The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-04-29

The annual congress of the Woman Whist league at St. Lotus April 23-2S is an event most interesting. The league took its rise in Philadelphia. In 1897 an enthusiastic whist player Of that city, Mrs. T. Hollingsworth An drews, offered four prizes to as many teams of local players as were willing to compete in a three days tourna- ment Philadelphia women whist play CTS responded to the invitation so nu- meriously that at the close or the tournament a meeting was held propos- ing to organize then and there a wo- mans whist league. It was to be national in scope. consequently invi- tations were sent to women's whist clubs all over the country asking them to become members of this new femi- nine organization.
 Twenty three clubs quickly enrolled themselves. and the next spring. 1885, the first regular congress of the Wo- mans Whist league was held in Phiia- delphia. At that congress two tro- phies were contested for, one presented by the Ladies' Whist club of Wash l ington, the other. called the Philade1- phia cup, by Mrs. John Price Wetherill of the Quaker City. Two other tro- phies were in course of the congress all so presented to the league by clubs in Brooklyn and Toledo.
 At the close of this first congress, in 1898, the new league was fully organ ized by the adoption of regulations and the election of officers. Mrs. T. H. An drews, founder of the league. was Of course its first president.
 From that year to this the interest in the whist league has been steadily in- creasing among Amercan women. in spite of the invasion of the classic game's feverish and extravagant rival, 1lzA rxybV Y
 whist" should be hitched to Its name
 is something no real lover of the an- cient game can tell. But bridge can
 never take the place of really scientific whist.
 Until the organization of the league. in 1S9S nobody knew there were so many feminine whist clubs in existence throughout the country, but they came
 in touch with one another rapidly ar rewards. The league, too, aroused strong general interest in this game Of kings, so that isolated players met and
 started many clubs where none had been before. Clubs included in the league membership now extend all ov- CT the country. from Southern Califor- mia to Boston. A rule of the league Is that it's annual congress shall be held each year in the home city of It's presi- dent for that year. Under this regula-
 
 ton, New York, Detroit, Boston, Chica- go and Baltimore. Last year 1t got back to its starting place. Philadelphia. Tho president of this seasons congress is Mrs H. c. Noel of St Louis.
 Preparations were made by the St. Louis women whist players for enter taining at least 300 delegates. Exten- sive table and room accommodations are necessary for the players them
 selves In the evenings and in the players of hours plenty of receptions and entertainments are provided for the whist congress visitors.
 The main prize given at the con- rress is the so called Washington trophy" It is contested for by club teams of four. Any club desiring to compete enters its best four players. Three mornings of the whist congress are given up to the Washington trophy players. and the team winning 1t is en- titled to be called the champion for the wear. Some twenty clubs enter and compete for this championship prize.
 There Is also a junior championship prize offered by the Ladies' Cavendish club of Philadelphia Besides the leading trophies numerous prizes are given to individual pairs of players
 who excel St. Louis has many expert whist players among its women. The secretary of the league, Mrs. M E. sheney is among them. She Is known the country over for her skillful play Ing.
 A view of the women's whist con Kress presents material for an inter-