The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-03-17

One sometimes has to use wornout phrases both in speaking and in writing There are no good substitutes for the ex- pressions that have done duty in the English language since and before Shakespeare's time. Thus for instance, It is frequently difficult when decribing an extraordinary event to replace the sd- jective amazing" To say that a thing was astonishing or surprising or astound- ing does not, somehow, give the same character to the meaning, and so we go on saving that things are amazing when we want to give an impression or real bigness, just as the reporter almost invariably describes a murder or fatal accident as shocking.
 All this is by way of preliminary to what was going to say, and I meant to preface it with the hackneyed phrase, .sWe move in stirring times'-in spite of the fact that the season is Lent and so- cietv is supposed to be quietly refiecting upon past deeds and planning future ones. And as it is true If haclineyed, one. may just as well go ahead and repeat that the times are busy, though they appear the reverse. And why? Because wave or auction bridge has broken over the city and everybody is trying to see who can learn it first. For some reason Birming- ham has been slower In adopting the new game than many other places that are no more progressive along others lines" Auction has been "the" game for several seasons in other localities. but beyond a ,,aI ma a fortnightly intervals in clubs of eight or F. Birmingham has pacidly gone ahead improving her bridge game, with never a ,thought of auction, beyond one of jewelry Or china occasionally. Bat now, old men and young, maids and matrons are play ing auction The reign of bridge is over Mixed card clubs have sprung up all over the city and those who play at all during Lent are assiduously going in for thor ough knowledge of the game, with pref erence for the stiffest of penalties in case of errors. And in a little while there will be as many experts at auction as there are at bridge.
 Miss Anne Curtis, whose coming to this city few years ago marked the tearing down of many prejudices where cards were concerned, is back again. The first time she came to teach the bridge game. Now she is teaching the festive auction v She has met the same anxious, enthusi- astic throng of soicety folk that she found before One arranges for lessons with great difficulty, and wonders when she finds time to dine. In a corner of the public library the other morning, however, hal some authority on auction, are there any authorities on aucton?-she was in- duced to talk of the game.
 Isn't it all perfectly easy when one al- ready knows bridge?" was my gulletess question. To which she made answer;
 'one of my former bridge pupils re- marked the other day that she knew auction; shed learned it in night And I said, Indeed! Who taught you? 'Oh, Edwin taught me- she said placidly, and Mrs. Blank, who was member of the party, said, Humph, Edwin can. teach You all he knows about it in five min utesn Now, auction is not a transparent game by any means. think 1t is Ike 2 woman-at least like the men want to think wonan-inNsterious, subtle 
 derstapd it. revealing suddenly. other depths that you did not know existed Now that is how simple think it is.
 What are it's advantages over abridge?
 Tt eliminates that abominable spade md that's enough, You know the spadt fairly. ruined bridge. Then too, 2 T bridge only one player has aachances. i, auction tiae-chances arc equal with all thu players. If one gets a good hand he get the benefit of it. These are real al vantages. The chief attraction Is th' very element from which it takes it' name. Everybody loves an auction. Th' betting element comments itself to every one. particularly to me, and the most en thusiastic pupils have are men"
 'Ts there not great risk. though. il over bidding ones partners hand?' Mis- Curtis was asked.
 'Yes, decidedly" she said; 'I have t contend with much of that. l have seei many hope dashed by a well meaning but misguided partner at auction, and often recall the answer one man made t' semi a poloeetic mariner who kept ask