The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-04-15

classes. To look at him you'd think he was one of the worlds greatest intel- lects. When I asked if he had ever played bridge he answered by saying: No; I've sat and saw em play lots of tlmes but I ain't never played it. And what do you think? He turned out to be one of the best bridge players in my class. He simply had card senseAthats all"
 Some people argue that the ability to count 13 is the only requisite, but it seems to me that the Ill rules, penalties, best plays. how to settle large debts on a small income, great skill in deduction and a knowledge of clairvoyance is the one best bet, don't you?"
 The ability to count 13 is certainly very necessary factor" said Miss Curtis, "and bridge is like anything else, it takes years and years of constant. hard study to reach perfection, and then there is still more to learn"
 "Yes, remember some authority on bridge said that perfection in the game is accomplished slowly after long effort. It's like learning astronomy, Sanskrit, biology, bridge-building. Esperanto or chess"
 You remember of course" said Miss Curtis, that Poe regarded the knowledge of whist as bringing into play more of the faculties than chess"
 Perfectly" I said, and what was the pretty way the Countess de la Rance ex- pressed it?"
 Here it Is written on a big poster" said Miss Curtis, and taking it from the wall she read; "A man who has trained mt {, trained it to be capable of achieving any thing that the world can offer A cam paign does not need more combinations; a cabinet does not require more address; an astronomer royal does not solve finer problems, and a continental diplomatist does not prove greater tact.'
 "Of course it wouldn't do for me to ask why so many people are bad-tem- pered and ill-natured at the card table So many think that men are more kindly disposed in this respect than women," l remarked
 Men take more kindly to correction from each other than women as a rule. You remember the thirteenth maxim that Cavendish sarcastically included when he said: By Sll means blow up your partner at the end of each hand Not only is it most gentlemanly like pro- ceeding, but 1t impresses others with your fine knowledge of the game '
 Don't you think bridge is good les son in arithmetic and that the lead pen ell plays a most important part in the game? I always fell like the fellow who iv lraaptpo tho ccora io 1ila tho opaol~a,. of the House of Representativss-he has every thing his own way l remarked.
 ''Well, bridge is certainly responsible for a lot of women learning to add with out using their fingers" she replied. "One clever woman know says that when she adds column of figures the only reason she doesn't use her toes, too, Is because they are not get-at-able."
 "The conversation of bridge amuses so many people," remarked. "I heard some- body say once that when a player says:
 May I play, partner?'
 And the latter answer:
 Pray do--'
 That it is the only time on record when cards and prayer have congregated together in the same room.''
 'Of course, great many things of a jocular nature have been said about bridge. It Is always that way about anything that is popular laughingly re- sponded Miss Curtis. "One of the wittiest things have ever heard was, that bridge is mental chewing gum for vacant minds-but, of course. this was said by woman who had never played game of bridge in her life"
 My little visit to Miss Curtis was very like game of bridge in that a great deal of the fascination continued long after 1t was over. For she Is entirely proficient and thoroughly successful as a bridge teacher, and to be an adept in something that has interested the world at large. and has held the attention of artiste and dilettante alike, is to argue ones self decidedly clever. and well worth. knowing.
 Kitchener Will Cross Canada.
 Winnipeg, Man, April 14.-It Is an nounced from the war office in London