Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-04-07

his French school about 1880. Recently
however, q new and most excellent system
Of play has sprung up in this country and
the so-called American leads systematic
ed by N. 3. Trist Of New Orleans have
almost revoiutionized the game. Their
value has been recognized by even the con-
sentative English authorities and to their
invention and to American mechanical de-
vices known as duplicate systems" which
largely eliminate the element of luck, are
due. In great part, the enthusiasm for the
game which is rapidly growing all over
the United States. national association
has been founded and holds annual conven-
tons State associations and minor leagues
have been formed, and whist clubs are
springing into existence every day.
Washington has not only felt the force of
this revival, but has taken a prominent
part In bringing 1t about, and at the pres
ent time this city is the home of some of
the strongest players In the country Mr.
A. u. Sanford Of the Columbia Athletic
CLUB and Capital Bicycle Club was a dele
gate 10 the first national convention, and
was largely instrumental In introducing the
ant-gambling clause in the rules The old
IDEA or whist represents it as being played
In country house after dinner by the older
and more staid members of the family and
guests. and Gladstone voiced this idea when
he advised every one to lay up against COM
irs old age the reading habit and a knowl-
edge OF whist Whist, in America, however az
does everything else in America. brings the
youth to the fore. The conservatism OF old
age even In this intellectual game is no
match Tor the radical innovations and bril-
naht play of youth when the latter are bal
anced by sound judgment and a reasonable
fear Of possibilities.
Capital Club Players,
Inc best whist in Washington. In all nrah-
apility. Is played at the Capital Ricvcle
Club. This organization is one of the old
est and was at one time one of the most
prominent bicycle clubs In the country
AS bicycling gradually became less of a
sport ana more a means to an end the
cIuo lost TO some extent its raison d'etre
and has developed into a pleasant social
cluD, with very pronounced whist tenden-
cIes. us whist victories are too well known
10 readers OF this paper to need extended
notlce 1t has won two national champion-
SHIPS and a great number of match games
against clubs in other cities, with teams
varying in number from four to twenty
four. Its leading players are nearly sn
young men, although few older heads
nave Joined the club, attracted by the ex
ceLent whist. The strongest hands in the
club are pr obably played by Messrs, G. nj
Barrick. w. T. Bingham, j. P. Wooten IT
~ Low. J. NJ. Borden, T. P Borden. Try
ing Williamson. DR.. Lee Harlan Col. John
iaaut ana L. Fogs. although there are at
Ieast dozen others who play nearly If
not quite, as perfect a game
ASIDE from small organizations which
5 5tSg 1nis ,S Gns or two tables and have no
club is the most distinctive whist bodv in
the city. Good whist is played. however IN
nearly all OF the larger clubs, and the MIN
per OF tables occupied nightly is growing
a % 81.
70 De found at the Army and Nayv ctuh
zen Glbbon. Col. Hosmer Payma ster Gsn.
9rar smith. Gen. Card, Gen. Saxton. Cant
wbis. Story ana Or. Heger are well-known
wiIst players, and it is doubtful whether
TINS experienced set Of men could be matcb-
ed Tor strong play in any other c,nh A.
a.. rue, conservatism governs their plav'
but their deductions are very accura+a 80
they make use Of all that is hest An III
whist books III 'he
Some Club Ptnyer.
me cosmos Club has felt the full force
OF the whist revival, and a team tourna-
ment for the club CHAMPIONSHIP "a nou,
going on. Mr.. s. 1. Kimball, chief OF the
Ire saving service, and Gen. A. w. Greedy
are The Nestors of the whist players at this
cluo' and MT. K. II. Thayer. Mr.. c. J.
Bell, Prof. G.. K. Gilbert. Messrs T, n
howard. w. II. Ashmead. L. c. Fletcher.
DR.. ~ L. Bates. w. P. Sutton and Prof
G.. Brown Goode are among the strongest
players.
In the Metropolitan Club whist has not
very strong footing. but the club has
among its members a number of very
strong players. Admiral Franklin. Admiral
walker. Gen Clark. Senator Wolcott, ex-
secretary Boutwell,, Admiral Greer Iudya
Hillyer, Senior Muraga, the Spanisb ninfs
Ter; Capt. Story. Paymaster Bacon and
Messrs Lockett, Barrett and Worthington
are are among the members most devoted to
The Columbia Athletic Club has besn
prominent In whist circles since the bniId-
ing OF the new club house and the first in
bbe a,vn tournament in the city was held
pet"een teams Of twelve, representing this
club and the Capital Bicycle club.
among the prominent players of that tima
were Messrs: A. G. Stafford, L. C. Rines. p.
A: Bowers. Philip Mauro, L. G. Eakin tho
Thompson brothers and c. L. Mar,att
MOST or these men have dropped out of late
and the principal opponents Of the game ar
present are Dr.: VIM, Writ. DR.. L. g. Har-
Semmes. T. A. Callan, ]. c. Wilson II r
Wilson and F. F. Barrett
For many years a strong whist club of
semi-social character held regular meet
Henry Gannett, Prof. G. K Gilbert and
DR.. c. A White were leading members. or
late this club has gone out Of existence. but
serious Whist of a very high order is stu
played in the Park by little coterie com
posed of DR.. John Stephens and Messrs. II
l.. Prince, 8. l. Kimball and W.T.. GrinelI
Other social whist clubs of the same gener-
al character as the old lie Droit Park or
ganization now flourish on Capitol Hill at
Mount Pleasant and at Brookland The
meetings Of the Brookland Whist Club are
In fact, among the most prominent of the
social functions Of that pleasant suburb
Women us Whist Players.
The game of whist does not seen, 70 he
well adapted to the feminine mind The
close reasoning required and the absolute
concentration Of all faculties upon the
game are little beyond the average wo-
man. But just as women are invading all
masculine occupations. so they are taking
part In many masculine games, and whist
Is really becoming a feminine fad in MANY
circles. Miss Clapp, the well-known whist
teacher of New York and Boston, has had
large ladies' classes in Washington for two
seasons past and r. F. Foster the author
OF one of the latest and most excellent whist
manuals, told the writer last summer that
he had ten women pupils to one of the op-
posite sex. The average woman PLAYER
however, particularly one who has been in
structed by professional teacher is apt to
rely too strictly upon book and precept
play and to ignore those instant changes of
plan necessitated by emergencies arising In
the course Of hand. A first-class woman
player Is rarely found but when one has