The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1913-03-11
PRIZES AT CARD PARTIES

As there has been great denuncia-
tion lately of the custom of giving
prizes at card parties, which custom
is denounced by many as open gamb1-
ing, 1t is not out of place to publish
the following from the Rome, Ga,
Tribune Herald, as the other side of
the question::
Already it seems that the subject of
playing cards for prizes has become
threadbare by the continual discussion
of people INDUCING in card parties.
Many of the critics do not attend them
and lots OF others do not even under
stand thecircumstances under which
a young lady may secure prize at a
card party.
For the benefit of these, the writ
er will endeavor to explain why 1t is
impossible to gamble at the card ia
BILE at afternoon affairs
When a hostess invites her friends
for pleasant afternoon in her home
the guests does not Immediately be-
gin to play how she may secure her
prize Instead her anticipations are
of CHEEKY, prettily decorated rooms.
smartly clad friends, with whom to
chat for awhile, and a card table
with a pleasant game to avoid mo-
notony, which would otherwise often
exist at large formal parties. When a
guest seats herself at a card table, she
has no way of knowing whether the
hostess will give a prize for the
top score, or not. Often the hostess
will announce at the conclusion of the
games, We'll, you all played so well,
/ decided it would not be fair for only
one guest to secure a prize, and I
could not furnish one for all, decided
to dispense with it." On the other
hand, she may give one. OF course
1t would be an impossibility to gamble.
with nothing in view to win.
Sometimes, to add zest and ardor
to a game, the hostess may have a
simple jabot or small 25-cent
hyacinth in a pot, or the much
abused silk hose, which she offers to
the one scoring the highest. At other
times there is no prize for top score,
and the honoree of the occasion, if
there be one, will be presented with a
dainty hand-painted plate or water
color sketch, work of the hostess.
as a personal remembrance to her.
Often as not, there Is pair of silk
hose given for the lady scoring the
highest, and also a pair presented the
player making the lowest score. How
then could one who played her best,
but received the lowest count of any
guest present, thereby receiving a
prize, be termed a gambler?
The word gamble cannot be ap-
piled to any game unless there be a
loser as well as a winner. In a social
card game, no player loses the value
Of no oh T1a
gambling.
clever hostess. thoughtful in her
planning, will often offer prizes in
keeping with her decorative scheme.
When pink carnations are used as
lavish decorations, a bouquet of the
pretty flowers is given as a souvenir
of the event. If the decorations are
In jonquiIs very often a hostess will
present for top score dainty basket
filled with the pretty yellow blooms,
In keeping with her refreshments.
which may all be in yellow, and even
her ices frozen in shape of jonquils
This mercy goes to show that prizes
are often a suggestion of the party
plans.
How simple is the little game of
''pinning on the donkey's TAIL" which
we have all known as children. Prob
ably the one who is luck'est is the most
surprised of all to know he wins
prize for ptnning it on correctly,
while blindfolded. The same rule
governs a pleasant card game among
ladies. No one knows who has scored
highest until final count is made
after the game and often as not the
surprized winner will very graeiously
present her trophy othe honor
guest of the afternoon, in case the
hostess has no keepsake for her.
The gift presented the honoree is
not In true sense of the word
prize, but is called a guest prize,
which means that the honor guest has
been especially remembered by her
hostess. How often have we known
of little children laboring to their
utmost to stand at the head of their
spelling match in order to obtain
prize offered by the teacher. Again.
we hear Of the little tot who never
fails to attend Sunday school and
makes a special effort to be prompt
each Sunday, all with one aim, and
that a prize.
How many card parties have been
given in Rome that the writer knows
OF, and still not one among the guests
have ever shown any ugly spirit at
losing during the afternoon, and never
as a real fact do Rome ladies disagree
unpleasantly over their cards. The
losers only sorrow at ner bad luck is
in holding back the score of her part
ner. So far as the writer knows, the
most cheerful manners are displayed
by all guests at card parties in Rome.
conducting themselves in refined and
pleasing ways. as real ladies should.