The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, January 10, 1897, Page 25

- THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, SUNDAY, JANUARY 10, : Co HE third annual convention of the Pac Coast Whist Association has passed into history. A few years st clubs were hardly known in this State. t foothold whist got in San Fran- was when a few whist enthusiasts a room adjoining the writer's office utter street, on the 9th day of Oc- 1891, and completed the organiza- he San Francisco Chess ana Whist The charter members of this Foster, W. R. Love- Eyre, M. F. Claflin, A. S E. H. Cole, E. E. Washburn, G. S. F. D. Gilbert, J. S. Brownell, R. brook, E. J. Taylor, R. Kendrick, AL A. Moreton, James S. Snell- ing, J. D. Redding, H.J. Summerhays | and P. J. Tormey. The following were its first officers: sident, Joseph D. Redding; first vice- president, P. J. Tormey; second vice- president. H. J. Summerhays; secretary, M. F. Claflin; treasurer, A. 8. Baker; governing committee—: Foster, G. A. simons and R. Kendrick. This club irished for a short while, then drazged along until the time came when some of s members leit the City, and the interest n the game grew less and less until the entire expense of supporting the club fell on the few. About the 1st of November, . the spark rekindled. Henry Payot, with the writer and two or three others, got the signatures of over 100 to once more man the ship, and on the 15th of Novem- . the present San Francisco st Club was launched as a sort of auxiliary to the Mercantile Library Asso- ciation. With the assistance of this nokle istitution in the way of nominal rent, the breakers were passed in safety. This time ladies were admitted, ana this no doubt was the chief cause of its final suc- cess. Henry Payot was chosen as its fi resident. It now ranks with the largest strictly whist clubs in the United States. About two years ago the club was in- corporated. ~Since that time George E Bates has been its president. M Meyer is the vice-president. He has the reputation of being one of the best whist- players in the club. The next whist club of the City 18 the Trist- D Ciub, named after Mr. N. her of American leads. This ¢ ormed about eighteen months ago. A. C. Freeman, one of the leading lig of the bar of this ( dent. When he had nies of the club to to be relieved of T, importance in in the cause, nterest in the game e accepted the cbair test committee. fourishing condition, oc- | and to sho we all Jove It was not long before ties caught the | t a dozen whi s, with Mr. J. D. Eby presi- nda Vista Whist Club isnot | rge, but ex-President R. B. | ays they *feel bigger. cty of Vallejo has one of the State, with Mr. This club won the three times: recently a has been organized in a has several whist tas”—a new name for icate—and the Petaluma | ones. Oue of the whist : CaLL, and an expert player, | n Petaluma, Mr . H. Atwater. not far behind. She hasa b, and succeeded in show- luma how the game was played. o, Alameda, Berkeley, San ister and Niles have all got clubs, and once a year, at all come together for a love nnual whist conventions. ast Whist Association was December 14, 1894, comprised of 1 clubs from nearly as many differ- How well this association is 1d where its influence extends, learned by reading the following y letters from a dozen or | | ubs of )sa i congratulato; of the greatest whist lights in the world. The first is from the patron saint of the Trist Daplicate Whist Club, whose life- size portrait adorns its walls—a man who 1s as gentle and tender as a loving mother to ber little babe when he comes in contact with his whist children. What woman or man whose heart was ever touched with the dart of Cupid but re- members the queer fluttering at the heart-strings? So it is when he is near; he 1s the center of all hearts of the American Whist League, and also the center of the hearts of our association, in act, as well as the central figure 1 the illustrated emblem of the Pacific Coast Whist Association. It is hardly neces- pary to mention him by name, Mr. Nicholas Browse Trist, the father of American leads. His letter to tne president of the Pacific Coast Whist Association is as follows: ew ORLEANS, December 31, 1896. ar Tormey: It is & source of deep re- 0 me that I cannot accept your kind in tion to be presens at the third annual meeting of the Pacific Coast Whist Associa- tion. Nothing could give me more pleasure than to become personally acquainted with . who, judging from the specimens »w, must all be “trumps,”” and who, I am appreciate the strenuous and successful £ president in welding all oI the Pacific Coast into ofie which I sincerely hope will contimue to grow aud prosper, fight all fads and foster sound whist for all time to come. With assurance of my kind regards for one 12llof the members of your association, I N. B. Trist. 