Waterbury evening Democrat., 1904-10-27
POPULARITY OF BRIDGE.

Ten years ago there were not tWen-
 ty people in New York who knew how
 to play bridge; to-day person who
 plays cards at all and cannot play
 bridge is almost curiosity. Evidence
 of the popularity of the game meets one on every hand. Experts have ] written text books on the subject, and
 the combined sales of the text, books
 have run into six figures. Professional
 teachers find every moment of theil time engaged. Inventors have made
 fortunes from specially constructed tables and markers. Stationers are
 printing thousands of scoring blanks
 and notebooks for recording hands.
 Manufacturers are selling more cards than they ever did before, some or
 them self-playing cards which will make up a rubber and play them selves, just as if experts were presenr and held them Charitable organiza- tions are giving duplicate bridge par ties which bring in thousands of dol lars in a single afternoon. Dealers in fancy articles are reaping harvest
 from the orders for prizes.
 What makes it so popular? One req. son is this: The game is peculiarly suited to the American type of mind.
 The qualities essential for success aS bridge are precisely those which are in demand in every day life, either business or social 1t is a game or. Judgment combined with speculation, ], of combination balanced by competi- ton. The play of every hand requires the same foresight as the planning Of a business enterprise or social en- tertainment, and the same readiness in adapting ones self to changed con ditions. A peculiarity of the game is that it continually presents interesting and intricate problems, more Or less difficult Of solution, and the individual feels that the play of every card is an expression of his personality in con. trolling the result. 1t sharpens the memory and cultivates the habit of at- tention to details, gradually widening the intellectaal powers Bridge is peculiarly a game for in.t telIigent people, and perhaps that is z the reason why it is more popular her& and more widely played than in any ! fin England. it is confined to the mp z per classes.'' In France the bour- geoise prefer their old friend piquet
 The speculative part of the game seems to be too swift for the German, who wants everything safe and the s future assured. Skat suits him better # because he can count the possibilities of his cards to fraction. No for eigner studies the game so thoroughly SIS the American does, and no other na. ton seems to possess in tbe same de gree the traits essential to success {; alertness, courage and above all, in z itfative. The American seems to Car
 ry to the bridge table for his amuse.
 ment the same faculties that he finds ; so useful in his office. AS one writer puts it, There has never been time in which there was such premium on good judgment in business affairs sound combinations of resources and taking advantage of the mistakes ot others, and there has never been a
 game in which exactly the same quail ities were so fully rewarded as they
 are at bridge"
 1t is amusing, t is interesting, and its variety is endless. No one has any fear of a dull day in the country while one can play bridge. Whether it be before tea or after dinner, bridge can
 be depended upon to fill the interval
 If it has done nothing else for the ben eft of humanity, it must be admitted that bridge has stopped the yawnina places in modern society.--New York
 Sun.