The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-10-24
DANGERS OF THE
 BRIDGE CRAZE Aside From Gambling It Has
 Its Evil Side OF TEN WRECKS HOMES
Those Who Do Not Play Might as We'll Retire to Convents-Wo- man Writes of Horrors of
 the Game.
rom the Providence Journal.

From the Providence Journal
 Apropos of the craze for bridge whist a leading magazine devoted to the inter- ests of women and the household, has opened it's columns to a discussion of the ravages of the fad and of gambling among women. A letter from one wom- an. which appears in the current num- Der of Good Housekeeping, constitutes severe arraignment and might well give pause to the thoughtful woman:
 Let it once be known that you have abjured bridge and you will have no one to call on, none to call on you: no one to bid or be bidden by. You will in your proper person fulfill Mark Twains lam entable prophecy-you will be good, and you will be very, very lonesome.
 ' I think I see signs of the passing of the fever,' writes an optimistic editor concerning this question. wonder where? Not in the cities surely, for women from New York Philadelphia Chicago, Minneapolis. St. Louis-just to call a few random names-testify that they know of no receding of the wave Careful questioning and observant visit ing prove this to be true, also, of many of the smaller cities. Women continue to
 
 tfce in the afternoons; they have not ceased to have from three to ten regu-, lar bridge engagements a week. All other forms of entertainment are aban- doned for this; music. books, conversa- ton, are alike forgotten, and a mission ary society must call meeting in the middle of the night If it does not wish to find it's members previously engaged. luncheon or a dinner, no matter how formal, is reduced to it's lowest gastro- homie terms. that the women may get to the card tables. It is not so much good form to simplify the menu as it is good bridge.
 T know large number of women who neglect the most simple duties and re- responsibilities and leave their homes and children to the misrule of servants, while they hurry restlessly about to keep their bridge engagements. With all the work of the world waiting, its real prob lems to be solved. it's grave perils to be faced, its noble influences to be strength ened, with it's many fine and innocent pleasures open to every one. and with onl yone little lifetime in which to have a hand in 1t all, women will be contented to spend hours and days and months each thief of youth and vigor, over a handful of cards.
 ''It would be laughable were it not so pitiable, so tragic. It speaks of such
 
 seriousness of living, such ignorance of life's great purposes, such stupid indif- ference as to the neglect of simple. lov- ing human duties and relationshipsi Just as if, when we have played cards all we care to, God would allow us to retrace our steps to repair the breaches in our homes, to gather our children, little once more, into the motherly arms that never had time for them while the madness lasted Does any woman think for a mo- ment that she will ever have again these days of little childhood the days of young husband-loving and idealizing? Does she realize how. in her husbands heart, won der, amaze, disappointment and con- tempt are coming slowly to their unhap- py evolution? I wish I dared to tell some of the women know what I, and others, are beginning to read in their husbands faces, in the childrens habits, in the homes atmosphere. Is it not a wicked waste of time? One woman told. in my hearing, of winning enough to buy an automobile, and a young girl of wealthy parents confessed that she bought her winter suit and her superb furs from the profits of the card table. These are not gamblers winnings, so please you; they are the earnings of women who shrink from the ugly word gambling, and tell with pride of giving half their earnings to charity I heard a woman congratli- late herself that she had had such a lucky season at bridge that she could really make decently respectable Easter offering
 ''I have seen women who could i'll af- ford it offering prizes of exquisite French hand-embroidered underwear. and wo- men with plenty of hosiery so intent upon winning few extra pairs of silk stock ings that neither storm nor sickness could keep them from the bridge table. I have met women who were nervously unfit for any real work and yet who could rise from sick bed, play cards an entire afternoon, and return unabashed to the role of invalid, comforted beyond the power of religion by a pierced silver sandwich plate. It is an open question as to which is cause and which is effect In such cases as this. In fact, 1t is worthy of comment that so many women who suffer ostentatiously from nervous exhaustion or nervous prostration are in- veterate bridge players.
 "A certain woman installed a trained nurse to care for her sick baby one after noon, and returned from her game to find the child dying The mother has not ceased to play bridge whist Any thing which will produce in women such ethical and moral insensibility deserves to be considered carefully"