The evening times., 1897-07-05
AMERICAN WHIST PLAYERS
Contests Begin at Put-inBay,
Lake Erie, Tomorrow.
TROPHIES Of LEAGUE TEAMS
Washington to Figure i'm the Strug-
giles as Member of the Atlantic
AsSOciation-Thir Battles I'm
Woman. to illustrate Her
Powers at the Congress.

The seventh annual congress of the
Whist League OF America-the only country
in the world having national organiza
tion- will assemble at the Hotel Victory.
Putin Bay, Lake Erie. Tomorrow. Since
the first congress OF the association, in
1891, the meeting place has varied from
the East to the West with alternate years.
Tie first meeting was in Milwaukee, the
second in New YORK, the third In Chicago,
the fourth In Phila1islpnia, the fifth i'll Min
neapls, the sixth in Brooklyn. This
year the pleasures Of hospitality belonged
TO the West, and the committee in charge
selected Putin-Pay as admirably adapted
foT ii summeTassembly. Next year the East
will claim the privilege, and the choice will
pr ,bably fall on one OF Boston's famous sed-
side resorts.
Since its fist inception Philadelphia has
been worthily represented in the league,
and Philadelphia whist pla yers have been
peculiarly fortunate in winning and keep
ing valuable trophies The two most iI-
po,tant ones OF the league are now under
the guardianship OF the Quaker City cham.
ptons, fact that has never been dupli-
Gated.
The one giving the title of champions
of America TO it's holder for one year from
date OF victory Is the Hamilton Trophy
II was presented to the league by the late
Or. Melton II. Forrest, of the Hamilton
Club from whence IL took its namei, at
the secoId annual meeting in New York,
1892. II is huge goblet, about fifteen
inches high Around the bowl are grace
ful foliated branches, with the four sym
bols, spades, hearts. clubs, diamonds, as
flowerets at the ends OF the stems IL is
the most artistic rendering of an inartis tic
subject ever seen in a whist trophy. It is
played for at each congress by teaus Of
four. the winning team taking possession
and the title OF champion for the year,
until the next congress. BY the win at the
tournament of 1896 Hamilton gained the
title and the cup.
Next TO the Hamilton trophy in value
and ORDER of precedence is The Challenge
Trophy" No called, It's full title being THE
American Whist League Challenge Trophy"
| This dates from the Philadelphia congress,
May, 1894. It's b loving cup of Furnished
silver a foot high and holding four quarts.
bt Atitt dtt iu
acanthus design, emblem OF victory Under
each handle is a Hons foot, denoting
Domination On the face is the inscrip-
ton, and below queen of spades, five OF
hearts, king OF diamonds. ace of clubs and
seven OF diamonds. on the panels the win
hing clubs and dates tell the story This
trophy was pla yed for at each congress.
tournament by teams of four, no club being
allowed 10 enter moro than one team.
Another Wuch-desired honor is the pos
session Of the Minneapolis Trophy" which
proclaiIns the pain championship of the
United States. This trophy was presented
to the hague by the pla yers of Minneapolis
when the congress was held in that city
In 1898 tits a loving.cup, about ten inchrs
high, holding mine pinfs; also elaboraTely
decorated
There Is one more national trophy for
which the competition viii have unusual
interest This is trophy for associations.
AS there Is now no small town without It's
whist cpterie. and the large cities are be
coming congested with the multiplicity OF
clubs, 1t is becoming mpre and mere neces-
sary TO concentrate into State and sec
tion6l associations a combination OF clu,.s,
not individuals.
At the last con gress Brooklyn presented
to the league trophy 70 be contested
for by associations There were but three
associations belonging 70 the league-Ncw
Jersey, New England and Indiana. The
two former competed for the prize. New
England won. During the past year many
new associations have been formed, and
others previously formed have joined the
league Michigan Iowa, Pacific Coast,
North Pacific, Hudson River and Others
Recently the clubs OF Philadelphia Bal
timore, Washin gton. Easton and Whining
tol were called together at the Phiiadel-
phia Club House, Juniper street, to or
ranize the Atlantic Whist Associa ton
The association will be a strong factor in
promoting the whist strength for the as
ISOLATION trophy at the congresses.
The Brooklyn trophy is a shield of bur.
nished silver, with fOfiated border CT grace
ful design The seal OF the city in a wreath
OF laurel alone, the inscription below
In the center a hand of thirteen cards, and
above, on ribbon scroll, THE Brooklyn
TrOpby'' The clubs of each association
battle during the winter season for su-
premacy, and the winning team In each
section competes at the congress for the
an integral portion. This year, owing 70
:he increased number Of contestants, it will
be a battle royal" equaling in interest
any OF the senior matches.
Besides these four league matches there
will he a great variety of contests, the
program heing arranged with great lib
etality. to give ss large a number of
whisters as possible an opportunity for play.
There are thirteen contests in all
The formation of a Women s Whist League
last April In Philadelphia still further en-.
larges the scope of the whist subject There
are always large number of women play
ers ar every congress, but the W. w L.
will he officially yrepresanTedo on this occasion
by Mrs. T. H Andrews, its president, who
is also an associate member of the A W L.
This fact will give additional interest in the
proceedings of the congress to the feminine
portion of the whist world.