'he following letters are all addressed to the president of the Pacific Coast Whist Association, P. J. Tormey: William Pole, the great whist philos- opher and author, also an oetogenarian, who loves whist as he does his Bible: , D Loxpox, E 12, 1896, Dear Sir: 1thank you very h for your last letter of 26ih November and for the kind expressicns it contains. I eannot come to your festival in January, but I shall hope to read an account of it; and I cau very sincerely re. peat my admiration of the effort you have ade to extend whist on the Pacific Coast, I rejoice that they have been so successful. Be- lieve me yours very sincerely, WILLIAM POLE. ( From the master “Cavendish.” 22 Albion street, Hyde Park, Loxpox, Eng., W., December 12, 1896.§ Dear Sir: Many thanks for your kind invita- tion to be present at the third annual meeting of the Pacific Cosst Whist Association. It js only ihe distance which prevents my at- tending. 1 am sorry to hear that you retire from the office of president, considering all ypu have done for whist in California. : d parlors l Wishing continued prosperity 0 your asso- clation, I am, yours very truly, Hesny JONES. From W. H. Whitfeld, professor of mathematics at Cambridge, Eng., known all over the whist world as the great problem-maker. CAMRRIDGE, Eng., December 12, 1896. Dear Sir: 1 have just received your letter in- | viting me to attend tne convention of the Pacific Coast Whist Association. Please ac he fivst club bearing the name of | cept my thanks for the honor of the invita- tion. Were it not for the accumulation of inches I should most wiilingly be present. It is pleasant to feel that, though far away, we “ | are united in the freemasonry of whist. Ihwe | in hopes that I may perhaps at some future ! time visit what is to me the far, far West. | Believe me, yours sincerely. H. WHITFELD. From Major-General A. W. Drayson of London, late R. A, F. R. A. 8., one of the greatest whist writers and whist au- thorities living: 20 ASHBURTON RoAD, SOUTHSEA, . December 14, 1896. Dear Sir: Thank you very much for your kind invitation to attend the third convention of the Pacific Const Whist Association. Itis useless for me to regret my age and general shakiness, but these conditions alone prevent me from crossing,the Atlantic. | I nave aiso to thank you for the many ex- W.H: ITFELD o CAMBRIDGE. ENGLAND SAN ANCISC TNN!&T CLUR memory—they are so good. Your impartiality {n dealing with whist mat- | ters has been to me most gratiiying. One does | not always find such a condition. | Iam glad yon have received my letter of November 13, in which I ventured to makea few remarks relative to American whist laws. With kind regards, believe me, yours very sincerely, A. W. DRAYSON. From our whist queen, Miss Kate Wheelock: CHICAGO, Dec. 26, 1896. Dear 8ir: 1receivel your estcemed favor of the 20th, asking me to be present at the meet- ing of the Pacific Coast Whiss Association. I have always had a theory that where there is a will there is & way, but in this case it fails me. My will is to go, but the thousands of miles make the way toolong, hence I must send my regrets, and with them goes my best wishes for a most successful meeting. Having visited all the large cities interested in whist from coast to coast as weil as in Europe, I reslize how much good the associations are doing, and I know of no association more in- terested in the good work than that of the Pacific Coast, and you certainly ought to be proud of its progressive work during the time you have been its president. The growth of the study of the game is to me won- derful, and ench year seems on the increase, and I believe that we can (rulv say to-day that our noble game is thought by all intelligent people to be the one game that they would 1ike to excel in. Thanking you for your kind invitation and regretting exceedingly I can- not be smong the members, I remain sin- cerely your friend, KATE WHEELOCK. From the president of the American Whist League, Walter H. Barney: PROVIDENCE, R. L, Dec. 22, 1896, Dear Sir: Yours of the 13th inst., extend- ing me an invitation to be present at your third annusl meeting, is received. It is much like an 1nvitation to paradise 10 & person who knows that the flaming sword will prevent his going. Nothing would please me greater than to visit the coast and to be presentat your annual meeting, but it is imvossible for me toleave here beforc the time for the mid- winter meeting of the National executive com- mittee. Please extend to the association my con- gratulations