The Cordova daily times., 1918-09-25
PLAYING BRIDGE IN WARTIME.

COrdova is not the only place in which the subject of ge-playing has caused agitation. Is 1t proper to play bridge while the Red Cross Is calling for workers? Or should the playing of this game during the period of the war be taboo, just as profes- sional baseball has gone by the hoard and horseracing seems also to be about to lose caste? As in all subjects wherein an attempt is made there is q wide divergence of opinion and in discussing the question 1t will be rcc"ssary to sift the chaff from the wheat.
 At the outset 1t may be said that bridge. like all other reCreations, is not of itself harmful it is only when 1t has become an obsession, like the dl linking of whiskey or betting on the ponies, that mischief commences. The pel son who devotes q large portion of his or her time to playing bridge, to the detriment of home or business duties, is a stacker either in war or peace times. Happily there are very Country's welfare these should be made to see the error of their ways. That woman who has plenty of time to play bridge and no time to do Red Cross work is considered n stacker in these times; though there Is no good reason why the male sex should take it upon themselves to taunt the womenfolks with delinquency in this regard Most men have some pet hobby which requires a good deal of their time and the chances are that if they were called upon to give up their little hunting expeditions. the fishing trips, their billiard games, yes, and even their quiet little games of draw" there would be a great deal of murmuring. Very few men. com paratively. have devoted as much of their time to Red Cross work. as have 
 the time of the patriotic women measured up against the dollars of the stcrner sex it would no doubt be found that the men had contributed comparatively little toward the Red Cross funds.
 Looking at the matter from q twin. the war" standpoint, the wife of Gov. Reyes of New Hampshire is quoted as giving some very practical contri- buttons to the discussion. She says in part:
 If an occasional game of bridge. after the days work is over is q bet ter tonic for the next days work in some cases than a contest at golf. or a visit to the theatre. or a quiet hour with book, can personally see no reason to consider 1t either idle or unpatriotiC to indulge in 1t. Nearly every comfort kit that We send to France contains a pack of cards, but We do not for one moment suppose tnhl tne SOluleT "nO receives them will wish to use them in working hours. We should not play at all unless we have found that to us in dividually it is proving the means to refresh us for our real job
 Some persons have advocated the disOCntinuance of bridge playing al together during the period of the war. much in the same manner as other war sacrifices are entered upon. But unless other amusements or recrea- tions are likewise eschewed there does not seem to be any real merit to this suggestion, especially in a place like Cordova. where recreations are few.
 Probably the best suggestion would be to regard bridge as we do other recreations, and as long as 1t does not interfere with our usefulness, to enjoy it. The moment it interferes with war work, or any other work or duty, put a strict ban upon it.