The Washington herald., 1907-03-31
BRIDGE WHIST IN HIGH LIFE
Smart Houses Turned Into Private
Gambling Resorts.
Women Who Make Expenses at the
PIay-creditors Nc Bugbear II
Cards Come Right.

Night after night when the simple utt.
mistress OF. the Harlem fiat IS turning ou
the gas for the night, the mistress OF
! Fifth avenue, or Riverside is marshaline
her guests for the nightly battle of cards
says the Broadway Magazine. Footmer
are placing little tables in the drawing
room; partners are drifting together. and
/ the air is pregnant with subtle excite
ment and the lure OF the game.
| When bridge enters. the smart house
/ takes on the atmosphere OF a public gam
bling place: and the hostess in the flush
/ of this excitement, this turn-about- face
Of the law Of hospitality. loses sight OF
the fact that those present are her guests
She makes no effort 10 keep the poor ones
from being fieeced, nor does she protect
the amateur from shaTpers-ana sharp
/ ers'' there are in the most exclusive
drawing-rooms. They may be clothed as
the lilies OF the field, and their hands
show that they toll not, neither do they
spin, yet they are there TO make a Ilv-
ing. 1t is this astounding distortion OF
the normal viewpoint which makes bridge
a revolving sight 10 those who look on.
so that many of these have been led
away from the craze by the dictates OF
their better natures. Weakened nerves
and depleted purses are bad enough. but
stil worse is the disappearance Of that
American trait we prize so greatly-the
sense and practice OF true hospitality The
hostess who has become an avariclous
gambler. who is often in fact an arrant
cheat. has lost all regard for the welfare
Of her guests; nor. as 1 have said. does
she discriminate as to their means. The
impecunious youth maid, and matron are
forced to play away beyond their slender
pocketbooks, in many cases to their ut
ter desperation and consequent ruin.
"Oh, well"' said one hostess. in reply
TO the accusation, "one shouldn't play.
you know. if one can't afford it. How
am I to know just what bank balances
my guests possess?"
have often come in contact with that
class of players who make a business OF
playing bridge in order to meet their
actual living expenses. Were it not for
bridge and their skill and experience in
play they could not maintain their place
among the brilliant set
OIe attractive woman confessed 10 NE
that she won enough at Hot Springs, Va,
to pay all the expenses incurred there in
month. And above all, that she had
winnings left, sufficient to fit her out with
fashionable frocks for more bridge par
ties in New York
I cannot go to these" she bluntly
says. unless 1 am as well dressed as
the other women, and / cannot get the
fr0cks without going to the parties"
Isn't that going about in a circle?'
she was asked
Circle? It's a circus ring" SAID she.
swapping her fingers, gayly, 'and it's lots
OF fun"
This woman says that creditors were
always her especial bugbear. but now
since bridge has come into style, she can
almost pay as she goes. All of which
makes her credit good against the time
when she must charge as she goes.
She frankly confesses that her scheme
for this season is to 90 to Palm Beach on
the little money she has. She IS well
aware that she has not enough funds to
stay there unless she holds good cards in
bridge and plays them well. She saws
she expects to come out far ahead of the
game