davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-08-03
Freak Distributions Of
the Cards-Hold-
ings That Re-
quire Careful
Action.

Freak distributions at auction should oe
readily recognized.
Holding eight or nine Of a suit, there are
only five or four missing cards 10 be di-
vided among the remaining three players,
and one other player must have only one
or none of the suit. and conversely the
pther players prdba bly, have unusual hold
lrgs in some one Of the other three suits.
With unusual holding in two suits, the
same reasoning applies, and such hands
as rule, are more potent al trump
make than otherwise.
With the opening Of the play-of with
ne adversaries the freak hand seldom
warrants a no trump. The opponents at
tack at no trump is sure 10 come from
,ne's short suit and the greatest caution
must be used I'm being properly guarded
against such contingency.
Hence the unusual hand generally de-
,elops the most virulent suit bidding, and
On such hands the overtime score fattens.
These freak hands also are the ptfall for
he careless and unthinkng.
The following hand. played at local
Tub. illustrates the fortunate ending of
an unjustifable take-out on a hand that
should have been marked as unusual
The hand
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-08-03
Spades K-7-4-3
Hearts K-9-3-6
Diamonds 8-7-3
Clubs a.

South Cdealer declared one no.
trump. West overcalled with two
royals. North held the above hand.
What should his action be and why?
one reader from Newton. Mass. hits
the vital spot in his answer by saving,
1T is a question of the recognized
sOundness If the dealers bidding II
he were a sound, conservative bidder.
an Increase 10 two no-trumps would be
justified. But with a player of doubtful
capacity or one known to bid impossible
no trumps. North should pass, hoping 20
hold the opponents at least"
Many hands at auction require the
personal equation test This hand il
illustrates the double handicap the poor
and unreliable bidder is under. II he
is unreliable and given TO declaring i'm
possible no-trumps. his partner is afraid
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-08-03

Of Central Africa" page 2N) Burton de-
scribes the natives Of East Africa as
admirable timists and no mean tunists.
Wallaschek page 400 citnS Noodle
C'Ten Years in South Africa, by John
W. d. Noodle. page 22S. says: "Anotho
still more striking example Of Hottentots
musical talent was related to Noodle by
a German officer. When the latter hap
pened TO play that beautifully pathetic
air Of Glucks. che faro senza Euridicc.
on his violin. he was surprised to observe
that he was listened to by some Hotten-
tot women with the deepest attention.
and that some Of them were even affect
cd N tears. In a day or two afterward
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-08-03
GIVING HIM A SHOCk'

Miss Dubbkins-M Marietta stam". An
Wimbledon. nervously, 'er-"o"-
yuh-you mum-mum-marry me- ,,.
Don't you ever ask me quest'o"
that again. Reginald Wimpleton' reP"'
the girl. proudly ,,,ri.
"Bub-but whuh-why. MUM Il
etta?" suffered Wimpleton. ! tut
love you dud-devotedly and -- Am.
Because" the fair girl answered ar
Iy, because il will not be necessa'' ,,,
you to subject yourself 10 the he'
strain. | win."-Harpcr' Weekly
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-08-03
PLAY.OFF STAGGERS EAST.

East opened his partners suit up to
North's tenace but as the cards lay any
other opening would have been equally
Intellectual
North led the ace Of trumps I'm an en-
deavor TO drop both of the missing ones.
But finding a second lead was required
to eaten them, he switched To his single
ton heart. His ch)ice In cross-rufnng.
carrying with II the possibilities of an
carly establishment Of a heart trick in
dummy allowed wider latitude Of play.
As East Immediately played the ace OF
hearts on the singleton lead. the balance
of the tricks was claimed by North and
duly allowed when the declarer's exposed
hand showed the adversaries their help
lessness.
game secured by small slam at
douole value. I'm addition To some points
scored i'm the honor column. augured we'll
for North and Souths final success.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-08-03
SPECIMENS OF AFRICAN FOUND IN
THE SONGS OF AMERICA

exhibits the rhyhmca
exaggerated OF which has produced
also tina Africa
the Of the author SHOWS
at the
No A Les Chants Cones d
l. melody
STUDY OF
in fourth Of the united
No a kaHr MELODY
in the
No Mus Of Columbian tsho
Coast
owdich
Nc.
thrdsfft md
flutes nsu Of Also from 8owdIoh
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-08-03

royals in Norths hand, get withou; any
indication in bidding 90 forctcli IT,
Vt five hearts doubled, 30 points would
have been the minimum bonus for North
and South.
Good team work on the unusual hold
ings draws a clear line between the Good
and tie ordinary auction player. The
reasoning out Of correct infcrc"ce and .Ie-
auctions a freak hands permits er,h
range for the student that Is entirely
lost to tho unthnkinc.
Here is a hand IN actual play that di-
vides the sheep and goats very clearly.
The hand.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-08-03
DAHOMAN WAR DANCES.

