Pike County press. (Milford, Pa.) 1895-1925, 1895-11-01
THE SOCTABLE GAME.
BOsTON SOClETY's RADICAL iNNOVA-
TlONS At POKER.

DECKS Of Sixty Cards and "Eingdoodies"
Among the New Features sympathy
For Losers and Luncheon with a. wee
Nip" For AIl-The Little Kitty.
Could the late Minister Schcnck, 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-
ippct Mt least.
Very few people outside certain cir
ties Of the Back Bay have any conception
Of the extent to which poker playing is
carried i'll that section. The whole To-
calty is divided into "scts, aud it is
customary for each one TO hold session
at his or her house nearly every night
in the week
Tho usual hour for beginning play is
5 o'clock, and il 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 shnllnot feel that they
are gambling. 1t is frequently remarked
by this one and that one that they have
not come out for the purpose of making
anvthiug-only to have social time.
This statement appears somewhat incm
Wuuus when placed side ly 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 ii is believed by the
ones who peddle it ont that it will i'm
press the others with belief that they
are real generous But Il careful observ-
er will notice as the game progresses
that the nulucky 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 favorite bev-
erape, but there are instances ON record
/ where something stronger has been in.
dulgcd in. 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
mems is 10 minutes, us 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
Schcuck, are novel and numerous, and
wbilo tbey are readilynccepted by nine
tenths Of those who play just for the
fun Cf the In ng yet the ether tenth is
unalterably opposed to them, but, act
ing in accordance with the principle
thar the majority should rule, all efforts
to have toe game rid Of them have been
ahortive.
The most pain that tho small minor
ity experiences in playing the evoluted
game is when tho 60 card decks are
brought in. 1t frequently happens that
seven and eight players are present at n
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 q
] ,,,,,,r.tff5,,,
diScmds have been robbed Of everything
of value, and that to draw from them is
equivalent to throwing the chips into u
redhCt stove. To in measure meet
these eXigencies II and ~ spot cards
have been added, making the pack con
sist Of 60 cards instead of 52. Thosy
who have been accustomed to play at th)
clubs, where the game still retains all
its Schenckian purity, have chill!
when they find these obtruslve cards arc
to confront them.
Another innovation is the "ringdoc
die " Where the word originated is a
my tory fully as deep as the practice it
des gIates.
: ringdoodle is declared when hand
has been called and fours are shown
Then follows round of jack pots,
the Ioldor Of the winning hand starting
thea. Blue chips are put up to CORE
spord 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 o? one of these happens to be an op-
poucut Of the ringdoodle, he goes of on
a long dissertation on how the game was
once played OF course 4 round of jack
pots would he equivalent 10 Il ringdou-
die, but il comes easier TO some players
to pay on the installment plan.
It has gow become the custom to
make a discount Of one red chip for ev-
cry 5ack pct. Although this is a pretty
heavy rake of, yet it all comes back t0
the players just before the wind up for
the ey1Eng.
When time has crept on toward mid
night, the keeper Of the kitty announces
that a round OF consolation jacks will
De played. The chips are divided into a
number Of piles corresponding with the
number Of players, and the extras arc
placed in the center of the table with
the individual contributions
Whel society plays poker, there is al
ways a big supply Of cards on hand. II
luck runs badly for player new pack
is demanded, but it is rarely fortune
change her plans She names the unfor-
tuuate ones before the game starts, and
no form Of device viii bring about an
alteration in her programme. Boston
Herald.
a strenuous souI hates cheap success