The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-08-28
THE SOLITAIRE FIEND.
This Is the Season When He or She
Learns New Games.

Learns New Games.
New York Evening Sun.
This is the time of year when the solitaire
fiends reap their greatest harvest. In the
winter, when they are, for the most part.
surrounded by friends, family and others
whom they have known all their lives, there
is little chance of learning new forms of the
beloved game. 1t is in summer, in the
boarding house and hotel among new peo-
pie, all Of whom may know unnumbered
new games of solitaire, that the solitaire
fiend is in her element and, a rule,
makes the most of her opportunities. To
any one unfamiliar with the subject, the
devotion of the solitaire player for the game
is remarkable. The frenzy is apt not TO
seize one until she is pretty well on in
men. The chief phase of the frenzy seems
to be to discover new games of solitaire.
old long-familiar games with ease and dis
patch; the greater honor consists in tack
ling new ones and. more than all else, in
Springing new games upon other solitaire
fiends. Several solitaire books are in ex-
istence, purporting to comprise all the soli-
taires that ever were invented, but, as in
most things, 1t is the unpublished games
that are the most precious. All the world
over certain games of solitaire are handed
round from one fend to another, and it
would be regarded as nothing short of
treachery to ever let them see the light OF
print. Every now and then some solitaire
genius invents new game. and just as the
discovery of a Greek particle is the joy
and pride of the philologist, so is the inven-
ton of a new game Of solitaire the joy and
most popular forms of the game Is that
known as the Ananias solitaire, invented by
the celebrated Ananias Club (of mem of To-
peka, Kan. Napoleons favorite, is
said to have been invented by the
great warrior during is exile at
st. Helena. The chief thing to be
said in favor of the solitaire habit is
that it rests the eyes while occupying the
mind, and this is the excuse given by the
most inVeterate of it's victims. There was
never yet solitaire fiend who didn't admit
that in her youth she hadn't cared a rap
for the game, but that as her eyes failed
she was driven to Ii for entertainment, to
end up by becoming regular out-and-out
solitaire fiend. In one hotel this summer
two dear old whitecapped, specialized women
met evening and naturally fell TO
comparing notes upon solitaire. Ore con-
fessed to having special liking for Forty
Thieves Forty Theves!" cried the
other Why, 1 never even heard of it. How
delightful to get hold of a new one. Now,
my favorite is Louisville Club. Did you
ever hear of that?" No, the first woman
had never heard Of Louisville Club and she
was of course, equally delighted to get hold
Of q new one too. So that evening the two
met in solemn solitaire conclave The in
set forth with all pomp and circumstances
that marks the performance of the solitaire
rite. The cards were laid out and the
first steps Of the intricacies achieved. But
matters hadn't gone very far before sh6
who was being enlightened gave startled
cry. What" she exclaimed, you don't
mean to say that 1t goes on building up in
that way and then" Precisely, said
the other woman. 'Heavens!" cried the
Forty Thieves'-it's just the same as Lou
icxyi1Ia CIIlhf' -