The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1896-05-06
THE SOCIABLE GAME.
BOSTON socIETY's RADICAL iNNovA-
TiONS At POKER.

Decks of Sixty Cards and "Ringdoodles"
Among the New Features sympathy
For Losers and Luncheon with "a Wee
Nip" For AIl-The Little Kitty.
Could the late Minister Schenck, who
gave to the world during his diplomatic
life treatise ON Understanding Ameri-
can game, attend 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 it 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 is
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 frequently remarked
by this one and that one that they have
not come out for the purpose of making
anything-only to have social time.
This statement appears somewhat incon-
gruous when placed side by side with
the look Of satisfaction that is notice
able when 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 belief that they
are real generous. But q careful observ-
or will notice as the game progresses
that the unlucky 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 light repast, consisting Of
sardines, crackers, cheese and sweet
meats. Bottled beer is the favorite bev
erage, but there are instances on record
where something stronger has been in
dulged in. A great many society people
of both sexes drink rum punch, lemon
The usual time devoted to refresh
ments is / 3 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
Schenck, are novel and numerous, and
while they are readily accepted by nine
tenths of those who play just for the
fun of the thing, 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 evoluted
game is when the so 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 a
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 q
redhot stove. To in measure meet
these exigencies IL and 12 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 "ringdoo-
de. J." Where the word originated is a
mystery fully as deep as the practice 1t
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 har i 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 "a ringdoo-
die, but it comes easier to some players
to pay on the installment plan.
1t has now become the custom to
make a discount of one red chip for ev-