Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1899-01-29

brother. who plays (at) whist. has
similar fancies. Deep finessing, per-
haps. is his hobby. so he Illnesses in
season and out of season. blissfully re-
CARELESS of the fact that in half Of his
attempts the finesse taken may easily
lose, but cannot possibly win. He is
not to be shaken by argument or even
demonstration, and IL Jumbo"
finesse comes off once in fortnight
it constitutes a receipt in full for the
dozen tricks dropped during that in
teryal.
A long list of these individual"
plays could easily be made. This man
has a mania for switching suits, and
will start new one every time he gets
the lead if one round fails to establish
the one first opened; another will never
return his partners suit if he holds the
first trick, but open his own, no matter
whether it contains the quart major or
only Queen and three small; the next
will go these fellows one better, his
pet scheme being to return his oppo-
nent'S suit at the first opportunity
playing through the strong and up to
the weak he tells you with an air of
profound wisdom when you protest;
his neighbor invariably gets rid OF the
master card of opponents suit as soon
as he gets a lead-'so it won't be
trumped;" A thinks that three-card
suits are profitable ones to open; B will
never unlock if it necessitates the
throwing of high card; c cannot be
induced to ruff with the best trump;
xrrhn Of
den DEATH" will never cease leading
trumps once you have started them so
long as one remains in his hand: Y
doesn't like to part with his high cards,
and usually reserves an ace to make
sure of the fourteenth trick; will
force you, whatever the situation, the
moment he discovers that you are void
of suit; and, kindest of all, there is
the fellow who invariably plays the
suit which you discard if-as is usually
the case-it happens to be his own
longest suit.-Wm. A Potter in Provi-
dence Journal
WHIST PLAYING CELEBRITIES.
Many of the worlds most celebrated
men and women have been fond of
whist, and some attained to great pro-
hclency in the game. The most pro-
found jurists, the most subtle diplo-
matlsts, the greatest soldiers, the
most eminent divines, and the fore
most scholars and thinkers of the age,
have been among its votaries. Royal
ty itself has frequently acknowledged
its fascinating sway. In England, the
land of its birth, whist was formally
received at court in 1854, and has since
that time been much enjoyed by those
upon and around the throne, with per-
haps one singular exception. Whist
players were among the chief aver
sions Of that prosaic monarch George
III. No wonder he lost the American
colonies. His predecessor, the second
George, we are told, disliked poets and
painters, but at whist he never tir-
ed" In personal courage this mon
arch resembled Napoleon. The pres
ent occupant of the British throne has
been familiar with whist from her
youth up, and her son, the Prince Of
Wales, is also fond of the game. He
was a patron of the late James Clay,
M. p, who dedicated to him, by per-
mission, his celebrated treatise on
Short Whist" Edward Everett once
told an amusing story, how he and the
Neapolitan ambassador, after having
been presented to Queen Victoria,
were informed by Lord Melbourne
that they would be expected to join in
a game of whist with the Duchess of
Kent Melbourne intimated that he
played but very poor game himself.
The Neapolitan ambassador remarked
that, being bad player, he hoped that
forebearance would be exercised to-
ward him by the American envoy,
should they chance to be partners.
Everett was forced to acknowledge
that ne knew very little of the game
himself. Here" said he, in relating
the story, were three dignified per-
sons, clad in gorgeous attire, solemnly
going to play game they imperfectly
understood, and for which none Of
them cared a straw" Upon reaching
the duchess apartments they were
formally presented, and, upon her in
yitation, they all sat down to play. To
their surprise, as soon as the cards
were dealt, a lady-in-waiting placed
herself at the back of the duchess, the
latter remarking, Your excellencies
will excuse me If I rely upon the adj
vice of my friend, for l am really a
very poor player" The incident, while
ludicrous in itself, showed how strong
a hold the game had gained since Hoyle
first gave it publicity in 1912. being
now considered almost part of court
etiquette, and essayed even by those
who had no natural taste or ability
for it.
LOUIS XIV OF FRANCE.
Whist was played in France by
Louis XIV, and under the first empire
it was a favorite game with Josephine,