The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1904-03-13
The Whist Club Woman.

The impression that women are not capa-
BILE of playing a skillful and scientific game
OF whist is a thing of the past.
There is no reason why women should
not achieve as high a standing of perfec-
ton as the men. providing they are as
studious and well trained. Adding 10 these
qualifications the intuition that naturally
belongs 10 woman, and her greater DISPOSE
ton to study the game, you will certainly
find such women mentally the equal, If not
the peer of men. Many OF the noted whist
ers OF the country have agreed that women
have reached as high a standard as the
men. Cavendish said: There are more good
whist players in the United States than in
any other country, and among the best
players he had seen were two American
ladies'"
1t is time that men who have not ap-
preciated the fact of whist ability among
the women should realize that they can play
the game with the skill of the expert.
At the American Whist League congresses
many of them play as high a grade of
whist as any of the delegates.
Club life is beneficial TO women who de-
sire to become students and strive for the
high intellectual attachments OF whist. But
If the development attains the standard
that is desired, there must be a spirit OF
harmony and good-fellowship. The whist
table reveals ones disposition in its true
and undisguised light, and the players who
so far forget themselves as to frequently
lose their temper, not only lower the moral
and intellectual character of the game.
but also forfeit the confidence and esteem
of the club members.
Instead, they should endeavor to subordi-
nate their own personal feelings TO the good
of the club and rid themselves of the idea
that the club exists for their individual and
personal qualification. They should put
aside their own grievances and complaints,
and then a great deal of friction and UNI
pleasantness would be avoided.
In all clubs we find members with a
tendency to ~criticise and make ill-natured
remarks about members and fidget about il
their partner makes a mistake and display
unrestrained delight when they gain a
trick through their opponents misplay.
Such practice is reprehensible, and is very
discouraging and notifying TO the unfor-
tunate player.
The exercise of s%elf-control on the part of
each member, and the showing of an I'M
selfish spirit In all club matters is the only
true way TO a higher growth of the club.
If whist players and club members would
always strive for the best and highest
honors that whist can bestow and exert an
influence of good will and hearty apprecia-
ton of each and every one, il is then posi-
bic that club life would make the whist
woman a nobler character and a better
whist player.
To the necessary growth of the whist
clubs there must be a tendency TO better
and more intellectual whist on the part of
the members. To accomplish this a certain
amount of time each day should be given
to the study of the game. Variety in club
life will spur them to greater effort. Tourna-
ment work is a good method for keeping
alive interest and for the development OF
greater skill in the game.
An Interchange of games between the diff
ferent clubs, and also more team work
among the members of each club. will aid
in the growth of the clubs and interest in
the game