The daily morning journal and courier., 1904-02-01

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 nigh incredible.
 Most of the victims of bridge" have been women, but numerous young men of birth and position have had their fu- ture careers blighted. if not ruined, through gambling at this entrancing game.
 Among the s'smart set," bridge" forms part of the routine of the day. With many well known men and wo- men the game has become mania, and last autumn 1t was grayely stated that one young lady lost no less than thirty thousand pounds at bridge while stay ing at a country house.
 Cases like this are, of course, the ex- ception, not the rule, but still very large sums are lost at this fascinating game at house parties, and it is no ex- aggeration to state that most of this money finds it's way into the pockets of professional society card sharpers.
 Astounding as it may seem, small but well organized coterie of card swim dlers exists in aristocratic circles It is composed of the black sheep of society, 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 it's members.
 The strict code of honor which pre- vails in the society of ladies and gentle men makes it easy for the members of this swindling section of the smart set" to fleece their victims. Their suc- cess is put down to skill for except in the most fragrant cases no one would dream of suspecting a guest at a house party of cheating.
 In consequence interruptions persons can pursue methods of cheating at cards which would be impossible at an ordi- mary gambling establishment. where ev- lery one suspects his neighbor.
 l 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 Iconnivance between the parties.
 Should one of the card sharpers, how lever, manage to obtain possession of the pack for a few moments. the diffi- |culty of partners can be easily ar lrapged. Society card sharpers, it should be clearly understood, do not have recourse to the vulgar and obvi- ous device of marking certain cards: it lis 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 capa- ble 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 any one being Iaware of it, and in devoting these few moments to assiduously polishing the lcourt cards by rubbing them briskly along a tablecloth. after having just lslightly dampened them with spirit var lnish concealed in the handkerchiew. This treatment gives very glossy lsurface, and therefore in cutting for partners the confederates can cut eith- NJ AA4Sit VI lOW ps5 tilVy fACoAl Ct dc tt47S can easily tell by the movements of the cards In the pack which are the higt and which are the low.
 l Servants are frequently bribed to al- low the cards to be polished, and wher the servants are above suspicion it has leven been stated that members of the gang have on one pretense and another bought up the stock of playing cards 1T the shop that supplies the house they are working with stationery, and af- ter steaming open the packets and pol. fishing the court cards the packets are Icarefully resealed and returned to tht shopkeeper on some pretext or other il the hopes that in due course they vii find their way to the hosts house.
 According to the rules of bridge" tht dealer, after dealing out all the cards looks at his or her hand and proceeds tt the declaration of trumps. Before do. ing this a rapid code language is pu into operation and the dishonest part liners know precisely what cards eacl other holds. and are able therefore t win unfairly and easily.
 Dishonest players can communicatt with each other in variety of ways The lady by holding her cards befor, her in a certain position can signify tt her partner that she is weak, say in ret cards.
 A movement of his cigarette conveys to her the fact that he also is weak il cards of that color, and then by sud denly placing her hand on the table sh : s,,fo hat cl,o Hoe tyi , but no aces. Tn this way they cal communicate with ease and cheat t, their hearts content.-London Express
 NgSggy LA