The Paducah evening sun. [volume] (Paducah, Ky.) 1906-1929, 1907-12-20

hasten the approaching uecllne OF
bridge as a social favorite II is the
increase in the number of players
who indulge in practices which are
distinctly unfair.
In a mans club they have not only
the power, but also the viii 10 put
stop to anything of this kind. or
course they do it nicely and without
any fuss.
A member notices something sus-
picious and speaks of it quietly to a
friend. The latter watches and con-
firms the fears of the first. Then a
| third Is taken into their confidence,
and finally they bring the matter to
the attention OF one of the board of
governors in a tentative way, as IL
lit were perhaps all mistake. but
curious.
After a little investigation one of
the club servants is quietly directed
TO tell Mr.. So-and-so the next time
lhe comes to the door that his resig-
nation has been accepted and that
he is no longer member. Unless
he is very dense he takes the hint and
departs. A college professor who
thought he could brazen II out and
would not take his medicine quietly
insisted on facing his accusers, with
the result that what was merely a
suspicion was proved beyond ques-
ton. and instead of his being able to
continue his professional duties,
minus his club membership. he
wound up as a waiter in a Bowery
restaurant.
But YOU cannot regulate things
that way among women. While wo-
men are very ready 10 talk and to
compare notes and even TO name peo-
pie, they are never willing to make
charges TO a committee.
II was not more than year ago
that a woman's club caught one of its
members red handed with a pocket
book that she had taken from a card
table at which she was playing a
moment before. Did they do any
thing? Oh. no. or course it was all
mistake, they said, even though the
same woman had been under suspic-
ion of crooked practices for months
She is still a member Of that club
in good standing; watched of course
and talked about, but never openly
denounced or asked to resign.
There seems TO be something in
the game Of bridge more than in 9TH
er games that tends TO sap the moral
sensibilities. Strange to say, playing
bridge for money does not seem to
excite the cupidity of women half
so much as playing for a prize. The
things that otherwise respectable and
highly moral women will stoop to for
the sake of winning a prize in a
bridge tournament are simply as
founding.
Favorite Tricks.
One qf the favorite tricks,
when fhe game is pivot
bridge is for four friends to arrange
their own table and agree that they
will double and redouble everything
no matter what the declaration may
be, so that at least one person at the
table shall have a tremendous score.
The result is practically the same as
IL the trick values were s, 16. "a. 80,
and AS, instead of the ordinary series
of 2. 4, 6. and -.
In recent game at which the play
lasted only two hours the winner un-
blushingly presented a card which
showed she was more than 1900
points plus In order to even things
up among themselves the same four
will go to another party, at which
some other member of the quartet
will make top score.
When there are not enough to
make up a table two playing as part
ners will frequently take advantage
OF their opponents in ways against
which there is really no defense.
While one deals the cards her part
ner picks up her hand as fast as the
cards are given to her, and almost
before the dealer has time to sort her
hand dummy asks sweetly:
Ibid you leave 1t to me, dear?"
Eyes, dear" :
"No trumps.''
II the question IS not asked but
the cards are held in the hand duL.-
my is not anxious to make 1t. but
has a trick or two. II the dunn y
lays down her cards there is EothiGgI
in them.
Dummy can do a great many un-
fair things to which It is difficult to
take exception because of the ready
excuse that the player was mistaken.
that Is all. But some things are be-
yond detection even.
When II was the rule to take a
trick for a lead out OF the wrong
hand many women wee in the habit