Omaha daily bee., 1897-12-27

the rules iald down by the, to them ancient
authorities. twhie allowing for themselves
and their following the privilege OF resort
ing to long Ait play whenever they find that
their short suiting will not work. In nearly
all OF the hsnfs they publish the gains are
made more by poor playing on the part OF
their adversary than from merit OF the syS-
tenn. They never publish any OF the hands
in which losS,i due to common sense"
playing, thought every whist player knows
full well that taese Losses do occur, and not
infrequentlydr The effect of this common
sense" play. for1 the name is given to half
dozen diiferept systems, is twofold. First
beginners hear so much Of the merits OF the
various systems that they are in doubt which
one to adopts and as a result attempt them
oil and make OF sthe game mere guessing
contest. Secondhand more seriously, 1t leads
many to take the same view Of whist that
is taken OF love, war and horse trading,
namely. that all Is fair and some, scrupul-
ously honest In everyday matters dc not
hesitate to resort to private conventions and
other methods that go to make card
sharper. We do not assume that any system
is perfect as yet, nor do we propose to con-
demn any one system, but we nre op-
posed to any attempt to mix the
systems When number of players
are satisfied with a system let them
herd together and perfect the system; not
use 1t against players unfamiliar with their
system and change 1t whenever it becomes
known. Apropos OF this a certain paper,
criticizng the rotary discard, stated that
some players, to deceive their adversnries,
had changed the common order of the suits
and used that given in bridge whist and winds
up with the following: Unless the league
steps in and deals with heavy hand with
the s1arpers the best of all card games will
rest under heavy cloud and the league itself
will be discredt,ed." This seems to have hit
a prominent eastern whist authority and to
have hit him hard. for he devctes column
Of his paper to abuse of the author of tde
above, but does not deny the facts as stated.
But Il Is notoriously true that private con-
ventons' nre spreading like a pestilence
amcng the whist players of the country. AS
Mr.. Otis says, many are racking their brains
in concoctlug schemes by which medium
player eau always beat an expert. Some
time since 1t was slated IN paper that a
certain ladies' whist club required applicants
for membership to pass an examination be-
fore they were admitted This is capital
idea and If the examinations were extended
| to the systems played and then a pledge OK
acted that no system. or even iCnovation,
| would be used until sanctioned by the club,
| the pleasures Of the club would be greatly
| enhanced.
| Next Wednesday, December go being the
| last Wednesday of the month, is set apart
! by the Omaha Whist club rs visitors
| night" DevCtees of whist are respectfully
! invited The club rooms are in room 312,
| Bee building.
| For the fourth consecutive time Reed s
| team has been successful in the trophy con-
| test, beating Shipley's team four points.
| Burkley's team will be their next contestants
| The scores ou "Wednesday night were as fol-
| lows:
|