\ more striking demonstration Of the
musical capacity Of the Dahomans was
made in the war dances which they pc
formed several times every forenoon ana
afternoon. These dances were accom-
panied 10y choral song and the rhythm'ca
and harmonious beating OF drums ana
bells. the song being I'm unison The har-
mony was a tonic major TRAD oroN'H
up rhythmically in a most intricate ana
amazingly ingenious manner. The inSTl-
ments were tuned with excellent business.
The fundamental tone came from drum
made OF followed log about three iee'
long with a single head PLAYED by one
Who seemed to bc tho leader Of the osnn'
though there vas no giving NJ signals
Continued on eighth PAGE.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-08-03

South declared one no-trump we"
overcalled with two royals.
In the actual hand North went 10
no-trumps. East and South pssSlhs
West doubled and the declsIer
trapped with no means Of escape a."
penalty geo was charged against W..
Had North taken into conslde'a"Y
Sou,n's penchant for weak no-uump',
he would probably have passeu
avoided some ieers Of an ever CRUZ
gallcrN.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-08-03
THE NORMAL lNFERENCES.

Souths supporting bid practically car
riod assurance If solid diamond suit.
Therefore. with the value of the North =
holding IN spades and hearts remaining
unaltercd. with either Of the contending
declarations the club suit clearly formed
the basis upon which his decision rested.
with the location of the ace OF hearts
somewhat i'm doubt. and Norths clubs
probably yalueless. it was fair TO figure,
al an eNpcctdnt double in diamonds. 100
points loss for each trick above a sin
glcton club in South's hand How would
these losing clubs affect an opposing
royal declaration?
II would practically insure game for
tho adversaries. This could he in
ferred from East and Vests bidding
which indicated such strength as 10
render any trick-makng for the adver-
sarieS. outside of clubs. OF exceedingly
small proportions Ii therefore re-
solved itself into a speculation on the
number Of clubs in South's hand
Norths optimistic view Of the situa-
ton was rewarded when South's hand
brought to light holding in which a
void suit of clubs constituted the basis
Of the supporting bid.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-08-03

Score-Loyc-dli rubber game
With very strong holding requiring
only minimum supporting strength for
game. South declared one heart Ills bid
was correct \ "shIt-odt' two declarl-
ton would not be- applicable 10 his case.
lie was well fortified To combat a posi-
blc high declaration Of an opponent yet
his oldinG was such as 10 be susceptible
10 the influence Of a declaration by
his partner 4 subsequent declaration,
should occasion demand the oycrcalling
OF a partners declaration. would lay
greater emphasis on the value Of The
original holding.
West declared two diamonds North,
pdttlng aside any thought Of his royal
holding. supported his partner declaring
two hearts East declared three clubs
and after South bid three hearts, West
made it four clubs But after North de-
clarcd four hearts. East -efused 10 ente,-
tain a bid for a small slam i'm clubs AMI
turned his attention To his partners suit
What his thoughts were could only be
surmsed but five-dii md declaration
was the outcome of his deliberations
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-08-03
VALUATION OF TWo.SUlTER.

The proper valuation Of the two-Suit"r
I'm Vests position vas also shown 10y
a three royal declaration. North de-
clarcd four diamonds. and East, dcclar-
ing four royals. had sufficient strength 10
Justify his hid That his partners over
call originally was not made solely for
defence was clearly evident To East At
the time West AGAIN ovcrcalled a later
declarations Notwithstanding lis heavy
burden of eleven tricks FOR game.
\ declaration Of sis. to overcall East,
proved too high for South. but his part
ncr assumed the contract which neccs-
STATED the making Of a small slam to
FUN East doubled, and as West natur-
ally anticipating some difficulty at an in
creased royal declaration, though at one
trick lower than the adversaries. passed.
the bidding closed.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-08-03
hNSW Err TO QUERY.

