Wheeling Sunday register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1882-1934, 1900-05-06
down upon those who chance to differ

down upon those who chance to differ
with them"
When small intellect goes in for
cultivating itself and improving Its
mind, you realize what the poet meant
in asserting that a little learning was
dangerous thing. Whist is difficult
game, and unless it is played in a
simple and straightforward manner 1T
is above the comprehension OF ordin-
airy mortals. There are many feeble
minded people who appear to think
they best attain their end by making
the game incomprehensible to every
one, and we suppose they trust to their
own acumen to unrayel the maze of
their own creation. They play no sys-
tenn themselves and do not expect any
system in others; and, knowing not
the position of the cards, they fail to
take advantage of the information
which ought to be before them. Is it
strange that these gentlemen make the
game unnecessarily difficult: We
.
would rather, much rather, meet in
tourney or team match a pair of ex-
perts of far-famed ability than the
misleading ignoramus who complac-
emily disregards all idea of inference
shown or received and greets the, alas!
too often capture of top score, wreath
ed in tranquil and self-satisfied smirks.
born of ignorance and that SNUG as
surance granted only to the-small.
Why should ignorance so often win?
Because it is the unexpected obstacle
thrown upon the track of the express
train that wrecks it. The more igno-
rant, often the more dangerous. One
is completely in the dark respecting
the play of the Bumblepup-until he
is recognized. They have such sense
of superiority that at first their i'm
portance is well night overwhelming.
Useless to try to influence such men
towards more intellectual enjoyment
of the game. The world may move
around them, but they never advance.
Why should they? They have reached
perfection. The brains and enterprise
of the last ten years in the whist world
appeal to them in vain. They belong
to the vast majority that is always
in the wrong" being so pleased with
themselves, their clubs and club work
ing, and their feeble little lines of
thought, that any change or advance
ment gives their systems shock. They
are just the same drag to whist club
that a brake would be to a coach
going up hill" They are the eternal
negative" and would extinguish, if
they could, any light stronger than
their own eyes have been accustomed
to. "They look with establishment and
distrust at anyone trying to break
away from their tiresome old ways and
habits, and wonder why all the world
is not as pleased with their personali-
ties as themselves, suggesting that
there is something radically wrong in
innovation, and that the club would
be imperiled if things were altered.
No blight, no mildew is more fatal to
a plant than complacency in club or
institution. 1t is a bar to progress,
hindrance to higher standards of cul-
ture, or perfected refinement of sur
roundings.
On the other hand there is the divine
discomfort of the expert, the discon-
tent which is the Eleven that has rails
ed the whole loaf of dull humanity to
better things and higher efforts. :" A
real artist cannot refrain from doubt
ing himself and the value of his at
tainments; he is ever reaching for
ward for excellence recognized, but
seemingly out of reach. "a mans
reach should exceed his grasp. or
what's a heaven for" says that de-