Evening star., 1939-07-16


putting forth every effort possible
to provide for the comfort and en-
joyment of the many players who
will attend from different parts of
the country. In this connection 1t
should be said that even the kibitz-
ers have not been overlooked. Every
bridge player of the 100000 or
more throughout the land has at
some time or other been more or
less annoyed by the presence Of the
kibitzer, even the silent kibitzer.
With some he is reluctantly tolerat-
ed, while others regard him with in
difference, and still others, especially
those who are very temperamental,
look upon him with contempt and
strenuously object to him.
Unlike the enthusiastic fans at
ball game or the ring side rooters
at prize fight whose loudly shouted
admonitions and advice to the
principals are really a part of the
performance, the kibitzer, to be per-
mitted at all, must be as silent as
an oyster and as immobile of ex-
preston as an Egyptian mummy
Observing from his point Of vantage
three of the four hands In play his
knowledge of what it were best to
do he must suppress and keep to
himself. Scientists describe dirt as
simply matter out of place, and SO
the kibitzer may be characterized
as card player out Of place.
Nearly every game has its kibitzers
and the problem of what to do with
them, and how to handle them has
been very troublesome. Now, the
A. C. B. L. comes along with the
announcement that it has the
answer, and that it's experiment will
be tested and given a trial at the
forthcoming Asbury Park tourna-
ment. 1t has decided to erect an
elevated tier of seats surrounding
the tables where nationally known
experts are at play, and permit them
to be occupied by kibitzers who will
be subject to the same rule of COM
plete silence as heretofore.
This is the first break that these
unfortunate and much maligned
non-players have had. Also, it offers
the possibility of revenue, if the
league is so disposed, for the show
will be good one and the kibitzers
have never been obliged to pay for
the privilege of witnessing 1t.
All of which goes to demonstrate
that no matter what our troubles
are. there is generally some happy
method of alleviating them, even
to the satisfaction of those who
cause the annoyance.
1t is gratifying to learn that Dick
Needham and the American Con-
tract Bridge League have now kissed
and made up. Everybody in his
ephemeral North American Bridge
League and the American Contract
Bridge League Is now friendly and
happy and everything is running
along smoothly as it should. This
is pleasing news to Washington
bridge players with whom Dick has
been popular ever since he conducted
Washington's first big tournament.
but they stuck to the A. c. B. l.. and
refused to follow him into his newly
formed N. A. B. L.
Mr.. Needham's organization now
dissolves or rather amalgamates
with the A. c. B. L. and, accord
ingly, the Eastern section of the
country will continue to have but
one parent organization which is as
it should be. There really never was
any reason for his withdrawal from
the A. C. B. L. and for the formation
of an independent body, but Dick
thought there was and took the step.
Now the differences are all washed
up. Richard is quite we'll satisfied
and is big enough to say so frankly.
In his announcement he states that
the North American Bridge League
founders believed that certain prac-
tices of the American Contract
Bridge League were undesirable, and
that these practices have now been
so modified as to make the new
league no longer necessary or de-
sirable. In consequence, it is dis
continued.
One of the results will be to keep
the Conneaut Lake tournament