The Somerset reporter., 1895-11-07
THE SOCIABLE GAME.
BOSTON sOclETY's RADICAL fNNOVA-
TlONS AT POKER.

Could the late Minister Schenck, who
gave to the world during his diplomatic
| life treatise on the fascinating Ameri-
can game, attend a modern poker party
he would certainly declare that the
world has moved backward, in one re
spect at least.
Very few people outside certain cir
cles of the Back Bay have any conception
of the extent to which poker playing is
carried in that section. The whole To-
cality is divided into "sets, and il is
customary for each one to hold session
at his or her house nearly every night
in the week.
The usual hour for beginning play if
8 O'Clock, and it is customary for the
ladies to dress for the occasion, while
the gentlemen not infrequently array
themselves in full evening costume.
The standard limit is 10 cents, one
reason for making it so small being that
the conscientious shall not feel that they
are gambling 1t is frequent ly remarked
by this one and that one that they have
not come out for the purpose Of making
anything-only to have a social time
This statement appears somewhat incon
gruous when placed side 10y side with
the look Of satisfaction that Is notice
able when a good sized jackpot is tax
en- in.
Another feature of society poker is
the great amount Of sympathy expressed
for the players when the cards are run
ming badly and they have been called
upon to interview the bank for the fifth
or sixth time. The heaviest dealers in
sympathy are those who have the largest
stack of chips before them. 1t does not
cost anything, and it is believed by the
ones who peddle it out that it will i'm
press the others with a belief that they
are real generous But careful obsery-
er Will notice as the game progresses
that the unlueky one is always raised
by those who believe they have the best
hands, Notwithstanding the size Of their
stacks.
This is called poker table sympathy
and is as shallow and meaningless as
much of the talk heard among society
people.
Generally there are three hours of
play after which the hostess asks her
guests to a light repast, consisting Of
sardines crackers, cheese and sweet
meats. Bottled beer is the fayorite bev-
erage, but there are instances on record
where something stronger has been i'll
dulged i'll. A great many society people
of both sexes drink rum punch, lemon
ade dashed with whisky and plain gin.
The usual time devoted to refresh
ments is IS minutes, AS all are anxious
to get at the cards again.
Now the peculiar features of society
poker, which are contrary to the for
mula' presented by the lamented
Schenek are novel and numerous, and
while they are readily accepted by nine
tenths of those who play just for the
fun of the In nR yet the other tenth is
unalterably opposed to them, but, act
ing in accordance with the principle
that the majority should rule, all efforts
to have the game rid of them have been
abortive
The most pain that the small minor
ity experiences in playing the eyoluted
game is when the go card decks are
brought in. 1t frequently happens that
seven and eight players are present at a
sitting and when everybody stays"
the cards fall short, which necessitates
gathering up the dead wood and fill
ing out the hands from it. There is
we'll grounded superstition that these
discards have been robbed of everything
of value, and that to draw from them is
equivalent to throwing the chips into a
redhot stove. To in measure meet
these exigencies II and IL spot cards
have been added making the pack con
sist Of 60 cards instead of 52. Those
who have been accustomed to play at the
clubs, where the game still retains all
its Schenckian purity, have chill
when they find these obtruslve cards are
to confront them.
Another innovation is the "riugdoo-
die. " Where the word originated is a
mystery fully as deep as the practice it
designates.
A ringdoodle is declared when hand
has been called and fours are shown
Then follows round of jack pots,
the holder Of the winning hand starting
them. Blue chips are put up TO CORE
spond with the number of players. OF
course this makes heavy drain on the
stacks which have been lowered through
the evening by i'll luck, and if the own
er Of one of these happens to be an OPP
ponent of the ringdoodle, he goes off on
long dissertation on how the game was
once played OF course round of jack
pots would be equivalent to rlngdoo-
die, but 1t comes easier TO some players
b. pay ON the installment plan.
1t has now become the custom to
make discount Of one red chip for ev-
cry jack pot Although this is pretty
heavy rake of, yet it all comes back to
the players just before the wind up for
the evening.
When time has crept on toward mid
night, the keeper Of the kitty announces
that a round of consolation jacks viii
be played The chips are divided into
number of piles corresponding with the
number of players, and the extras are
placed in the center Of the table with
the individual contributions
When society plays poker, there is al
ways big supply Of cards ON hand. If
luck runs badly for player a new pack
is demanded. but il Is rarely fortune
changes her plans She names the uufor
tunute oneS uctore the game starts, and
no form of device viii bring about AN
alteration IN her programme. Boston
Herald