on their prosperity and the good m R R R R L L R R L L R R L R R R L LR R LR LT LT WHIST AND 229922200202992990990202929929220090090000000209202922222900299! | TS DEVOTEES work which they have done for the cause in the three years of your administration. I be- leve the welfare of whist is to be advanced | even more by the local associations than it has been by the league, and look forward to the day when the larger portion of the coun- try will be organized in this way, bringing about a closer and more intimate relation be- tween the whist players of the different sec- tions. Such a development must advance tne cause of the National leagueas wWell of the game, so long as all are working toge ther in harmony. I very much wish that the two Pacific asso- ciations would come out with a square decla- ration in favor of such harmony by becoming auxiliaries to the league. I believe it would lend dignity to the associations and be helpful to them, and certainly would be a very great help and support to the league and those who are workiug in it for the advancement of the game. | . While independent action is not a source of immediate danger the continuation of such policy is almost certain to lead toa division of forces that will prevent the best develop- ment on each side. Yours very truly, S WALTER H. BARNEY, President of the American Whist League. From C. D. P. Hamilton, author of the great whist work, ‘‘Modern Scientific Whist”: EAsToN, Pa., Dec. 31, 1896, Dear Sir: " 1 wish to acknowledge the receipt | These I read till I have committed themto | of your kind invitation to be present at the | celient cuttings from THE CALL written by you. | opening of your third snnual meeting of the TRIST DUPLICATE. WHISTCLUB ADISH" ‘blvE”EN RY. JONES A0 ER_ QP COPLICATE WHIST- Pacific Coast Whist Association, to be held on January 8 and 9, 1897. You express a douot that I may not be able to honor you with my presence. You are cor- rect in this. You and your association have no business to be at the other side of these Unitea Statesif you expect a mortal like me to favor you with my presence. Idon’t wish to insinuate that it is not a good place to be, either for you. the association or myself, for I can assure you that I am well aware that there is o place on earth any better than the Pacific Coast. I am sure the association has made no mis- take in honoring you as its presiding officer since its organization, and I am equally sure that when you pass the gavel to your succes- sor, as you inform me that you are about todo, you can do so with the firm belief that your term of office was an entire success; and the most that I can imagine that I might wish for your association is that your successor may be one who wili take the same interest in the advancement of whist that I know that you have done. Yours respectfuily, C. D. P, HAMILTON. From Robert H. Weems, corresponding secretary American Whist League: BrooKLYN, N. Y., Dec. 24, 1896. Dear Sir: 1 bave the honor to acknowled, 553 2990999292229, the receipt of your invitation to be present at the third ennual meeting of the association and sincerely regret my inability to accept. You have my heartiest wishes for a success- ful and enjoyable meeting and I hope that the Pacific Coast Whist Association will continue foreverand each and every yeargrow stronger and largerand increase the interest in the noblest intellectual game invented by man. Most cordially yours, ROBERT H. WEEMS. From Milton C. Work, author of **Whist of To-day,” and whist editor of the Even- ing Telegraph: PHILADELPHIA, Pa., Dec. 27, 1896. Dear Sir: 1regret Icannotattend the meet- ing of your association on January 8 and 9, but you will realize how impossible such a tripis for me. I hope some day b:fore Idie to visit vour good City,but when the time would be I have no idea at present. I ai sure youare to be congratulated upon the great suceess of your association and the popularity of whist upon the Pacific Coast. I hear from many sources of the good work you are doing for the game and &m sure you are developing many good players. When I see you we can taik over the po-sibility of & match by corre- | spondence between Your association and some Eastern cracks. It looks quite possible to me. Please present my best wishes to the whist- ers of the coast for their continued success, saying to them that Iread of their maiches and doings with the greatest interest and am imitate we must be content to admire, and we wish you a long and prosperous career. Yours truly, From Cassius M. Paine, editor of Whist: MILWAUKEE, Wis., Dec. 31, 1896. Dear Sir: Plesse extend my greeting to the members of the Pacific Coast Whist Assocla- tion, and say they are keeping up their end admirably. Without the encouragement from the Pacific Coast interestin the game would be largely diminished. 