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THE SUNDAY STAR, WASHINGTON, D. C., JANUARY 17, 1932 & [HE BRIDGE [fORUM Once in a IWhile Once in a while we like to see The cards all run the other way, Once in a while we get a thrill From dropping each finesse we play, OCnce in a while we all rejoice. In finding our opponents strong, Once in a while we're glad to learn That something in our system’s wrong, Once in a while we like to lose While knowing that we did our best, Once in a while we like to say Our play v.5 poor by any test. Once in a wiile it's lots of fun To know we're bcaten by a mile, Once in a while these all are true, But only once in a while. N activity enjoyed by millions of in- telligent people can not be indicted without at the same time indicting those who enjoy it. More than half of the worthwhile educated citizens of this country play bridge, possibly 70 or 80 per cent of them. Since their general mode of life can stand comparison with that of any similar number of people since the world began, they require no words of defense in their behalf. Such being the case, bridge itself needs no defense against those who at- tack it. One ray of sunshine in the gloom of the current depression is the fact that many people have learned how to entertain themselves wholesomely by means of this most appealing of games. Those who lack the money to spend for pleasures they once sought are making their own fun by playing bridge. Instead of paying several doilars to sit in a chair while somebody else furnishes them entertainment, they are “rolling their own.” If there is anything wrong or harmful in that, it is hard to figure out. The cry has been raised that it is harmful to study the game, with the idea of developing real proficiency in it. That is equivalent to the doctrine that it is wrong to do anything well. Happily, plenty of people like to do well in anything which is worthy of their attention and hence strive to learn to play the best they can. They are the ones who derive the most pleasure from it, likewise the ones who gain ‘tx}:e greatest mental benefit in analytical train- g. Those who berate the ability of the game to improve the mind do not understand what Edgar Allan Poe meant when he said that whist “has long been noted for its influence upon what is termed the calculating power, and men of the highest order of intellect take delight in it.” The most respected, prominent and brilliant people in the world play bridge today, as they did whist in his time. Begging Your Pardon We probably should apologize for printing these comments. Says Walter F. Wyman of Boston: Gelng back into my earllest memories of whist. there have been many who felt com- pelled to break forth into song over the noble family of games, but vou are the only one who has clicked. You have captured the spirit of the game. and your philosophy of it is the first contribution aleng that line since Dr. William Pole. many moons azo, wrote wisely on the philosophy of whist, John M. Storm of Cleveland writes: Shepard Barclay. the modern bridge poef writes one poem a week. into which h: imect:' the modern =pirit. A touch of sincerity (rather than sentiment), a bit of gentle jeering, con- siderable poking of fun and a lot of rhymed advice. Some of his poems have been collected and put into booklet form under the title Bridge Verses.”” Thoce familiar with his other writings know this bit is good reading. Readers, please accept our apologies; writers, our kindest thanks. g The “Offi('/}// System” In the new system the informative, in- formatory or take-out double is not classed as & ‘“defensive” measure as in older systems, but as an attacking weapon, which it surely is. It conveys to the partner the news that suffi- cient strength is keld to make it likely that the side will score, rather than the opponents, and guarantees encugh so that the partner can afiord to respond with a worthless hand. Tre way to distinguish it from a penalty double is made simple and clear. A double is informatory only under these circumstances: (1) When the doubler had no pravious op- portunity to double; (2) when the bid doubled is not higher than one no trump or three of a cwt; (3) when the partner of the doubler had not previously bid or doubled. All other doubles are “business doubles,” for penalties. Since the high-card trick table of the new system counts as many as three tricks in a single suit, as against two or two and a half in come other tables, the total required for an informatory double in t'is system is higher, either in that type of trick, or in distributional advantages. In general, it should be at least 3'2 high-card tricks if the desired bid is of only one; 4 if it is of two; 4!, if it is of three. The fine player will shade this or increase it slightly according to special considerations, depending on whether partner had previously passed, whether both opponents or only one had bid, whether the doubled bid is at the rigkt cr the left, etc Partner must nol pass an informatory double in this system, unless relieved from responsibility by the intervening opponent’s bid, except because of such great strength in the doubled declaration that he can defeat it soundly for more peints than