Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1906-09-15
WHEN BRIDGE CAME.

~ ~ Ni'rAiii = iaNb0t ~ hNHVl VI queen
Alexandra.
WHEN BRIDGE CAME.
When the game Of bridge whist was
introduced, II took London by storm.
| The whist was soon dropped, and II
| became known universally as bridge.
The duchess quickly became a strong
supporter OF the game None OF her en-
tertainments were complete without
a special room devoted 10 bridge Ia
blos. Dinner parties broke w. not to
go TO the theater or to listen TO a con-
cert. but to while away half the night
IN the fascination OF the new gambling
game With the duchess, bridge be-
came mania. She Is splendid play
er-there is scarcely a better ono in
England-bui as the old proverb de-
olares. one cannot be lucky In both love
and cards.
Soon after the kings accession and
coronation. there came the first whisper
OF scandal IN connection with brijge.
The duchess was giving rcyal house
party at ChstSworth. Before the king
and queen arrived. a startling discov-
cry was made. This was no less a fact
than that regular system II signal.
ing 20 partners was practised by no.
bic ladies over the bridge tables. This
was. Of course. cheating. The stakes
were heavy, and the consequences Sc
riOus. The news got out. and royalty
was forced to take notice. The queen
was suddenly indisposed and with tho
king. remained at Windsor The storm
al Chatsworth threatened 10 break out
into a national scandal, involving some
OF the highest names In the land Their
majestiCs cut the scandal short how
ever. by going TO ChatsWorth the next
week. Bridge was tabooed during their
stay. and private theatrlcals INDUCED
IN instead.
WORSE SCANDAL FOLLOWED.
Even grayer scandal followed two
years later which. however. was also
quickly suppressed. II occurred at IS
Grosvenor Square. the home OF Sir |
Ernest Cassel a great racing man. |
friend OF the king and Duke Of Devon |
shire. A very noble lady was caught |
cheating. and her husband verified her |
awful act. for he was present al the |
time. Some time later magazine. In |
publishing an article entitled DO La
dies Cheat Al Bridge" mentioned the |
incident en- an obscure way, and refer
red TO the parsonage A. Lady D."
The duchess shortly afterwards len |
England for the continent. The con-
tlnued excitement occasi0ncd by con-
slant bridge playing had affected her
health There had been so many scan
inls regarding the upper ten thous-
suds circles. many az which were put
on the duchess shoulders. that this |
also worried her. she had lost cnof-
NOUS sums az the game and the talk
81 London for weeks vas that the pay
mont Of her bridge debts had cntailei
l tremendous secrihce on the duke, ana
had strained his resources 90 the ut
most.
The Duchess return % England az
ter her few months search FOR health
was the signal for some Of the high
est bridge play known In the history Of |
the game. Many ladies were reported |
In have lost their jewels and their for
tunes. Again were there stories Of the
iuchesss prodlgious losses. In the fall
M 1906 there were some statements |
that Deyonshlre House had
been sold and ~ course gossip ai once
declared that the duke had been forced |
% sell Ii 20 nay ihe duchcsss gamb-
Ing losses. The duke I'm an interview
aid the palace In Piccadilly had not
,een sold and would not be sold during
,le Hfe time. Later the Pail Mall
Gazette william Waldorf Astors paper.
published a short statement that Dew
,nshire House had been sold 20 a syndl-
ate for 1900. 900 cash, but that the
-yndlcaie would not come into posses
don dnin the dukes death. when %
IA secure the house. il was the inten-
ion 10 turn II into pslatisl fats for
This story was never de-
lied. Mr. Aston. who does much real
state dsbhllng over here, IL believed 20
y a member 81 the syndicate.
WENT TO EGYPT.
The duchess las, year went 10 Egypt
or her health. The duke went with
Ter. on the steamer out OF Marseilles.
hey encountered Sir Thomas Upton.
N route 10 Ceylon on a tour o. inspec-
ion OF his tea plantations. Bridge was
llsyed on board and also AZ shephafd's
lofel ~ Cairo, where the party went
or week. Then Sir Thomas con-
inued his journey. Sir Thomas has
Iclped more than one person out 81
difficulties from Royalty
ornKaEds. II VAS reported that his ,