1 hope at some time in the future to be pres- ent at one of your meetings and make the ac- quaintance of your enthusiasts. Meanwhile let the good work go on. Yours very traly, CassTUS M. PAINE. From Fisher Ames of Boston, Mass., the author of “A Practical Guide to Whist’ BoSTON, Mass., Jan. 2, 1897. Dear Sir: Your favor of the 13th ult. ex- tending to me an invitation to attend the third annual meeting of the Pacific Coast Whist Association isat hand. Iregret that I shall not be able to attend, as 1 take great interest in the various branches of the Whist League. I understand that you have a splendid organization and I should much like to meet with you if 1t were possible, Iwish the organization all possible success and prosperity. Keep up the good work. Just now the American Whist Club of Bos- ton, of which I have the nonor to be presi- dent, is rejoicing in the possession of four always with them in spirit though I cannot ICHOLAS BROWSE-TRIST o AMERICAN LEADS FATHEROF H1ST Quag o be 1n person, that I hope to see them, or rather some of. them, at Put-in-Bay next July,and that in the interim [ will give just one word of aavice. When in doubt whether or not to change the suit, Don’t. More tricks are lost by good players by opening up new suits than in any other way. Lver sincerely, MiitoN C. WoRK. From R. F. Foster, whist author and whist editor of the New York Sun: NEW YORK, Dec. 21, 1896. Dear Sir: I am sorry to say that it will be im- possible for me to accept your very kind invi- tation for your annual meeting. 1 wish you would send a few of your people East, just to show us how you work things. For two yeags we have been trying to getup s whist assocfation here, but without success, It is rather galling to our Eastern pride to think that with all our advantages of large towns near together, and whist clubs by the dozen, the Pacific Coast can beat us hollow in the matter of organization. What we cannot trophies—eall that could be played for since PRESI T SAN FRADNEG&CO WHIST CLUB the A. W. L. congress. Our team defeated the Hamilton team and won the A. W. L. trophy Saturday and on the same day won the New England Whist association vice-president trophy. They also previously won the presi- dent's trovhy and successfully defended the Brooklyn trophy in & match against the N. J. Whist Association. So I think we have reason to feel proud. ‘While ] am writing I will say a word about the laws. A casearose in this way: A player 1aid down two cards, one covering the other s0 completely that no portion of the lower one could be seen. It was claimed to bean ex- posed card. The laws conflict a little on this point, and I think it might be well to provide more explicitly for the case. Thanking you for your kind invitation, I am very truly yours, FISHER AMES. From John T. Mitchell, the father of duplicate whist, whist editor of the Times- Herald of Chicago and director of the American Whist League: CHICAGO, Dec. 20, 1896. Dear Sir: Iam in receipt of your kind invi- tation of the 13th inst. to attend the third an- nual meeting of the Pacific Coast Whist Asso- ciation, and am very sorry that Ihave to write you that I cannot be present in person. Iam with you in spirit, howevcr, and feel thatyo ur meeting will be an entire success under vour guiding hand. I wish the Pacific Coast Whist Association every measure of success in its future career, and if you are going to pass the R. F. FOSTER. - 2000290299292929 president’s gavel to some other worthy whist- map of your fraternity, I trust you will endow the instrument with some of that authorita- tive ability and unselfish devotion to the game for which you have long been noted. Hoping to meet you at the midwinter meet- ing of the A. W. L., I remain yours sincerely, JORN T, MITCHELL. From Charles E. Coffin, author of the’ 'Gist of Whist'': INDIANAPOLTS, Ind., Dec. 81, 1896. Dear Sir: 1 have your valued favor of the 13th inst, containing your very cordial invitation to be present on the Sth and 9th of January next at the opening of the third annual meeting of the Pacific' Coast Whist Associations It is with more than or-y dinary feelings of regret, I assure yoh, that I have to deny myself the preasure of being with you on that occasion. I have heard a great dealof the good work that has been accom- plished through and by your association, ana it gives mo pleasure 1o congratulate you and your coadjutors for the high degree of success you have accomplished and for the good you have done for the scientific game. I trust that the person who shall