The Saint Paul globe. (St. Paul, Minn.) 1896-1905, 1900-09-02

pupils, women being In the majority. Men
learn to play cards almost fnstinclively
and pick up the different games at cluhs
and colleges
Few women have a natural liking for
card playing. They acquire the fad, and
1t then Is apt to become virulent A few
seasons ago the game of poker promised
to gain fashionable vogue among wom-
en- in this way. But 1t proved a passing
fancy, for very few women are good
poker players, and their masculine rela-
tives and friends rarely encourage them
in the game.
But the intricac!es and politics of bridge
whist seem to have found accord with
the feminine nature, and while the game
is now almost in a formative period as
to rules, conventions and plays, it is sure
of an established permanency, having re.
ceived the mysterious seal of fashiona-
bic approval
In bridge there should be a reason for
every play otherwise the game is me-
chanfcal and uninteresting. 1t is almost
occult in some Of its complications,
which would lend reason to the idea that
the game originated in the Orient.
England, however, is the more recent
sponsor, and among all up-to-date play
ers the old game of whist has been super
seeded by the game of bridge
Comparatively very little has been writ
ten on the game, the most interesting
work, perhaps, being a small book by
Archibald Dunn Jr., published in Eng
land, and now in its second edition. This
little volume, Bridge, and How to Plaf
1t, gives the rules of the game as fol-
lows:
THE CARDS.
The game is played with the ordinary
pack of ffty-two cards
1t is usual to use two packs one pack
belonging to each pair of partners
If any card is marked or damaged a
new pack may be called for at the ex-
pense of the table
At any time before the cards are cut a
player may order new cards at his own
expense but he must provide two packs,
of when his adversaries have the choice
THE TABLE
The first four players in the room are
entitled to play first The next two
players in the room are entitled to Join
the table, and, should they do 80, the
table Is full ard nobody has a right 10
! join it subsequently until vacancy oc-
ours.
If more than four persons wishing to
! play enter the room simultaneously they
must cut to decide who IS to play first
/ The four lowest play. The next two low
| est, If there are more than six are en-
! titled to join the table which is then
/ full.
The four players cut from the same
/ pack for partners The two lowest play
! against the two highest. The player
who cuts the lowest card deals and also
has the choice Of seats, and cards, both
1 of which he must retain until the end
of the rubber.
The partners sit opposite each other
In cutting for partners the cards rank
/ in value from the king down to the ace,
the king being the highest and the ace
/ the lowest card. The ten is lower than
the knave
If two players cut cards of equal value
! they must cut again, unless their cards
are the two highest or two lowest In
which case they play together When
they are the lowest they must cut again
to decide who is to deal.
Should three players cut cards Of the
! same value they must cut again. II
the fourth player cut lower than the
other three he has. won the deal and is
the partner of the player who cuts low
/ est of the two.
A player who exposes more than one
card must cut again.
At the end OF the rubber If one or
two candidates mot exceeding two) are
/ waiting to play the players who have
just finished the rubber. provided they
! have all played an equal number of rub
/ DerS, cut to decide who Is to make way
/ for the newcomers. The player who
cuts the highest card retires, or, If there
are two candidates. the two players who
cut the two highest cards both retire
But should any player or players have
! played a greater number of rubbers than
the other he or they retire without cut
/ ting.
In forming fresh tables. the prior
/ right of entry rests with those who have
not belonged TO or played at any other
! tah,e.
II a player belonging to one table plays
/ at another he loses his right of re-entry
! to his original table.
If a player breaks up a table the re-
/ naming players have right prior TO
him Of entry into any other table
sHUFFLING.
Every player has a right to shuttle the
/ cards, and the dealer is entitled to do
I this last; but should he tumble or ex-
pose any of the cards he may be called
/ upon by the adversaries to shuttle again.
j The pack must not be shuffied-
/ (al Under the table.
1b) During the play of hand.
/ (c) BY dealing into packets.
Nor must the face of any card be seen
during the process.
After the cards are shuffied they must
| be cut into two packets (neither contain
Ing less than four cards. by the player