The query hand of July 10th failed to
bring forth the usual number of replies
whether by reason of vacation time or
because of doubtful problem is hard
To tell.
The hand was as follows.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-08-03
Good Team Work on
Odd Hands Is the
Hallmark Of Sound,
Resourceful
Players.

TO support him except with preponderar
ing strength, and should the original man
have good hand even. IT is liable 10
fall by the wayside by lack OF possible
support. while his poor holding oioS
only serve 10 locate certain cards TOT
the onslaught Of the enemy
The complete hand as held IN me
actual play was as follows.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-08-03

ton. IN sharp contrast 20 sound orig
nal declaration on the previous hand. this
opening declaration furnishes an example
of an III considered bid Where part
noi's support iu that hand would prac-
tcally insure game. such additional
strength i'm this hand might not advance
its value beyond the original status OF
tie former hand
The possession Of only one nigh honor
should aIiay any fear that "a second op-
portunity might not present Itself to de-
volop a possible winning hand from an
urestablyhcd suit.
south was Immediately taken out when
West declared one royal TWO diamond
was properly bid bv North and East
ovorcallcd with two royals, supporting his
partner. with such strength as South
held I'm his partners suit, a return 10 his
own suit was out Of the question. HIS
declaration of three diamonds overcallmg
the adversarics showed proper apprecia-
ton of the situation.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-08-03

the missionary. used t. play some hymns
before the tribe Of the Mama Hottcntots
to the accompaniment Of a concertina.
Some days alterward they would repeat
the hymns lriH me Duich rori'. which they
could not uuders tand. Hahn saws: They
drawI the grave songs of the hymns. such
as 20 Haupt voul Rlut und Wunden.
Fin I.ammlein gent ind traGt de
Schuld." with the same ardor as 30 du
mcin Licbcr Augustin' Ny Heart Is bon
the Highlands or Long Long Ago.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-08-03

score-Love-all. rubber game.
After a careful study Of his hand South
declared one club.
His decision In an obvious choice be-
tween ROYALS and clubs was correct Al
though an average distribution OF trunps
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-08-03
MARGIN OF SAFETY DEFleD.

The margin Of safety that lay in Easts
declaration could not be arrived at by
complex figuring. Luck promised To play
an important part. That the adversaries'
opportunities FOR trick taking were con
fined TO narrow limits, however. was cas-
lily deducible from East's cards Demon
STATIONS of how East would fare at five
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-08-03
MUSICAL APTITUDE OF AFRICAN,

Sir Richard Francis Burton. in his book
on West Africa. says of the music of the
kroomen that lit is monotonous TO de-
gree. vet they delight in it, and often
after A long and fatiguing days march
will ask permission TO make play and
dance and sing till midnight When hoe
ing the ground they do II to the sound Of
music in fact, everything is cheered with
4 song. The traveller should never forget
% carry tom-tom or some similar in
strument. which viii shorten his journey
nv a fair quarter" In his Lake Region
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-08-03

They are Jose White. Brindis dc Salas'
AIb.rtini. Gigueiroa and Adelelmo' Vio-
lnists. Jmcnez. pianist and Coleridge-
Taylor. composer. OF Adeielmo ne says
that though he was never heard outside
of Brazil he was AN eminent NlTtuoso
and refined composer: aud, 70 judge oy
his surname edo Nascimentot pToodoF
the son OF former slave.
HARMONY IN AFRICAN MUSIC.
wanaschek formulates his conclusion
touching African music after considering
the testimony Of travellers as follows:
The general character OF African mu-
sic then. IS the preference Tor IN! lhiu
over melody twhen this Is not the sole
considerations the union OF Sols a.
dance. tho simplicity. not 10 say hump!e-
moss ~ tho subjects chosen; the great
initiative talent ln connection with tne
music and the physiCd eNeTuOn anu
psychlcal excitement from when II arises
and 70 which i appears appropriate
IN this characterization he might have
included at least q rudimentary knowl-
edge OF or feeling for harmony. There is
evidence OF a harmonic sense III the
American songs themselves though the
testimony of the original collectors does
not make II clear that the slaves sang
the Characteristic relgains OF their songs
I'M parts on this point something will
have to be said presently; but the evi-
dcuce Of African harmony is summarized
by Wallaschek himself in these words;
Kobe at the beginning Of the eighteenth
century heard Hottcntots playing their
gom-goms in harmony. They also sang
the notes Of the common chord down 10
tho lower octave. each one beginning
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-08-03
a DAHOMAN MINSTREL.

