Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-11-26
A BRIDGE TOURNEY
How to Arrange This Popular
Entertainment.
SELECTING PARTNERS
MANY PRIZES CAN BE MADE AT
HOME
The Proper Refreshments and Other
Details Of Inn
portance.
SELECTING PARTNERS
Written for The Evening Star.

took 1t I'D with enthusiasm, have not lost q
particle of their ardor over the games at
fractions Unfortunately many persons have
made an innocent and interesting pastfme
medium for gambling The real game OF
bridge played in a sane manner, devoid OF
all sensational monetary features save the
winning of pretty, inexpensive prizes. Is as
harmless a way Of spending an evening as
would be the playing Of the antediluvian
backgammon, early Victorian whist, BRAIN
devouring chess or any other mild distrac-
lions warranted to bring the most lucid
mind to the verge Of lunacy.
For the hostess who wants to pay off her
social indebtedness In comprehensive and
inexpensive fashion a bridge tournament
has decided advantages over other amuse-
ments. The ''giggle, gable, gobble," tea Is
rather passe as a social liquidator, and q
large dinner Is often beyond the house ana
purse possibilities of the would-be enter
tatner. There Is no reason, however IN the
case of a bridge tournament why forty
guests could not be comfortably entertained
In couple Of good-sized rooms. although
the ideal number would be perhaps twenty.
thus occupying five tables. Still, the Old
adage Of the more the merrier holds good
In the bridge party.
Is that age Is no deterrent. and, saving
grace, 1t Is not imperative. as at a dance.
that there be an equal number of men and
possible, the latter combination adds to the
success Of the affair.
And one more plea for bridge Is that pow
erty is no ban, for cheap prizes are always
provided, and 1t is not good form to play
for money.
Need Even Number.
One Of the first requisites for success is
an even number of players, exclusive of the
host or hostess. When both Of these are
ardent devotees of the game this rule Is a
hard one, but an entertainer should put
the success of his party and the pleasure
Of his guests above all personal gratiflca-
ton, and should remember that If one play
er fail him an entire table will be spoiled.
OF course, If an obliging friend can be
counted upon to step In to fill the gap all
may be well, but a hostess must always
have an extra string to her bow.
Pairing the players is an important point
to consider. and the question often asked
Is. shall they be assigned to certain tables
or shall the seating be by drawing lots?
Another point which is apt to bother the
hostess Is whether each player shall keep
the same partner through the evening.
The wise and impartial arranger of such
an entertainment will not relish playing the
part of fate for the evening, but will allow
the god of chance to have his way. A Sc
lection of partners Is all very fine for we'll
matched players. but 1t Is hardly likely that
there will be an equal number Of good and
bad players present And, too, in the course
of tournament many of the games would
be woefully one sided II two of the best
players kept together all the time.
The most satisfactory way to settle mat
tiers is as follows: Have ready as many
slips of paper as there are players. For
convenience we will say twenty guests are
present. On four slips write table IT, on
four more slips table g." and SO on up to
table 81 The four people who draw the
four table T. slips will play the first rub
~ Co. 49, t., %In
usual way. Should there be the same num-
Der of women and men present and 1t Is de-
sired to divide them equally this can be
done by putting two of each set of four
slips in one bowl, blue one possibly, from
which the women will draw. and the other
two in pink bowl, which will be offered
to the men as they arrive. The tables
should be numbered, and each should be
provided with two packs of cards, two or
four markers and four scoring cards.
The Play Begins.
Now for the beginning of the play If
| Mrs. Quick and Mr.. Slow. having drawn
| together, win the first rubber by 21O points
! they each enter this figure under win" on
| their score cards. They then move on to
| the next table, where the first rubber is
also finished. and play the winners there.
| They may either cut again for partners or
| II it is desired that no two persons shall
| pair off with one Of the other winning
| couples Meanwhile the losers at the first
| table remain there and play with the losers
| of the next table. and for this reason it Is
| bles, as otherwise after the first rubber one
| table is always waiting to play.
The Score Cards.
The score cards may be purchased with
pencil attached, ready for use. The largest
a,-ot
next largest score the second prize, while
| the greatest losing score becomes the proud
possessor Of the "booby prize" When a
| BOBBY is not given only the winning scores
are kept, and this distribution simplifes
| matters, as then the scoring card only has
| number Of table. name Of player and the
| score printed on It,
| A very dainty woman's prize is home
| to hold playing and score cards is covered
| with a strong. firm. but not too thick, ma
terial so the corners may be easily turned
| With little paste fix q thin layer of cot
ton wool on top OF the box, then cut out the
| material-art linen makes an excellent COW
ertng|leaving good margin all round and
| lay 1t smoothly over the top of the lid
| FASTING 1t firmly down over the sides. Now
cut carefully four pieces of very thin paste
| board to f1t the back. front and ends Of the
..
| err these with one long strip Of material SO
| that when laid around the lid Of the box the
pieces of cardboard fit exactly on the sides
| and ends. The lower part Of the box Is
covered In the same way. If the design
| is painted instead of embroidered the box is
| first covered. 1t is easier to paint upon
| and there is no danger of damaging the
| work by paste or glue. The animals in the
| design should be colored. fiat, with a strong
| dark outline.
Sometimes these bridge parties take place
| in the afternoon from 8 to 6, when they
| are usually Of the 'dove" type, when the
| refreshments are Of the afternoon ''tea,
variety. At night tournaments the invita-
| lions are generally sent out for quarter
| to 8, with the admonition to be punctuaI
At about II light refreshments, such as
bouillon. sandwiches, cold chicken salad
| ices and coffee, are served
| These bridge parties are often bohemian
| in their nature, and 1t is decidedly swagger
| to let the men smoke during the game. lit.
tie ash receivers being placed on the tables
| for their convenience
| A Graceful New Coat.
A very graceful form of vvran wbfcb will