Bismarck daily tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, Dakota [N.D.]) 1881-1916, 1907-05-29
BRIDGE PLAYING
HOW IRATE HUSBANDS REcAPT-
uRED THEIR MAYNARD
WIVES IN. MELLETTE.

Commenting on the telegraphic adj
vices from Mellette, s. D., that an or
dinance prohibiting women from
playing bridge whist had been
passed, the Milwaukee Sentinel
says:
"Mellette, S. D., is a pretty little
city and it has but recently become
the seat of a movement which, If it
should spread, will put an end to,
great industry and restore many
wives and mothers to families which
now mourn their almost complete.
absence from the domestic circle.
Mellette has been a victim Of the
bridge whist craze which has for
several seasons been devastating this
broad land, particularly the feminine
part of it. No record exists as to the
manner in which the microbe was
imported into the little South Dakota
town, but within week from the
first exposure Of any OF the inhabi-
tants the craze had become as viru-
lent as anywhere in the country.
In vain did the men folks Of Mel
lette strive against the epidemic. The
pastor of the Presbyterian church
thundered against the Wickedness of
deyoting to. sinful and frivolous card
playing the God-given honors Of life.
The lady parishioners listened with
expressions Of great edification and
attended bridge parties the follow
ing afternoon with unruffled3 COM
posure. Some earnest husbands
adopted drastic measures and quar-
antined the wives Of their respective
bosoms. Aside from threatened de
Yoree proceedings and some legal
conversations about duress and SINH
lar unpleasant things, however, this
plan was without effect. The quar-
5antined women, as soon as released,
irelapsed into the bridge craze with
even more fervor than before.
From. happy, prosperous. little
community, Mellette has become a |
.sorrowful city. The strong, hand
some men who once ornamented the
streets and business houses are now
gloomy, dyspeptic and heart-broken
wrecks. The women ,once as beau
tiful as the prairie flowers, are ner-
8vous shadows; eternally ga1loping
from one bridge table to another,
neglected. of home and family, OBJ
lsessed by the destinations Of the se-f
iductive amusement. And the once
rosy, merry children are now neg
lected waits, whose faces are soiled,
whose noses need attention, and
whose general appearance would en-
list the sympathy of probation Off
Ger at first sight.
But now the worm has turned and
1.-THE downtrodden male population of,
Mellette is to. strike a blow for liber-
ty. An ordinance has been passed
making 1t misdemeanor for any.
/ woman to play the game, and i'm
posing a penalty of from $40 to 500
fine and several days imprisonment.
1t is, therefore, in order to pro-
]pose several cheers for the men Of
Mellette, and to wish more power to
their elbows in the enforcement Of
this slightly novel and perhaps mild
lily humorous bit Of civic legislation.
OF course, not every city suffers
under the bridge affliction to the
Iextent Of the Mellette visitation. In
Milwaukee, for instance, there has
been no necessity for legislation
against the amusement. But, for the
benefit of the men Of Mellette, there
may be related q joyous anecdote Of
al man in Winnetka, or, some other
small city, whose wife was SO at
f1icted with the bridge mania that she
neglected home, children and Spouse.
And her husband spanked her. She
does not play bridge now, and his
home is a happy place again Per-
| haps if legislation fails in Meliette
+ q iudicious application Of the slipper
by outraged husbands may have the
desired effect. -