The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-01-10

%,HE third annual convention of the
Sk1S Pacific Coast Whist Association has
.Sh5A passed into history. A few years
AGO whist clubs were hardly known in
this State.
The first foothold whist got in San Fran
cisco was when a few whist enthusiasts
met in room adjoining the writer's office
at go Suffer street. on the 9th day of Oc-
tober, 1891, and completed the organiza-
tion of the San Francisco Chess ana Whist
Club. the first club bearing the name OF
the City. The charter members of this
club we're: S. A. Foster, w. r. Love-
grow, NJ. G.. Eyre, NJ. F. Clafin, A. s..
Howe, E. H. Cole, L. &. Washburn, G. S.
Simons, F. D. Gilbert, J. S. Brownell, R.
J. Handbook, E. J, Tay Tor, R. Kendrick,
A. S. Baker. A. Moreton, James S. Smell
ing, ]. D. Redding, H. J. Summerhays
and P. ]. Tormey.
The following we're its first officers
President, Joseph D. Redding; first vice
president, P. j. Tormey; second vice.
president. H. ]. Summerhays; secretary,
NJ. f. ClaAin; treasurer, A. S. Baker;
governing committees. A Foster, 6. A.
Simons and r. Kendrick. This club
fouTished for a short while, then dragged
along until the time came when some OF
its mem bers left the City, and the interest
in the game grew less and less until the
entire expense of supporting the club fell
on the few. About the LIST of Novem Der,
1892, the spark rekindled. Henry Payot,
with the writer and two or three others,
got the signatures of over 100 to once more
man the ship. and. on the 18th of Novem-
Z, Der, 1892, the present San Francisco
Whist Club was launched as sort OF
auxiliary to the Mercantile Library Asso-
citation. With the assistance of this noble
institution in the way of nominal rent
the breakers were passed in safety. This
time ladies were admitted, ana this no
doubt was the chief cause of its final sue
cess. Henry Payot was chosen as its first
president. 1t now ranks with the largest
strictly whist clubs in the United States.
About two years ago the club was IN
corporated. Since that time George Z.
Bates has been its president. Matthias
Meyer is the vice president He has the
reputation of being one of the best whist
players in the club.
The next whist club OF importance IN
the City Is the Trist Duplicate Whist
father Of American leads. This club was
formed about eighteen months ago MI
A. e. Freeman, one of the Leading Hghts
of the bar OF this City, was chosen presi-
dent. When he had safely guided the destl-
MES OF the club to Easy street he asked
to be reli eyed of the responsibilities and
now enjoys the privilege OF being called
tex" He is hard worker in the cause,
and to show his great interest IN the game
we all love he accepted the cbalrmanshlp
of the whist and contest committee. Inc
club ia now in tiourishing condition, oc-
cupving a suite of finely furnished pariors
in the Berkshire. 1t was not long before
the outside towns and cities caught the
fever. Oakland has at least dozen whist
clubs. The Oakland Whist Club has
$50 members, with Mr.. ]. D. Ely presl-
dent; the Linda Vista Whist Club is not
quite so large, but ex-President K. b.
Galley says they feel bigger.
The beautiful city of Vallejo has one OF
the crack clubs of the State, with Mr..
DEMO as president. This club won the
Rideout trophy three times; recently
ladies' whist club has been organized in
Vallejo. Petaluma has several whist
clubs. The ''Lomitas"-a new name for
the Ladies' Duplicate-and the Petaluma
are the leading ones. One of the whist
critics of THE CALL, and an expert player,
resides in Petaluma, Mrs. F. II. Atwater.
Santa Rosa is not far behind. She has
good whist club, and succeeded in show
ing Petaluma how the game was played.
Sacramento, Alameda, Berkeley, San
Rafael, HOLSTER and Niles have all got
their whist clubs, and once a year, at
least, they all come together for love
feast at our annual whist conventions.
The Pacific Coast Whist Association was
formed December IA. 1894, comprised OF
fourteen clubs from nearly as many differ
ent cities. How well this association is
known, and where its influence extends,
is best learned by reading the following
congratulatory letters from dozen or
more of the greatest whist lights in the
world.
The first is from the patron saint of the
Trist Duplicate Whist Club, whose lie
size portrait adorns its walls-a man who
is as gentle and tender as loving mother
to her little babe when he comes in
contact with his whist children. What
woman or man whose heart was ever
touched with the dart of Cupid but re-
members the queer futtering at the
heart strings2 So it is when he is near;
he is the center of all hearts of the
American Whist League, and also the
center of the hearts of our association, in
fact, as well as the central figure IN the
illustrated emblem of the Pacific Coast
Whist Association. 1t is hardly neces-
sary to mention him by name,
Mr.. Nicholas Browse Jrist,
the father of American leads. His letter
to the president of the Pacific Coast
Whist Association is as follows:
n NEW ORLEANS, December 81, 1896.
Ny Dear Tormeg: 1t is source of deep re-
greet to me that cannot accept your kind in
vitaton to be presen4 at the third annual
meeting OF the Pacific Coast Whist Associa-
ton. Nothing could give me more pleasure
than to become personally acquainted with
its members, who, judging from the specimens
/ know, must all be "trumps,' and who, am
sure, appreciate the strenuous and su ccessful
efforts OF their worthy president in welding all
the whist forces o: the Pacific Coast into one
mighty league which I sincerely hope viii
continue 10 grow and prosper, fight all fads
and foster sound whist Tor all time to come.
With assurance of my kind regards for one
and all of the members of your association,
remain, cordially yours, n B. TRIsT.
The following letters are all addressed
TO the president of the Pacific Coast Whist
Association, P. ]. Tormey: