The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1911-05-23
ITS FIFTEEN YEARS old

to America-NO Other Card Came
So Richly Endowed With Historical
Associations.
(By FREDERIC j. HASKIN.)
Washington, D. c., May 20.-Not-
withstanding the much talked of pop
ularity of bridge, as bridge whist is
now almost universally called the III
teenth annual congress Of the Woman S
| Whist League Of America now in SEES
sion in Baltimore gives ample proof
that the interest in the older and
more scientific game of true whist is
still extant. Many OF the charter mem
bers of the Woman's Whist League are
still active in its wOAk and there is
little probability of any Whist League
Club "bowing the knee to Baal' by
substituting bridge for whist as many
Independent players are doing. Not
withstanding the fact that the Ameri-
can Whist League has issued a code of
rules and laws for bridge playing and
that a large number of people are
amusing themselves with the more tri-
vial game, whist has never been more
popular than it is today.
The Woman's Whist League was
corporated in the State Of Rhode Is
delphia fifteen years ago. 1t was in
corporated in the state of Rhode ISL
land in 1906 by a charter bearing the
names of twenty prominent women as
its first members and has adhered
closely to the scientific practice of
whist as its object. 1t a done, and
is doing, more than any other organ
ization to perpetuate the true science
and skill of this dignified, historical
card game, which, despite it's rivals,
has now more devoted followers than
ever before.
About sixty clubs are included in
/ the congress now in session in R2lfi-
more. Some of these have sent but
one team to represent them, while
others have several teams contesting
for the different ono The program
for the includes contests for
the Washington trophy, the Cavandish
trophy, the Omaha cup, the Boston
trOphy and the Brooklyn trophy.
There will be open progressive pairs
for women contesting for the New
Amsterdam trophies. There also will
be a special game for mixed pairs
who have won top scores In the open
progressive games, n a contest will
be open to women who have won top
scores in any morning trophy event.
A reception game will be given to
open the congress-, at which men be-
longing to the American Whist League
may participate, and there will be mix
ed games held each evening through
out the congress. The morning SEES
slons will be occupied exclusively by
woAieH payers WHO are competing for
the different trOphies and honors. The
afternoons will be devoted TO BUSH
ness meetings and the social diver
sions planned by the Baltimore women
for their visiting guests. The
OF the Woman'S Whist League is al
ways one Of the most important So
cial events Of the year in whatever
city it is held, because of the high
social prominence of some three hun
dred clever women is giving a gala
appearance to the several hotels en-
tertalnlng them, while the teas. recep-
lions and other functions held in their
honor Will make the congress an af-
fair of unusual brilliancy.
The Woman's Whist League has ac-
cepted all the laws OF whist and dupIi-
cate whist and the etiquette of whist
which have been adopted by the Am
erican Whist League. No~twithstand-
ing all contrary assertions, the ladies
play their games quietly and scientif-
Cally. without unnecessary converse
ton and with no outsiders present.
excepting by special permission from
the teams playing.
There are a number of very valua-
bic trophies or prizes in the possession
of the league, most of which have been
donated either by Individuals or bx-
some club. Most of these have ex-
changed owners each year. The
Washington trophy was presented nv
all the whist players of Washington.
anothe phaiuc hiiaedl P..6..6..6 SIS
and the Philadelphia cup was a oift
of Mrs John Price Wethereu of thai
city. There has been a Toledo trophy.
out last year it was decided that If
should remain permanently in the
possession OF the club winning il the
Ho"eA Club, OF Boston. Its place is