succeed you s president of the association will give the good work the same active and intelligent atten- | tion that has characterized your interest in movement and that the Pacific Coast Whist Association may continue in the future as it has in the past to lead all sections in the suxillaries to the league. The Inalana Whist Association will have its annual meeting in the latter part of January, but we have not ‘WALTER H BARNEY PRESIDENT AMERICAN WHIST LEAGUE. \AHIST EDITOR ALY. SUN DUPLICATE. WHIST CLUB been able to work up any enthusiastic repre- sentation in the outside clubs as yet and can- not hope that our coming meetfng Will com- Pare in any respect to your enthusiastic gath- ering. With kind regards to you and your as- sociates in your good work, I remain, very truly yours, CHARLES E. COFFIN. From Eugene S. Elliott, father and founder of the American Whist League, and for three Years its first president: MILWAUKEE, Wis,, Dec. 29, 1896. Tear Sir: Iam in receipt of your kind fa- vor of the 13th inst. inviting me to atiend at the opening of the third annual meetingof the Pacific Coast Whist Association. g Among my boyhood dreams none has béen 50 fondly cherished than that at some time of visiting the Pacific Coast, and although gray hairs are now crowding thickly upon my head, and I can claimy to be & boy no longer, [ still retain the hope that at o distant time I can salute the waters of the Pacific through the Golden Gate; but, unfortunately, the time is yet in the future, so I must content myself with sending the Pacific Coast Whist Associa- tion a God-speed and congratuiations upon its Bitherto successful career, How much of that success is due to the faithfulness with which you have worked in its behalf I presume your modesty would forbid me to intimate, but I can assure you that your iriends throughout the East will be sorry when they hear that you Dhave laid down the gavel. Will you kindly accept and extend to the other members of your association my sincere good wishes and regrets. T hope to meet you at Nashville next month; me®nwhile believe me, yours very truly EUGENE S. ELLIOTT. From E. Leroy Smith, director of Amer- jcan Whist League. ALBANY, N. Y., Dec. 31, 1896. Dear Sir: Thanks fo1 a copy of the pro- gramme for the third annual meet of ths P. C. W. Association. I rezret exceedingly thatIcan- not accept your kind invitation to be present on that occasion, and can assure you that it would afford me one of the greatest pleasures of my whist experience to be with you at that time. The whistersof the Pacific Slope owe you a debt thatcan never be overpaid, to say the least. The whist en thusiasts of the 8t, who are obliged to hustle for a living, Bften wonder how you find time to do the wonder- fulamount of work you have been doing for' the past four years. The development of whist has been greater on the Pacific Coast IN THE GOLDEN. STATE. PTTITIRY) during the past few years than anywhere else tomy knowledge, although it has developed wonderfully all over this country. Iam sorry that you feel compelled to lay down the zavel at this time, as I am fearful it will be impossis ble to find anybody that can fili your place. ‘With the compliments of the season, and wish- ing you and your association a successful, en- thusiastic and profitable meeting, I am very trul§ yours, E. LEROY SMITH. From ex-President Theodore Schwarz of the American Whist League: CHICAGO, 11L., Dec. 26, 1896. Dear Sir: Tamiu receipt of your favor of the 13th inst. fnyitng me to be present at the opening of the third annual meeting of the Pacific Coast Whist Assoctation. 1 jegret that L cannot he with you on this occasion. I I am not mistaken you were the first one in the American Whist League to broach the idea of State association. This was done by you at & meeting of the exccutive committee of the' American Whist League in Philadelphia during the fourth congress. That your ideas were practical has beea illustrated Dy the growth, prosperity and success of the Pacific Coast Whist Association. Yours truly, THEODORE SCHWARZ. - dohn T. Mitchell Is practically the father of duplicate whist. The firstgame of duplicate that we have any record of was played in Lon- don in 1857 by two teams of four, as we call them now. Matthias Boyce (‘Mo- gul”), Henry Jones (*Cavendish”), Daniel Jones, brother of “*Cavendish,”and Edward Wilson comprising one team, Messrs. Izard, Bullock, Chinery and Leéwis the other. It took Mr. Mitcheil several years 10 awaken interest in the duplicate game, but it must make his heari thump when he realizes the thousands of whisters that sing his praises, G. D. P. Hamilton Says “Silence.” Discreet people prefer to do one thing