The San Francisco call., 1898-07-10

clubs. Mrs. Wallace says (and we indorse every word of 1t Ed ::
 "A feature of the Philadelphia Woman's Whist Congress. and one that distinguished it from the meetings of the American Whist League, the value and number of nrizes that were awarded the winners in the various contests In viewing this matter in the light that the experience of two womens whist congresses has afforded, 1t seems that a word should be spoken against the growth of what may be called the prize habit. One of Phila- delphia s foremost whist women who was con- nected with the league movement from, its very beginnings, placed herself on record bT saying that indiscriminate prize giving had a no doubt that the playing for individual re- wards of that nature develops much in the least. the reverse of ennobling.
 Stake playing has always been frowned up- on by the American Whist League. and the Woman's Whist League does not hesitate to set its face against all such practices h. deed women in whist stands synonymous for If the prize-giving adjunct to the congress is only another form of playing for stake view and the who would recoil in hor- TOT from taking part in game of bridge can As a question of ethics there can be no diff ference of opinion The highest type of whist is that in which nothing beyond the score it. self is in competition so far the individuals themselves are concerned.
 "The playing for trophies is an entirely diff ferent matter. There the victory is the clubs represented by their team or pair as the case may be- and the honor due to those who can win championship for the club that they represent can certainly not put them in the same class with those who struggle for per sonal benefit.
 Tt would require some courage for tbs Women's Whist League next year to eliminate prize-giving from it's programme. and there Is little doubt that it would reduce the number of the entries. but would that be a disadvan- tage? Would not the element that Considers the winning of prize the only incentive to the game find its level in progressive euchre' and would not whist be elevated by its rid dance from type of nlayers who whether consciously or not. are responsible for the growth of a sordid spirit in whist?'
 NEW PLAYS AND NEW SYSTEMS
 T. E. Otis. whist editor of the Newark News of Newark, N. J., gives lots of practical ad vice in the following article, which we are pleased to reproduce:
 ITO beginners or players of limited experi- the numerous new plays and svster,s which have been developed during the nsst year or two are undoubtedly confusing ana tend to discourage students of whist in tbsr efforts to learn the game. It is not good noiicy for any but the most expert players to attempt to make use of the various plays exnloitad a even the originators of many of these invan tions admit that to large extent tha,. ors experimental The advocates of the Ionrsuit game believe that the present more or lass unsettled condition of affairs is but a fore tempting to demonstrate the value of thess so called improvements, to the established game beginners will conscientiously naster tha American leads and the plays whicL are the basis of the long-suit game they will find that as their experience grows they are ah,a to bnid their own against many of the later ideas The maln factor or success is to make ones n1av easy TOT partner to understand and it is an oft-remarked fact that many of the most p br1I ii- ahs II payers rssf work their partners so hard that ei,e. ts rei1es 10 the latter when the game Is nnlshed This Is entirely unnecessary par- tienarly if players will give partner the as- issuance possible by means of the number
 
 airions, and consistent following of the straight