Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1911-05-20
WOMEN AND WHIST.
By Frederic ]. Haskin.

I that the game received its name from the
| silence observed IN its play Edmund
Hoyle is commonly supposed to be the
first author of any ability to write upon
whist. and he is sometimes spoken Of as
the father OF the game He published his
Short Treatise in 1742, and upon this
are based most of the whist laws and
rules now in practice Hoyle gave lessons
IN whist to the fashionable Londoners at
a guinea lesson. and It Is said acquired
quite a competence from this source
While the game Of whist Is too scen
tifc and eXacting to be popular with the
frivolous. there IS no doubt that among
those who have leisure and the desire TO
play cards in careful and studious
manner it will always have q place of
honor. The rules are simple enough for
child TO understand one OF the pres
ent board of governors Of the Woman's
W hist League was taught the game by
her father when she was only seven
years old Now. at the age of sixty
seven. she finds keenast pleasure in
whist at a time when many other d.
versions are denied to her.
There is no other card game played
by women so richly endowed with quaint
old rememhrances and historical associa-
ton. The bellies and beaux of the Brit
sh and French courts made II the fash
ion. Their descendants brought it to
America in colonial times Whist was
In great favor in Philadelphia at the
time OF the American revolution. The
vivacious Peggy Chew is said to have de-
tanned a British officer at her home by
the Requirement OF whist so that he was
late in appointing sentries. and thus
failed to capture some important letters
which Washington was sending to his
officers in Philadelphia Sarah, the daugh-
ter of Benjamin Franklin. was also
known accomplished whist player.
and Franklin himself was sometimes not
loath TO begule his leisure with court
game"
Since whist Is a game Of skill rather
than game of chance. It has not ap-
pealed to the gam
Game of Skill, bling player. While
o, wagers and bets
NoI VI OudliCc' have been made over
the results of contests. they have never
really become a part of the game. The
true whist player enjoys the intellectual
exercises the intricacies OF the game call
forth. As a social game whist is not so
enthusiastically played as some Of the
others because IL requires closer attention.
Therefore, Its devoteeS are less numer-
Gus. but 1t enjoys permanence In favor
net given to any other game played by
women. such games as progressive
euchre, high five. FIVE hundred and others
similar In scope will have a run Of
season or two and then be superseded by
a new diversion. Progressive card par
ties in these games. with tempting prizes.
are continually obtaining in favor for all
sorts of charitable, philanthropic and So
cial purposes. None Of these. however.
has any influence upon whist. The skilled
whist player regards them all with the
superior tolerance a fine musician gives
10 the popular ragtime music. They are
not to be taken seriously.
Bridge whist occupies a little higher
place in the mind of the skilled player.
and for several years has been so popu
lar that even whist players have been
forced TO consider It. 1t requires less
concentration than true whist. Even
small country villages have bridge clubs
and classes In several Of the large cit
les, during the winter, bridge tournaments
have been held in which nearly thou
sand players have been included Inc
fact that the American Whist League has
also issued a guide for the game OF bridge
has done much to place 1T on plane with
straight whist.
Although the time probably never will
come again when a rubber OF whist Will
be as much a part OF the day as the
! dinner yet there Is reason to believe that
the great vogue gained by the game In the
mid Victorian era. It's prominence In the
English novel and it's intrinsic value
tine solace of advancing years will keep
it always alive. Other card games come
and CO. they are the fads Of today and
the bores Ct tomorrow, but good old whist
goes on forever. The ladies playing in
Baltimore today are nightly in earnest,
and. as games go. they are worthily en-
ployed