probably could be scored at his own side’s declaration. A four- card major should be preferred as response to a five-card minor. Two stoppers in the doubled suit justify a no trumn For higher than minimum responses, show- ing strength, 2%, h ard tricks ijustify a Bridge Needs No Defense Against Those Who Attack It—Game Steadily Gains 1n Popularity. BY SHEPARD BARCLAY jump with a four-card suit, 2 with a five- card suit, and an eight count with two stop- pers of the adverse suit calls for two no trumps. When second hand has doubled, third hand should cut in with any justifiable strength to prevent a response to the double if possible, unless so strong that no response is feared, when a redouble should be made; this requires about 2'2 high-card tricks. After such a call, fourth hand should not respond te the double except with a five or sikx card suit or unusual distribution so that he can support other declarations, such as a singleton in the bid suit and four cards each of the others. As a rule, an informatory doubling hand Surprise Ending Continued from Eighth Page aren't you? Well, we'll soon be home. I've got to make the office by 9 o'clock.” The office by 9 o'clock! How that thought somforted Lucile. Somehow, she suddenly felt proud of Paul's having to be at his office this morning as usual. It seemed to offer firm ground for her to stand on, It seemed to drive the atmosphere of cigareite smoke, lipsticks and silly chatter out of her mind. And at that moment she didn't feel envious of the smart younger generation of today, with its gay parties and hilarious carryings-on. Lucile just wanted always to be with Paul; she wanted always to hear Paul talk about being at his office at 9 o'clock. Sbe almost wished she and Paul had come home last night at 11 o'clock. Yes; her dad was right. Anyway, she was glad she had found out. And she was also glad that her father wouldn't ever know. Most of the 40 miles home, Paul drove with one arm about her. He just held her close, sort of protectingly. Lucile realized it. The little squeezes he gave her now and then really meant something—a lifetime of happiness, of reality. “Two years more,” he was saying, his mind long ago having left the dance, “you and I will be happy, Lucile.” “Yes,” snd she sighed. WHBN they reached home they were to make the amazing discovery that things really were happening to them. They saw Mr. Howard standing in the front doorway. Obviously, he hadn’t taken his trip, after all. He was waiting for them. From the curb, they sat in the car and looked up at him in humble astonishment. But they hadn't long to wait. Mr. Howard beckoned them with a stern wave of his right arm. “Come in here, both of you!” They went in. They followed him meekly into the living rcom. They sat down in the chairs he indicated. Then they waited respect- fully for him to speak. It was obvious that he intended to speak. “So! I didn't think this of you two young people.” “But daddy, we were only——" “I don’t think you'd better try to explain. There are some things that can’t be explained.” “We went up to Cornwall University to a dance,” said Paul. “We didn’'t do anything wrong,” said Lucile. Mr. Howard didn't say anything. He just sat there in humility and shame. His burden seemed too much for him to bear. “Besides,” added Lucile, “it was all my fault. Paul didn't want to go, but I coaxed him.” Mr. Howard stood up majestically and faced toward Paul. There were centuries of virtue and righteousness in his somber gaze. “Young man,” he spoke the words slowly, meaningfully, “you are to blame for this. You kept my daughter out all night and there’s only one thing to be done. You shall marry her now —this meorning.” “But—but—" and Paul's face suddenly began to brighten. “Not a word out of you. You marry Lucile this morning.” “Oh, all right, of course,” said Paul. Then he looked at Lucile. “That is, if Lucile is willing.” “I'm willing,” said Lucile, trying to keep back a smile. Two hours later, when the wonderful words had been spoken by the family minister, Paul took Lucile in his arms and kissed her. It might have seemed like a conventional bridegroom kiss. But it wasn’t. Paul seemed to be about to break out into a very undignified laugh. He kissed her several times, finally managing to repress the laughter. Then: “Your father is always right, dar- ling,” he whispered. “Yes,” said Lucile. Yeast One of Greatest Enemies of Milk NE of the greatest enemies faced by the condensed milk industry is the wild or pseudo yeast. This yeast grows on almost all types of wild plant life and finds ready access to the average condensing plant located in the rural sections. Every time the breeze blows into the plant, every time a person walks in, the possibility of a yeast infestation is present. The utmost vigilance is imperative to prevent the yeast, once it has entered a plant, from attacking the milk. The sweetened milk in particular is always in danger of being ruined by the wild yeast. In order to guard against infestation, every plece of equipment in a condensed milk plant which comes in contact with the milk, either in the raw or finished stage, is sterilized prior to each day's activities. Sodium hypochloride is used as a disinfectant and