Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1896-01-18
THE SOCIABl.E GAME.
BOSTON soclETy's RADICAL lNNovA-
TONS AT Pokgs.

AOQ1Q the late minister EcnenCk, VINO
gave TO the world during his diplomatic
life treatise ON the fascinating Ameri-
can game. attend modern poker party
be would certainly declare that the
world has moved backward, IN one re-
spect AT least.
Very few people outside certain cir
cles IF 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 a session
at his or her house nearly every night
in the week
The usual hour for beginning play is
5 o'clock, and il is customary Tor the
ladies 20 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 il So small bong that
the conscientious shall not feel chat they
are gambling. Ii 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-
gluous when placed side hy 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 I'd
upon TO interview the bank for the nth
on 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 inn
press the others with a belief that they
are real generous But a careful observ-
er 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 NlACI NuANn AAlC AAoA1Ne t%nAr hSA
guests to light repast, consisting Of
sardines, crackers, cheese and sweet
meats. Bottled beer is the favoTite 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
AIDE dashed with whisky and plain gin.
The usual time devoted to refresh
ments is 5 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 60 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 il. 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 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 81. Those
who have been accustomed 10 play at the
clubs, where the game still retains I'll
its Schenckian purity, have chill
when they find these obtrusIye cards are
to confront them.
Another innovation is the "ringdOo-
de- Where the word originated is a
mystery fully as deep as the practice ii
designates.
A ringdoodle is declared when hand
has been called and fours are shown.
Then follows a 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
a long dissertation on how the game was
once played. OF course round of jack
pots would be equivalent TO ringdoo-
die, but it comes easier to some players
to 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 off, yet it all comes back to
the players just before the wind up for
the evening.
When tine has crept on toward mid
night, the keeper of the kitty announces
that round Of consolation jacks will
be played. The chips are divided into a
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. II
Inck runs badly for player a new pack
is demanded, but it is rarely fortune
changes her plans. She names the unfor-
tunate ones before the game starts, and