at atime and do it well. The best whist- players know that they cannot do any- thing but play whist while playing whist. They find that all their faculties are taxed to the utmost on reading what the cards have to say. The best whist and silence are inseparable. Silence is in harmony with the dignity and intellectual scope of the American game of long whist, where all the cards are played and the play is for mental recreation. Gredit to Whom Whist Gredit Is Due. There is no man in the whist world that we owe more to than General A. W. Dray- son. The whist writers for the past twenty years, or right up to date, scem to be airaid to tell the truth—ii they know it —or afraid it will cause their star to lose a little of its brilliancy (?) if they say | General Drayson suggested this or that. Several years ago we suggested to ‘‘Caven- dish” that hg write a whist book for be- ginners, and to put into this book mnot only tables of «leads, but tables of second and third band play. At that time such an idea never appeared in print. Three years later this 1dea was put into a book in this country as a new idea. Major- General Drayson, about forty years ago, invented a methad of finding the distance of objects for artillery practice, but the system was rejected by the British Gov- ernment as a useless “fad.” Fifteen years after an individual connected with the Government (a gentleman with a “pull”) rediscovered exactly the same thing and called it “range finding.” It was at once accepted and the individual was well re- warded. “Finding the distance’” was a “fad,” but when the same process was termed “range finding” it was most valu- able. When *“Cavendish” first reviewed Drayson’s “Practical Whist” in the Field he rather ridiculed the idea of what Dray- son called the “antepenuitimate” (fourth best) from six, and when Mr. Trist named the play fourth pest, it was said by “Cav- endish’” to be a great discovery. It is easy to follow and improve, but not quite 1 80 easy to originate. The whist-players of America are in- debted to General Drayson for this much that we know of: First, alteration of laws and adopted by the American Whist League, with due credit to Drayson; sec- ond, “Change your suit to trumps,” in- stead of calling for trumps, with its im- portant resuits; tkird, the more free use of trumps (page 111, “Practical Whist”); fourth, calling for trumps in the original lead; fifth, the reverse discard; sixth, the lead of the “‘fourth best”’ froh suits not beaded by high cards in sequence. This much we know originated with General Drayson, and the whist editor of THE CALy will always try to give credit to whom credit is due. No Whist Glubs in Gonnecticut. Law 3L ot the Primitive Judicial Code, which existed in this State during the time of the first settlers and their imme- diate descendants, commonly called the “Blue Laws of Connecticut,” reads as follows: “No one shall read common prayer, keep Christmas or Saints’ day, make mince pies, dance, play whist or play on any instrument of music, except the drum, the trumpet and the jewsharp.” * Whist Don'ts in Pamphlet Form Free. The whist don’ts that were published in the whist columns of this paper August 16 have at last come from the printer’s hands in pamphiet form. This little volume is published by the Owl Drug Company and will be sent to all lovers of the zame throughout the worla free of charge, { Don’t hesitate to order this little book on accoun: of the cost. The publisher's “Don’t” expect to be able to reduce the price until after Bryan's elec:ion and then it will be cut to 50 cents on the dollar. Sad Accident to Mrs. Walter H. Barney. The morning before Christmas in Providence, R. 1., Mrs. Barney, with ber little son in the sleigh, drove down to the office with her husband, the president of the American Whist League. After leav- ing him ihere she started to drive home. The horse became frightened and ran away, throwing the occupants cut against an electric light pole, breaking hoth of Mrs. Barney's legs and one leg of her little boy’s. Mrs. Barney is known by nearly every whist-player in the United States. She always accompanied Mr. Barney on his whist pilgrimages. Itis sad, very sad, to record such a terrible accident. We had a surprise in store for our whist clubs in this City. It was the intention of Presi- dent Barney and Mrs. Barney to extend their trip to California afier the midwin- ter meeting of the league at Nashville. If sympathetic words can deaden the pain and anguish for one short moment, or make the sad affliction lighter to bear, we extend a hearilul, and we know all our whist friends will join with us in wishing Mrs. Barney and her son a speedy recovery.