is sprayed liber- ally through all pipe lines and is followed by 2 rinsing with hot water and then steam. The condensing pans, huge goose-necked re- torts holding as much as thirty thousand pounds of milk, are thoroughly cleaned after each day’s run, a job usually requiring the services of a man all night. The pan is thor- oughly rinsed, then scoured with steel wool. A knife is used around all the gaskets to dig out every bit of milk which may have become lodged there. In the morning, before any milk is taken into the pan, the plant chemist makes a care= ful inspection, after which the pan is thor- oughly rinsed again and then closed and steamed for 10 minutes or more. Despite all these precautions, yeast often makes its way into milk and every can pro- duced coming in contact with the virus is ren- dered worthless as canned milk. One case of this sort occurred in a condensory in New York State and for 19 days every batch of milk pro- duced was yeasty and therefore unfit for the market. Where the yeast came from. and how it was eliminated, none of the score or more in- vestigating experts could determine. It came and it disappeared and with it went a heavy loss each day. The milk was useless except as barreled goods, which are made up into other milk products after being reprocessed. should have one of two characteristics. Either it should have sufficient length and strength in three declarations to support a take-oud into any of them and to bid no trump if the fourth is shown, or it should pessess some reserve bid of its own if partner responds with a non-filling call. It should practically never be made with a two suiter, which usually should be shown by a bid of one of the two suits, by a call of one higher than minimum if the hand is strong enough. Business or penalty doubles will be discussed next week. A Law alVeek What is the penalty if declarer leads a etub, plays a heart promptly from dummy in spité of the fact that dummy contains a club, ar both adversaries play hearts to the trick, when able to jollow suit, the three mistaken plays 7ot being realized and announced until two trick§ later? Each card played in error constitutes a re« voke. There is no penalty, however, fog dummy's revoke, in either contract or auction Therefore, only the adversaries may be penals ized. In comtract the penalty is two tricks for the first revoke by any player; hence the side pays a penalty of four tricks to the declarem If it hasn't that many tricks it gives him 100 points in the homnor score for every trick it i§ unable to pay. In auction the penalty is two tricks for the first revoke by the side, one trick for each subsequent revoke by the same side; hence the auction penalty in this case is only three tricks; if the side lacks that many tricks in auction the penalty is considered fulfilled by giving up all the tricks the side has. Here's a good one from a fan. South, as de= clarer, leads a spade toward ace, queen and small ones in dummy. West plays a dianond, North the spade ace, East a small spade. As the trick is being turned, West realizes he ree nounced and substitutes a small spade for his diamond. The reader asks: 1. Can dummy now substitute the queen for the ace? 2, Can East then play the king if he has it? 3. If so, are the original cards of both adversaries exposed cards, subject to declarer’s call? 4. Are there any other complications or penalties? 5. W occurs regarding all of these matters if, afté the substitulion of the spade for the diamond, dummy immediately remarks: “Well that per= mits declarer to replay the dummy?” Problems Can you bid and play these cards so as to get the maximum result? South deals with all vulnerable. A96 YAJ4S ®AJI076 82 AQ10753 ¥ Q10862 ¢98 »7 AKJ2 w7 ¢382 HAKQ10958 This hand came near the end of a duplicate contest. Stanley M. Brown, in the South, knew his pair had to get an exceptionally fine result on it in order to win the event, so0 he sought the absolute limit, in fact, an unnaturally good result. It required a continuation of bidding and play to get it. His opening club bid was passed by West, North bid a diamond, East a spadc—rather daring when vulnerable—and Mr. Brown two clubs. West supported the spades to two, North called three hearts, East passed and Mr, Brown went to three no trump. West doubled, and when this came around to him Mr. Brown redoubled A little spade was, of course, opened, drawing the queen and king. Followed seven club tricks. Able to hold only five cards, West dis« carded down to a doubly guarded heart king and his diamond honors, to prevent the run of those suits. East discarded down to his four highest hearts and his spade ten, an unhappy choice, for now the spade jack drope ped his ten and even the spade deuce was good, After cashing it, the two red aces were brough§ in and only a heart was lost at the end. The six odd tricks redoubled produced a tremendous top score and won the contest. The New Problem The national championship pair of Philip Hal Sims and Willard S. Karn were, respectivelyy South and North when this deal came along in tournament play, with all vulnerable and Eash the dealer. What would you do about it? AAKJIB542 YKQT732 ' - & None 4103 vos $1076532 SAK95 HQ87 vJss eKsS #108742