The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-12-13
CHEAT BY CODE
SYSTEM OF SIGNALS USED BY
 STARTERS IN HIGH SOCIETY.
Elite Have Numerous Scandals Growing Out of Fraud at Heavy Play-Young Woman Lost $15o,ooo at Bridge"
 Party.
London Correspondence.

Astounding as 1t may seem, a small. but well-organized coterie of card swlndlers exists in aristocratic circles It is composed of the black sheep of socie- ty both male and female. and most of the i'll repute which has fallen upon card parties and players at country houses is due to the nefarious operations of its members.
 Among the "smart set" "bridge" forms part of the routine of the day. With many well-knowh men and women the
 game has become a mania, and last au- tumn it was gravely stated that one young lady lost no less than 5000 pounds at bridge while staying at a country house.
 Cases like this are, of courso the ex- ception not the rule but still very large sums are lost at this fascinating game at house parties and it Is no exaggeration to state that most of this money finds it's way into the pockets of professional society card sharpers.
 In country houses 1t Is no uncommon thing for ladies to bet heavily. Gambling at cards, too, even among the elite socie- ty, goes on to an alarming extent, and the numerous scandals that have been caused mainly through high play at that popular game at house parties, bridge. are well-night incredible.
 MOSI OI the VlCIlulS OI DEIuBC udN0 D0CH women. but numerous young men of birth and position have had their future careers blighted If not ruined through gambling at this entrancing game.
 For the existence of these card swim dlers the desire to grow rioh rapidly with out performing any work In return Is responsible It is the same desire to get rich without work that is responsible for plunging on the Stock Exchange on the part of spectators, and many of the most painful scandals that have occurred dur ing recent years are due to the course of this establishment, where everyone sus- poets his neighbor.
 Like whist, bridge Is played with partners. They are cut for at the com mencement of each game, and this, to the uninitiated, appears to preclude con nivance between two parties
 Should one of the card sharpers, how ever, manage to obtain possession of the pack for a few moments the difficulty of "partners'' can be easily arranged. Society card sharpers, it should be clearly under stood, do not have recourse to the vulgar and obvious devices of marking certain cards. It is too risky. Without making any marks whatever on the court cards they render them easily distinguishable in the following manner.
 Good playing cards. such as are used at the houses of the nobility, are capable of acquiring a very high polish. The bridge" sharper's first object is to get the cards into his or her possession for a few minutes without anyone being aware and in devoting those few moments to as- siduously polishing the court cards by rubbing them briskly along a table colth. after having just slightly damped them with spirit varnlsh concealed in the hand kerchief.
 Servants are frequently bribed to allow the cards to be polished and when the servants are above suspicion 1t has even been stated that members of'the gang have on one pretense and another bought up the stock of playing cards In the shop that supplies the house they are work ing" with stationery and after steaming open the packets and polishing the court cards the packets are carefully resealed and returned to the shopkeeper on some pretext or other in the hopes that in due course they will find their way to the hosts house.
 According to the rules of bridge the dealer. after dealing out all the cards