l..
the Aehantees and Fantees. from Rov-
litch's Mission from Cape Coast Castle
TO Ashantee," may be seen in the exam
pies of African music printed in this chap
ter That the Dahomans. who are near
neighbors Of the people visited By Bow
ditch also EMPLOY harmony ! can testify
from observations made in the Dshoman
village at the Worlds Columbian Exhibit
ton held in Chicago in 1898. There lis
tened repeatedly during several days 10
the singing Of a Dahoman minstrel who
was certainly the gentlest and least asser.
tive person in the village, II not IN the
entire fair All DAY long n- sat beside his
little hut, q spear thrust IN the ground
BY his side. and sang little descending
melodies in a faint high voice, which re-
minded me OF Or. George SchWeinfurths
description in Heart Of Africa Of the
Ministries OF the Miami Mans who, he
said, are "ss sparing Of their voices as
WORKOUT prima donna and whose min
strelcy might be said 10 have the char
acter OF lovers whisper" To his gentle
singing he strummed an unvarying ac-
compartment upon a Tiny harp. This in
strument. primitive I'm construction dixie
the ancient Egyptian hsrps IL lacked
pole 10 resist the tension Of the strings
was Yet considerably developed from an
artistic point Of view. IL vas about two
and a half feet high ard had eight strings
accurately tuned according to the diatonic
major system. but emitting tho fourth
tone. With his right hand ne played over
ana over again n descending passage OF
dotted crotchets and quayers IN thirds
with his left he syncopated ingoniously
on tho highest two strings
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-08-03
knowledge Of Rudi-
mentary Harmony
HighlyDeveloped
Among Ahi-
can Tribes.
HAPIER '.

so much for modes and moods The
analytical table in the last chapter showed
several variations Of both the major and
minor scales, and these variations must
90 examined for upon them. together
with rhythmical and structural character
.stics. rest the idioms which have been
referred to as determining the right OF
he songs of the American negroes To be
called original. These idioms are the
crude material which the slaves brought
with them from their African homes
This at least is the conviction Of this
writer and the contention which he hopes
to establish by a study of the intervalhc
and rhythmcal peculiarities of the songs
and by tracing them to their primitive
habitat Before then. for the sake OF
orderly argument, it may be well briefly
10 inquire into the musical aptitude OF
the Africans who created the idioms. I'm
fortunately the inquiry cannot be made
as particular as might be desirable for
want of specific evidence.
THE SLAVES NOT ALL NEGROES.
The slaves in the Southern States were
an amalgamation Of peoples when the
are spoken of as negroes. there were
many among them who were not raclally
Njgritians The Slave Coast, from which
The majority of them we're brought TO
America, was the home of only a traction
of them. Many came from the interior
Of the continent. There were some MalayS
from Madagascar. some Moors from the
north and northeast portions OF the conu-
nent Among the negroes of Africa the
diversities of tribe are so great that over
a score of different languages are spoken
by them, TO say nothing Of dialects. All
was FISH that came to the slaVers net
Among the Moors brought TO America
were men who professed the Mahome-
tan religion and read and wrote ARABIC.
II is not impossible that TO their influence
in this country, or at any rate to MOORISH
influence upon tho tribes which furnished
the larger quota of American slaves Is
due one of the alterations from the dla-
tonic scale which is indicated in the
table-the presence Of the characteristic
calIv Oriental interval called the aug
nented or superfuous second. Among
the peoples who crowded the plantations
we're Mems. who were OF the hue of the
so-called red men OF America O., cop
pcr coIored. There were also lboes. who
had tattooed yellow skins. II does not
seem to be possible now TO recall all the
names Of the tributary tribes-Congos
Acwas. Popos. Cotolies Feedas. Socos
Awassas. Aridas. Ponds, Nagos-who
onows now how they differed one from
another what We're the peculiariues OF
language and music which may have at
fccted the song which they helped 10
reate in their second home? We must
ocrforce, eeneralize when discussing the
native capacity for music Of the Africans.
MUSICAL APTITUDE OF AFRICAN.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-08-03

never been-in the interior of Mexico. In
Argentina. IN chill and the 'ordillcran
highlands nothing OF their influence ls 20
he observed. except that iu these coun-
fr..s Nh. beautiful dance Of the fIabanera
and numerous songs with tho Hdbauerd
rhvthu have effected an entrance.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-08-03

