The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-03-10

would seem as though they had a right ia
do what they would with their own. There
is one sad incident that is quoted at every
game of bridge, of the worthy young man
whose salary Of $3.50 per annum was swept
from him one evening at bridge. His hos
tess requested him to settle before leaving
when he said he was quite unaware that hs
was playing for money. His hostess was
firm, so he gave notes for the amount
There is no finale to the story, but 1t has
been repeated SO often that 1t IS generally
credited, and the identity of the hostess,
while never openly proclaimed. Is well set
tied. and various young men on salaries Of
81, 500 are suspected and envied by their fell
low clerks who have not al entire into the
smart set.
"Win you dine with US and play cards
after?" is q favorite form OF invitation this
winter, even more popular than the invita-
ton to luncheon with cards written in
the lower left hand corner, for the evening
bridge includes Lien. although there are
no end OF hen dinners followed by bridge
The stakes are. as a rule. money, but often
prizes are given instead, and at many
houses the rule is not to play for money.
Invitations to these last may not be so
much in demand. but the hostess rarely has
any serious difficulty in filling out her list
Of guests. The points played for are de-
cided before the game begins and are very
varied, for, while large sums are played
for, often a ridicuiously small amount Is
lost or won. just in order. SO says one
player. to make it worth playing the game
Sunday card playing is as yet, fortunate-
~. confined to a most limited set This is
neither the time nor place to dilate upon
It
perfectly well understood, however. when
the invitations for dinner on Sunday even
ings are sent out from some few houses.
that bridge. and bridge for worthy stakes,
will be the amusement Of the evening. SO
that neither man nor woman can plead ig.
norance Of what is expected OF him Of her
as guest.
The pity of 1t all Is that so many people
cannot play bridge without forgetting their
manners and losing their tempers-synony-
nous terms-and there is danger IL the exc
element grows apace Of deadly feuds aris-
ing in hitherto well regulated sets. Some
women, and men also, be it understood, can
never learn to lose gracefully, and as bridge
Is a game where ones partner can a on
lose ones hand, there Is a fine chance for
the display OF self-control. or vice versa.
Most absurdly childish in review are many
of the fierce squabbles, often ending in
tears Of rage when a land Is lost, and 10
| would be a more than human endurance
that could remain unmoved under the ac~
| cusations of incompetency, to put It milds
ly, that are hurled across the table. If
| may be that long years of previous train1na
enables the men as a rude to submit more
| placidly to bad luck, but they, too, exhibit
signs Of annoyance that are somewhat sur
prising-and amusing to the spectator.
A most astonishing feature of the situa-
ton is that young people have taken up
| bridge SO tremendously, and among next
| winters debutantes are at least half q
dozen girls who are exceedingly proud Of
the money they have made during the last
year, four figures not being considered an
extraordinary sum. Fortunately they are
among those individuals who are not OBJ
llged to consider the cost, and they a
seen their parents play for sums to which
their earnings" are infinitesimal.
One source of income in consequence OF
this latest craze was never thought OF whom
1t first started-the demand for card tables
and chairs-and the tale Is told OF one OF
the leading houses in the city when the
telephone rings and the name Is given. the
clerk answers before the order IL forthcom-
ing: Certainly. Four tables. did you say
the same as last week-and another dozen
of chairs?" No well-equipped house 10
now complete without its bridge outfit. foa
people are tired Of having their best draw.
tug-room chairs pressed into service. and
now after dinner the card tables and chairs
arc put in place as part Of the routine Of
the evening without any unnecessary fuss
or bother, and the mystic phrase is heard
oo,tr sTDorfpar NAV Il nlav2v III YOU