
We doubt if ever before tfty-two more per-
fectly appointed dancers, ladies and gentle
men, had stepped to music on the floor of the
DelldSl OIltId w no w DIS uIlt Mig
liest King, the queenliest Queen, the most
sprightly Jack. we shall leave for others to
say: nor venture to name the belle of the
evening, the nimblest or most graceful
dancer. Suffice it to say that all acquitted
themselves admirably; that there not a
false note struck by the band or by those
upon the floor. 1t was refined and delight
full entertainment, charming alike to the
eye and the ear.
But to resume the thread, somewhat tang
led it will be observed of what is necessarily
SHORT story. We left the cards. i'll suit on
the floor Facing each other in double rank
up and down the hall, they bow, move for
ward are shutfied and cut. Then. again in
line four abreast, the cards are passed around
to the players stationed in the four corners
of the hall. Every movement is TO music
The hands We're substantially as given last
week, and need not be reproduced Then
tile play began. The ''carls We're played
DIS in regular game, and there was a spec
lal dance and music for each trick. and with
the varied costumes the interest of the spec
tators was kept up. AS the merits of Living
Whist revealed themselves to those who
witnessed it for the first time every trick was
encored. and the Jacks We're left breath ess
on their second round. In striking con-
trast to their rollicking ways was the
stately bearing of the Kings and Queens,
who never for a moment lost their
stately and dignitied bearing. The suuelch-
ing of the Jack of Diamonds in the odd
trick by the King of Diamonds was one
OF the funniest scenes of the evening. The
last card played, the la t trick taken, the
four players advance to the centre of the
floor, bow low to each other, bow low to the
audience, and then taking position in front
of the seven tricks. they march down the
hall, the six other tricks joining tile process
sion as it reaches their station on the right
And LAS they entered, ''players and "pack-
retire from sight; and everybody expresses
his or ler satisfaction with the entertain
lnent.
Ice cream and cake We're now served fol
lowed by a promenade concert and dancing.
AS many We're unable to secure seats for
Tuesday evening it was decided to repeat
the entertainment this, Thursday, evening
and the sale of seats began yesterday at Kill
gore & Wilson's. Prices have been reduced.
and we advise all who have never seen Liv-
ing Whist to avail themselves of this oppor-
tunity. See the advertisement for further
particulars.
The Sargent Granite Company.