The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-01-09

The following JhDlo VIII buoW tuO pEOpOTtlOn
ofdeals sent in by various persons:
One sent ................ ...... .................1,t 100
Two sent $50 osch TOO
Ono sent 800. 800
One sent $50 zoo
yiye sent 200 each ............. ..............1,0 1000
Five sent 100 each TOO
Twelve sent 100 zach 1900
Thirty I'VE sent 80 esoh....... ......-........I.7oo
Grand total
As there are some doubtful ones among those
who have blanks on hand, The SUN will DO GLAD
To send blanks to q few moro to I'LL up, and
hopes to have the whole II 1000 deals complete
By Feb. /. Those who have untitled blanks ON
hand will please mako their returns as soon AZ
possible, and the full list Of contributors will DO
published tho moment tho number 10 complete.
CONVENTIONS. PUBLIC AM PRIVATE.
It very evident that q strong tide Of popular
feeling 10 setting In against conventional plays,
. tide which bids fair to carry away all the rub.
Dish that has lately accumulated on tho solid
rocks of honest whist, almost hiding Thorn.
Two years ago, when the whist players Of this
country were bound hand and foot by the me-
chanical routine Of the long.suit game. THE SUN
expressed the belief that tho day would como
when the natural common sense Of tho Amort.
can player would prevail, and no would shake
OH IuOSt ohu plAy al "Atu III
own judgment, and not by rule of thumb. The
developments of the past year have fully justi.
God that belief, and have demonstrated that the
American player is well able to decide upon the
merits Of whist questions for himself, apart
from any accepted authority. THE SUN 10
equally confident to-day that the Instincts Of
truth and honesty which are 90 distinctly Amer
lean In all matters Of sport will prevail against
the teachings Of those who would have US DO.
lieve that any trick or dodge Ii fair, provided
there has been some ~pretenoe Of complying with
tho very lax laws on tho subject which have
been laid down by tho governing body Of Ameri-
can whist players.
Il do not presume that 1t will DO contended
by any ono that 1t is not fair for any players to
adopt any system that they believe to DO Q trick
winner that either 10, or might be. known by
their adyersaries; nor, on tho other hand. do I
suppose that 1t will be commended that they
would DO obliged to answer any series Of ques.
lions that might DO put to them before the play
began. II a man. or combination Of mon. havo
the ability to doyise q new system Of leads or
plays which increase their triok-taking ability,
why should they not DO allowed to benefit by
the inventive powers Of their brains, without
being compelled either to disclose their inven-
ton to tho whole world or else aban-
don It'll A football team would DO
laughed Of II It disclosed its now plays and
tricks to its adversary. 1t would DO absurd
to compel . baseball pitcher to explain his
signs 10 the batsman. The cricket bowler docs
not advise tho batsman what break or change Of
pace hs intends to use. Why, In whist, should
man b. compelled to give the whole world the
benefit Of hi. lnyontiye genius: when hs 10 not
Players will work hard to invent new plays and
soatinations, thereby enhancing their fame
lions are merely for the common veal, no such
e,rdo, will be displayed In seeking them, and the
Ehist.6ooE writer's. who are far from b%riiisnt
a.; ;sSsip Fsd i2f n their ta; i III ! Rsli:zs; I shhsssSaso5 e.
should DO considered legitimate"
not writer. Of whist books" but no was
arm believer In taking any advantage he could
St tho Whist fa ISiho II" The sH ist tS Z from = WHICH, IIa tss
i. StS.sst. F FSSS;asisai So So page page 1857 So P ~ iaop:
dent to any one who reads Tie Interview with
The captain q the Cleveland team published in
yefy trsightfcrwar ACCUSATION that Wosf's
team used unfair methods in failing to explain
Vantage Rtlsss Il c asSs on s'sf ianofia sns Of y t iSst ais.s 90.
wrinkles.' Works teain won, Of course, and
S S players AL over the country Immediately
e%essfql. satisfied with the example of such q
prrOminent team. and never stopping to question
- iluV " II Du0IuOu6 0uIplOyGu. IL ~
conscientious, player objected to such tricks as
Justification for 1t: "Why, Works team
The effect Of this kind Of thing cannot fail to
90 injurious to the best interests Of the game.
flayers OF the better GLASS are already becoming
seriously alarmed at the intricacy and doubtful
honesty Of the various systems Of moro or less
private signals which they find 1t necessary TO
learn. II only for self.protection, and many feel
sn Ms they must either give up the game IN dis.
own. AT Qrat acOnaintAnca with Ilea0 tricks
ana lodges there Is a feeling OF repugnance. but
mIna az X. ; sog; w HiR a certain S6iSb ,5 tGlsrSn Si1I ~ t he
moral sense, and few, have the strength of char.
ac re 70 resist the poison from the first.
natural sense of right cannot be blinded by any
suGh pretence as that the officials Of the league
tary d Sses.ipn Sas certain srst shn1sio.S When la M ne as so.
tiiaues, President Of the New York state Associa-
aon, his amazement and Indignation that any
s'Uop 10 such n thing, was beyond expression.
~ such things as this are tolerated" he said,
become q tho morals ; d the" The game !" lie es.
Pressed himself, as strongly of the opinion that
!. s.i SSqiS be Of Il t dsis ailsst 50 d sFt liz i tas %a It shs 70 m .se
"inter meeting in Buffalo on the Gath.
u. Ths %f0 Sn.a b, head q these nsT lodges has 8
smelly responsible Tor the continually changing
supply, He has invented and abandoned more
cutlery 'I against a"' these P1assr co orts a%a has has f fooTressdi
n,m me a corner and compelled him TO mako
I""e ucloHCc 10 tne charge OF bringing Inc game
into d~isreputo by encouraging and upholding
,nis sort oil, thing. In his letter 10 Whist he pic
sufeS Tue glory which may come 10 the player
Sith brains enough 10 originate new schemes
~ Winning tricks from the unwaTy. Such
american needs to be told the difference.
Instead OF defending his position. he
Gays he must decline TO discuss tho
sHoloct OF private conventions except
MIN a select few whom he names, most
., whom are In the same boat with himself, and
use conventions of the Same character. He
gems TO regret that some writer's do not ngree
Win MN, ana by way OF warning the public
cSainst them he a advises that no notice be taken
vi "hy writer who has not successfully Occu-
p.ua seat 81 the whist table in an iInportant
msteh. His theory evidently is that the
J%ufner a man has successfully practiced these
lodges at the whist table, tho less likely he will
= 70 condemn them. Perhaps he also believes
ma inc 0tteneT 4 man has play ed in important
matches and had the bottom Knocked ont of his
pet theories the greater writer he 10.
i"toorIlng TO this standard, Milton Work 10
W greatest whist writer now living, for no
NV mas had 10 eat so much crow during his
nrveE as u writer. At first he condemned
american leads AS nOngenAR. and nulli6heu eY-