The San Francisco call., 1904-10-23

London. where bridge is thought TO
be quite provincial. While at one
time enjoying princely favor. it has,
like many another royal favorite, been
relegated TO desuetude. And bridge is
forced to soliloquize, with dethroned
beauties and statesmen, Alas! for
the evanescence of princely honors!"
And thus is poker regnant over
boudoir tables, likewise over the IL
brary fetes. where the festive game
sters speed the f1eeting hours with
royal flushes. calling bluffs and va
rious other intensities that cause cash
to change pockets-and friends to
change opinions.
AS vet bridge holds sway in San
Francisco-but surely when 'tis bruit-
ed abroad that bridge is provincial, its
popularity must wane. San Francisco
cannot afford to do anything that
savers Of provincialism--no new COM
munity-nor individual-can. How
ever, while the investigation commit
tee is seeking evidence for the con-
demnatIon OF bridge. the old favorite
viii be played just as of old.
But the day of poker, with its
kitty" its three of kind" and its
accidents with aces. is at hand.
But whether it be bridge or poker,
what proportion of time, essentially
daytime, should be given to either?
Now here is a vital question. aug
mented by the matter of gaming for
money. Now, it's true that cards
without an incentive. as represented
in orizes-cash or merchantables-is
stupid and dull. But what of the ten
sity caused by the striving? What OF
the pain of losing money that could
iI afford to be lost? Household
money, for instance? What Of the
cent per cent man-and there are
women usurers, too-who feast and
grow fat upon the cardplaying
women who have the unutterable
taste TO play away money they can't
afford-and lose it.
What of the physician who's called
I'D betimes for a case of nerves and
palpitating heart and a frightened
husband All, madame. ask your
physician what he thinks OF daily
sessions at bridge, or poker. or 500
sessions that know no recess save that
interiected by a rude dinner hour, or
by the persistency Of the sun rising
upon an unfinished game.
To be sure. all devotees Of cards
are not their slaves. To such as are
the shackles are welded fast. but to
these to whom playing cards is play
ing. then the spotted bits Of card
board fulfill a pleasant mission. Then
it's fun. and good fun.
But shall l. be bridge or poker :?
Whichever ii be. how long and how
CHI 10
it be an object Of existence. or merely
an incident Of it?-tee-time topics for
unbusy people.
Wedding bells againi But It's
ever thus.
During the week Miss Katherine
Selfridgc became the bride of Lieu
tenant Frederick G.. Kellond, Miss
Emily Brice Adams became Mrs. Hen
ry Cheever Bowman. Miss Romilda.
SbarborO gave her hand and heart TO
Guido Joseph Music, Miss lone Fore
was wed TO Eugene Hewlett. Miss
Rose Newman became Mrs. Max
BiuIn-ail local brides. and mighty
pretty brides. too. as becomes Califor-
MA maids.
Besides these, the nuptials of Miss
Miriam Grant. daughter OF Ulysses s.
Grant OF San Diego. and Lieutenant
Ulysses s. Macy. L. s N. We're a mat
rin,OHial feature OF the week I'm New
York. and not without interest to San
Francisco, where the maid is well
known. as is her family.
or in the coral reefs OF Florida an
other Californian has pledged his life
and love TO a maid-En gineer Wood
ruff. son of General and Mrs. c. A.
Woodruff. who welded a charming
army girl, Miss Daisy Hubbell, deugh-
ter Of Major J. Hubbell.
Then in st. Louis a fascinating San
Francisco maid, Miss Adah Howell.
Joined fortunes with rich young cot
ton planter Of Mississippi. Charles Will
liams. thus cutting off forever the
claims OF the West upon as pretty a
maid as ever came out OF It.
The Sbarboro- Music nuptials were
1-tended by all the elegance of a court
Wedding. Few ceremonies have been
celebrated IN the city with such ex-
quisite elaboration. True, the rich gar
dens Of Asti gave forth their fairest
blossoms for the daughter Of the house;
the vine clad hills their purpling grapes
and twirl.ng tendrils; the canyons their
stalwart brakes and fragile ferns.
a beautiful bride was this fair Itali-