The Vinita daily chieftain. [volume] (Vinita, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1902-1913, 1904-08-31
SMART SET FROM INSIDE.
Not as Bad as Painted by Harsh Crft-
les, But Bridge" Is Dread
full Bore.

Lately certain critics have been much
exercised over the manners and habits
Of what they choose to call 'smart. So
clety," and they have launched fiery
philippics in the magazines and papers
on the subject But to criticise from the
outside must be rather difficult and some
what inaccurate, writes Mrs George
CORVALLIS West in the Cosmopolitan
This section of societyis supposed 10 be
made up of mothers who neglect their
rhildren and their husbands, who live
IN round of gayety, whothink of moth
ing but their clothes, who read nothing
and know nothing. whose conversation is
empty and frivolous, not to say vulgar;
who drink and gamble and squander
their money and their existence. But
men and women of that type have existed
since the world began, and are otcon-
fined to one class pfsociety or-one coun-
try
indeed, the fashionable world is often
occupied in a manner which would as
tonish their detractors and also past gen
erAtions. One has only to consider the
enterprises Of all kinds ia which society
women of the present day are interested,
MOTTO mentionpqliticala and Literary work.
toarealize how much must be done BY |
them. The more prominent the woman
the more she is called upon to do. and il |
is often q subject Of admiration abroad
WHIT an Englishwoman or an American
can and does accomplish. W
One Of the great features of both coun-
try and town life is the playing Of the
popular game Of bridge. which has TAX !
en- hold of society in a most extraordf- /
nary fashion. to the exclusion of all other
games of cards.
Al great deal of nonsense as to its gam
bling evils has been said, even from the
pulpit lbut from that point ofview it is
innocence itself compared to the bacca-
rat and poker-playing of ten years ago,
not TO speak Of the games of hazard in
the early Victorian era, when thousands
were lost nightly In private London
houses.
Gambling at cards has existed ever
since their invention, but since the in
PRODUCTION Of bridge it has certainly
never been for such low stakes in Eng J
land The points played in most houses
range from penny to a shilling
From hostess point of view bridge is
a great boon: an easy way Of disposing
Of and occupying a number Of guests,
who in the course of week may find
the time dragging.
On the other hand like everything else
In this world. there is a revers de la
medaille. and if INDUCED in too much its
evils will undoubtedly bring about a re-
action
Gambling is certainly not the worst
aspect of bridge. It is slowly but surely
destroying all after-dinner conversation
Of any kind
This is curious phase. and when car
ried to excess has certainly a deteriorat-
ng effect. not only on the intellect, but
On the character. Art Literature. music. !
Dne seldom hears discussed-politics
iometimes-and the people who indulge
n them are soon voted bores and secretly
hought to be taking up valuable time
rom the beloved tables
The regular bridge player becomes
Fery selfish, sacrificing everything which
nterferes with his game His manners,
90. suffer. and he will not attemptt to re-
train bis temper Il he IL cursed with
me; be snarls, Wrangles and falls. meta
lhorically speaking. on his wratnhad