The closing declaration in this hand, "a
IN the others. merits some attention
The question here is upon what grounds
did North base his preference Tor a high
contract i'm diamonds over a seemingly
safe royal double?
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-08-03

promised fair results should ROYAL dec
laration be allowed TO hold. club decla-
ration with but minimum chance OF
holding the bid. was better. = two-club
declaration, popular with some players
because of strength at the declaration.
would convey the wrong message TO one $
partner, and should be strongly con-
demned.
After the first declaration on freak
ish hand the bidding took a somewhat
more normal course than usual West
declared one heart and North one no
trump. East, of course, declared two
hearts in support of his partner.
AS the proper time had now arrived for
South to show his royals he declared two
in the suit West made a declaration Of
somewhat doubtful value OF three hearts.
Three royals followed from North AS a
matter Of course. Easts strong support
ing hand caused him to declare four
hearts. -Four royals from South was
passed by West. and the bidding came 10
East again.
EAST ELECTS TO PAY PENALTY.
From East's point Of view 1t looked
Ike choice between allowing game and
rubber TO go with the adverse declard-
ton. or Of taking a loss with his own
bid. lie decided upon the latter course
and declared five hearts AS the bidding
indicated many adverse winning cards.
the loss following from double-that
would inevitbly fo,low-would not be
commensurate with the saving Of game.
South passed.
But when the expected double followed
from Norths hand Immediately after
ward, South declared five royals. ACTON
similar to South's is often observed IN
ike situations and always seems tanta-
mount to an expression of willingness
for the opponents declaration 10 hold
providing the partner does not double
No explanation can make such action
consistent II il obvious that South :
pcint in passing was not for the purpose
of allowing the make TO go undoubled.
The usual eXplanation-fear of the bad
results Of a double-by no means covers
South's Inconsistency. tnbeknown TO
himself. his action really meant Part
ner. let lasts declaration pass
West doubled and this Of course closed
the bidding.
LOCATION AIDS PLAY-OFF.
The location of the caros made it COM
paratively easy for South TO fulhll his
contract Success, however. was only at
talned because his partners best suit hap
pCned 10 be royals With a much weak sr
suit his partner would still have sup
ported him 1t was not within North S
knowledge that his partners bid was
made without honors. This very point
was evidently absent from South's cal
cuIatons. very different result might
have happened with less strength at
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-08-03
on PAGE %

on PAGE %:
From d musical point Of view. the IN
Aucucc Of tine African on the W e.i leIdh
tr,oI.s has been of IA" greatest siGulil-
cameo. for through their cooperation
there arose d dance fOrm-the HaoaneIa
yli.u spread itself through "Omanlr
America The essential thing IN pure
negro music. as Is known, IS TO be sought
boo RHYTHM Tile molOdIc phrases Of tie
negroes consist of endless rcpetluOus OF
short series OF notes. 50 that We can
scarcely speak of them as melodies in our
sense Of the word ON the other hand. no
European shall escape the impression
which these ThythUs makes. They llt'i-
ally bore themselves into the conscious
Loss of On, listener irresistible and pcuc-
tIatlng % the verge OF torture
ON the same page again.
Whoever knows the enthusiastic love. !
mIeht almost say the fauttcism, OF the
impression which the music Of III" span
iards. especially that OF the Crcoles made
uIou ttom. n can easily Doe proved now
uch they prontcd 10y the music of the
Europeans. how gradually the sense ~
D., iOd. was richly developed IN them. ana
how they acquired and made their own
tine whole nature of this art without sur
rendering their popularity OF rhythm.
This EuropeduiZcd negro music develop q
O. its greatest tlOrcscCnCe lu the south OF
the United state.
Frcdeutnal mentions number OF mu-
sic.aus who attained celebrity. al! of them
Of either rGrc OF mixed African descent.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-08-03
a SAMPLE PlTFALl.

The continuation of the subject iu the
following hand points Its own mOral-the
pitfall In the unusual holding.
The hand