Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-08-29
Friendships and Card Playing.

II is a sad fact that the end Of each
summer season shows more than one
friendship severed or at least strained over
such trivial matter as game of cards
This happens, too, OF course, in winter,
but there is more card playing during the
day IN summer and the opportunities
for disagreement are more frequent.
There are several causes for this. but
the one great underlying agent is lack of
courtesy. 1 do not expect that every one
Will agree about this for woman whose
partner has done a stupid thing at game
and made discussion later about it. will
say 1t wasn't her fault, but that of the
stupid player.
Undoubtedly stupidity is partly to
blame but II exception is taken courte-
ously TO the play there is not likely to be
a quarrel afterward Even If the courteous
comment or question afterward is OBJ
Jected to by the stupid one. the day or the
friendship may be saved by the other if
she will politely stop there. instead of at
tempting a discussion.
This, one may say is giving the other
her own way. and so 1t is, but ii is far
better to do this and avoid playing again
with that person than to wrangle after
ward and have i'll feeling even for a
moment. If one does not like the game
or the way of playing cards of another
the thing to do is not to play with her
There are always hundred ways of get
ting out Of II In the future without hurt
Ing any ones feelings. but for a heated
discussion or quarrel at the time there is
no excuse.
1t is curious fact all of us have ex-
perienced at some time or another that
certain persons cannot play cards with
out losing their temper or becoming ex-
tremely provoking. Here again the rem
edy is not TO play with them. To such
persons game is not game; il becomes
dead serious proposition to be won at
the cost oe all manners and 1t ceases to
contain the least element of pleasure
Cards as a diversion and pastime are
Invaluable, but they should never be re-
Garded anything different The rage
for bridge has led to playing for stakes
and this In itself is not Objectionable, al
ways providing that a woman does not
play for larger stakes than she can afford
Points in bridge mount up with amazing
Quickness, and II game for two-and "a half
cents point is not 10 be considered by
any but a person with a large income.
Even cent a point apparently trifiing
may amount to Sl0 in an evening 1t
takes good deal Of pocket money to be
able to run this Cha?Cr frequently Bridge
Tor half cent a point or for % cents a
rubber Is not likely to be nerve racking
or purse straining, but IL IL Is either a
woman should not play il. She not only
harrows herself in doing so, but DESTROYS
the pleasure Of others.
If she does play for stakes she should
never lose sight of the fact that she is not
IN a business to make money. but that she
IS playing game for amusement II she
Cdhiot pt dhuseu OF diverted even when
losing she should never play Yet II Is a
fact that comparatively few women can
lose, even when there are no stakes and
not be annoyed. Those are the persons
who ignore the purpose of cards-diver-
sion-but treat the game like contest of
brain and muscle. wishing to do or die in
the attempt This IL is that causes I'M
pleasant discussions at the end of the
game, and results in Ill feeling when there
Is occasion for none of any kind.
II every woman would determine. when
she sits down to cards that she will be
courteous, even though annoyed. that she
will not lose her temper. however aggra-
waiting some one else may be or If she
loses-there would be fewer friendships
strained through the long summer days
and cards would be what they should. n
source of pleasure and not Of bad feel
ing