The San Francisco call., 1896-04-26


sat often at table over the game. and YOU
remember that played very we'll when
we happened TO have exactly the right
crowd, but that was rare. You discovered
my trick on other occasions long before 1t
was generally known, and l played it to
amuse you as we'll as myself whenever we
happened to be in the same game. But
now everybody is aware of it, and as there
is no longer any fun in it for me 1 have
dropped it.''
AS the idea of getting any fun out of
game of whist is so grotesque and whim-
sical 1t should be explained. My friend's
trick was very simple, but it was surpass-
lngly delicious. He would deliberately
make wrong play so as to exasperate his
partner to the verge of madness and send
his opponents into hystericaI fits of de-
light. That was all. When his partner
would pounce upon him with the fury of
a Iunatic and his adversaries would
chuckle and chortle in a delirium of pas
sionate glee he would look SO sorry an d
shame-faced (if he did not make a bold
and often successful bluff in the for m of
wonderfully ingenious argument and spu-
rious citations of wonderful plays made
by immortsls who had new er existed) as
crous.
But that is the great secret-deli iberately
to make faulty play for the purpose of
rousing those gross and inflammable pas
sions associated with the game. Thus to
play upon the wretched weaknesses devel-
oped at the table and to take a malicious
pleasure in the act constituted the one
source of pleasure which my friend derived
from whist.
This interesting matter has been re-
Gently recalled to my memory by an invi-
tation given me by q charming young
woman to attend a small whist party
which she proposed to give. She is an
artist, with the exquisite sensibilities of the
species. her large gray eyes are express
sive and beautiful and her perfectly
trained voice has that quality of melody
and gentleness that sings a song OF peace
in the heart OF a man. Looking straight
into her eyes l made this reply:
by this invitation you have paid poor
compliment to my appreciation OF your
society and of the sex which you adorn.
l cannot understand how man who
knows and likes what is gracious in a
woman can sit at whist able with her,
either as her partner or her opponent,
when he might be so much happier looking
at her and listening to the music of her
voice. Life is too short and the opportu-
nifty too precious for so wanton a waste
stances"
She raised her brows and look curiously
at me. If you should make that speech
personal TO a woman" said she, lit might
be resented as gross tiattery.
sit is impossible to flatter some women"
She shrugged her shoulders and gave
the subject turn. But suppose" she
said, ''that the woman wanted you to play
whist with her; would you be SO ungra-
cious as to prefer your own wishes to hers 2"
E-I,1 - n4a1 l,,A 3 49,
own charms as to prefer game OF whist
to the pleasant exercise OF her graces and
the enjoyment which they give to
others, that is a matter resting between
her conscience and her int diligence. 1t is
not my function to pass Judgment. But
however that question might be decided
depend upon 1t that / will not sit at a
game Of whist with a woman whom like
or man for whom l cherish affection and |
respect, for another and sufficient reason |
that in its disclosures of character it is the |
most pitlless iconoclast in the world"
She looked amazed. "a destroyer of |
idols?" she queried. I'm what way2"
1T unmasks US to each other and makes |
US stand forth in all the pitiful nakedness
of our true selves. a wretched spirit of |
candor controls the game. 1mpatience, |
uncharitableness, greed, anger, self-con- !
ceit-all of these are laid bare III US, and |
not only laid bare, but encouraged as
we'll"
my dear friend" she gasped. this is
horrible that you are saying. Be specific, |
lest we misunderstood each other"
Have you not observed the sneer of |
your partner, the ContemptuouS shrug of |
his shoulder, when you have failed to re- |
spond to his call for trumps? If your
partner is an expert player and you are
not, have you ever seen him exhibit the
least charity or patience for your errors? |
And have you ever failed to notice that
his one delight is TO brow beat, humiliate |
and expose you? Have you not noticed
the glitter of greed in his eyes when cap
turing a close trick, and seen the disgust
ing complacency with which he merci-
lessly takes advantage of an opportunity !
which chance has thrown into his hands? |
His conduct in that case is that of a dog |
eating young chickens alive. The self |
comp1acency with which he takes to him
sell a credit that he may not have earned |
is conducive to nausea in spectator"
How violent you are! Perhaps these
things do occur, but that is part of the |
game; it is evidence of the appreciation |
of rewards coming from intelligent study. |
If an advantage held is thrown away,
the soul is taken out of the game"
"As in the case of burglary" l inter |
iected.
But this is extraordinary. Some of the |
best people l know play whist-bankers, |
ministers Of the Gospel, lawyers, persons |
OF hne intellect and cultured understand |
ing. Do not think me too personal if | |
ask By what special right you arraign all |
these"
''By right of a knowledge of the harm
which this pastime works in their charac-
ters."
land they are ignorant:of this and you
alone are informed?"
''Not that. The worst of it is they are
as well informed as L.
Then how do you account for their
persistence In following it2''
persistence in dipsomania, kleptomania or
any other form of conscious insanity? If |
you can understand that love of whist is a
mental disease you may appreciate my
position"
''You compel me to be personal again.
she rejoined, with winning smile HHow |
has it been given to you alone to know
these things?"
"You have asked the question so sweetly |
that 1 have not the heart to answer it |
otherwise than by saying that it has not |
been given to any two persons in the world |
TO be exactly alike"
Gho Ianohad haerfil1y Il,4 ~ |