Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1940-10-20
BRIDGE
The Game and
Its Players

A decade ago, contract bridge had
its first real start In the Nations
Capital, and the event is to be cele-
brated in the 10th annual tourna-
ment of the Washington Bridge
League. the local representative or
ganization of the game. The tour
neX will be held November Ito, in
elusive. at the Shoreham Hotel, with
the bridge championships Of the
District at stake.
Prior to 1880 there had never been
a bridge tournament held in WASH
ington. and even the duplicate form
of the game was little known.
Shortly before that time, Phil
Stockvis, q recognized expert, came
here from New York and set about
the task of making washington con-
tract conscious. He was instru-
mental In starting the first local
bridge tournament. It was an open
affair in which all players were in
vited to participate and more than
400 of them did. The game was
played, however. In two divisions,
one contract and the other auction,
for a large part of the bridge play
ing public at that time had not
been won over to contract. They
still played auction, which had sue
ceeded what Is known as old-fash-
Toned bridge, an outgrowth Of whist.
Whist had been the classic card
game of America and England for
$50 years, since 1t was devised by
Edmund Hoyle in the Crown Coffee
House, Bedford Row, London. Its
| popularity spread to America and
among its devotees were George
Washington and other notables Of
his day. 1t had its following. some,
what limited as compared to pres
ent day contract, in Washington
down to the COS.
| AS the outcome of the first bridge
tournament here, the Washington
Bridge League was formed. Mr..
Stockvis was aided in its organiza-
ton by 1t. Comdr. w. A. Corley,
U. S. NJ, retired, who subsequently
became its president and succeeded
in developing 1t in membership and
activities until now it is one OF the
foremost units of the organized
game in the country. Annually 1t
has held its tournaments. At first
they were small affairs, but they
have now expanded so as to invite
participation by leading players IN
| all the cities of the Eastern section
Of the United States.
This year special effort is being
put forth to make the 10th annual
tournament not only celebration,
but the most important and enter
tanning event in connection with the
leagues history. 1t will be under
the auspices of the American Con-
tract Bridge League. the parent
body of all bridge players in the
Eastern part Of the country, and
master points will be awarded to
winners, according to its schedule.
There will be five major events,
as follows: Women's pairs, Novem-
Der 7, 2 pm. and November 8, 2
p.m.; mixed pairs, November Z, $3.50
pm. and November 8, $50 pm:
open pairs, November 8, 2:30 pm,
and November 8, $3.50 pm; teams OF
four, November 10, 1870 am. and
November 10, pm; intermediate
pairs, November 7, $50 pm, and
November 8, $50 pm.
The women's pair championship
will be for the Columbia Trophy,
now held by Mrs. J. E. Folline and
DR.. Arthur Salasky Of Richmond.
The Woodward Cup for the open
pair championship is held by DR.. c:
c. Mcdonald and Roy Ashford OF
Washington. The Eynon Bowl,
which is the prize for the team-of-
four championship, was won last
wear by the Baltimore foursome OF
Charles Shapiro. Claggett Bowie,
Irwin Fisher and Joseph Grinsfelder.
The Evening Star Trophy for inter-
mediate pairs is now in the posses
sion of Miss Kathleen McNutt and
w. A. Bolinger of Washington. The
champions all have signifled their
intention to defend their titles.
To develop interest in the con-
tests. members of the league have
been designated to promote differ
ent events and to increase participa-
ton. particularly in the women's
pair match. the team of four and
the intermediate pairs. Active work
in advancing the women's pair is be-
ing carried on by Mrs. c. w. Boyce,
Mrs. Jack Bennett and Mrs. M. r.
Reddy, while L. r. Watson has as
sumed responsibility for augment
ing the team-of -four game. p. E.
Henninger, Paul e. Golden and L.
G. Tubbs will look after the inter-
mediate match.
Applications already are beginning
to come in from out Of town players
who desire to participate in the tour
nament. The first to be recorded Is
E. A. Purvin of Chicago. Various
local organizations and those from
nearby bridge centers have asked to
be entered in a club event for the
intermediate Plaque now held by
the Agriculture Bridge Club. In
Guided in the groups are the Press
Club players, Colonial Village and
| CreenDelt.
The tournament committee IS
composed of P. E. Henninger, chair
man; Paul E. Golden, vice chairman;
Mrs. Marian Barre, James H. Lemon,
Frank B. Lord, Lewis G. Tubbs, Mrs.
Jack Bennett, Mrs. c. w. Boyce, Mrs.
M. R. Reddy, William Cheeks and
| L. r. Watson.
Gray colors captured both Of the
serise Of games Of the past month
at Mrs. Dixie T. Wright's La Sale
Studio. Col. and Mrs. E. B. Gray
made the best score in the Thurs
day afternoon games and Col. Gray
and Mrs. Catharine Tidball were the
victors in the Monday evening
games. A new series will start this