Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1941-08-17
UnC|eSan0|S
TheWOr|dSBeSt
Card layer

III
r. the origin and evolution of playing cards and
- say how many ago beings
first figured out that there is lot of fun and diversion
from LIES problems in little pack Of pasteboards with
pictures and numbers them.
historians believe that the swarthy bosses of
Gent Fgvpt amused themselves with their versions of
Bridge Poker Pnoche Rummy back in the days when
the pyramids rising from the hot sands along the
Nile Other equally asute scholars think that the
of old China and the Egyptians should be al
lowed TO take bow for the invention of playing cards
evidence has found that there playing
cards in Europe before the Csades it reasonable
TO assume that the knights who made the Saracens
the Holy Land brought cards well pres
ent Arabic numerals and considerable knowledge about the
science of chemistry back home with them
BE that 1t may there ample evidence show that
Uncle Sam the best card player in the world today and
sits down often than anybody else to enjoy evening
at the card table.
long ago Association of American Playing Card
Manufacturers decided to find out just how much of card
player Uncle Sam They sent corps finders
10 "a ctes-bg ones, medium sized and small ones
These investigators rang doorbels of thousands of homes
mansions prosperous homes just ordinary dwellings and
dumps"
They asked people in these houses if they PLAYED cards
And if they did what their favorite games Among
other things these wandering stastcians discovered that
SO per cent of American families play cards77 different
and distinct games ranging all the way from Auction
Bridge Old Maid
While finding out that four out five Americans break
the tedm Of modern life with occasional session the
card table the investigators learned that the most widely
known card game in the country is Rummy OF all the
families interviewed 40 per cent take frequent fling at
kind of Rummy another.
1t also came out that Solitaire a much popular
pame than anyone supposed And that AS per of
in for form of Solitaire another from time
time.
Although Rummy and Solitaire are somewhat better
known Contract Bridge still holds first place with the rank
and file OF Americans from the richest of the poorest
Bridge is played far often by Uncle Sam than any
other game the favore diversion per cent
American women and per cent Of the men, if the
survey carried IN "a cities be taken basis for
national figures.
The amount Of money people make to have
siderable bearing the card games that they play. The
popularity of Contract Bridge drops sharply from the rich
est to the poorest brackets and Pnoche to so the
other way Among those who pay little if any, tax,
Pnochle gets the call Bridge
Good old American Poker. which is only little
popular with Uncle Sam than Auction Bridge is plenty
democratic 1t diversion which appeals to the million
aire no less than to the guy who's doing his bit army
outfit dollar a day
has years Uncle Samuel likes to peel off
his starstudded a-coat and try his hand filling
side straight which he usually doesn't
Next 20 Poker which is a game often played
by than by although the gentler has a
markabe understanding OF the difference between fun
house and bob-tai flush Auction Bridge
strange reason Auction is very popular IN New England
particularly in the lower income groups prob
ably take a smart psychologist TO figure this
Not so many years ago Contract Bridge looked upon
by Americans passing fad They had the
that the game was nothing much more than and
streamned version Of the older Whist and that wasn't
here TO stay.
prophets guessed wrong and the recent survey
shows beyond doubt that the is getting pop
ula all the time that least per those who
ENJOY II playing often frequently than they
did five years ago
The surprising social significance OF bridge in
the fact that both auction and contract players than
40 per cent Of them at least play week oftcner
The doorbel ringers whose job check up on
Uncle Sans card playing habits got big surprise when
they found out how many Youngsters play cards these days
The bright 20 FOR Bridge and do surprisingly good
JOB at H. But most Of them prefer SIMPLER
Hearts Michigan. Old Maid Slap Jack
gist OF the survey is this that Uncle Sam spends
his free time playing cards than any form
recreation except reading listening 90 the radio gong
Now and then OF he sits to- the
table with idea Of making little money most
the plays for fun and relief from eco-