The Evolution of Whist -^^^ N • X

GIFT OF SEELEY W. MUDD and GEORGE I. COCHRAN MEYER ELSASSER DR.JOHNR. HAYNES WILLIAM L. HONNOLD JAMES R. MARTIN MRS. JOSEPH F. SARTOR! to the UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA SOUTHERN BRANCH y^t**^^ -^^- THE EVOLUTION OF WHIST -^^^ N • X ^ «. THE Evolution of Whist A STUDY OF THE PROGRESSIVE CHANGES WHICH THE GAME HAS PASSED THROUGH FROM ITS ORIGIN TO THE PRESENT TIME WILLIAM POLE, F.R.S. MUS. DOC. OXON. KNIGHT COMMANDER OF THE IMPERIAL JAPANESE ORDER OF THE RISING SUN AUTHOR OF 'THE THEORY OF THE MODERN SCIENTIFIC GAME OF WHIST,' "the PHILOSOPHY OF WHIST," ETC., ETC. HONORARY MEMBER OF THE AMERICAN WHIST LEAGUE > , J > J NEW YORK LONGMANS, GREEN, AND CO. AND LONDON 1895 91855 COPYRIGHT, 1894, BY LONGMANS, GREEN, AND CO. TROW DIRECTORY PRINTINQ AND BOOKBINOINQ COMPANY NEW YORK ; To Henry Jones, Esq. My dear Jones : In my endeavour to trace out the Evolution of Whist, I have found one name prominently be- fore me in every stage —that of '^ Cavendish.'' It is he who, by his industrious investigations^ has enligJitened lis as to the fashioning of its em- bryonic elements, in the distant and obscure past, zvhile it had only a vague existence. It is he zvJio has pointed out how it flashed upon society at its birth, and for a long period dazzled the intellect and fashion of Europe. It was he who, in its maturity, took the chief part in defining andproclaiming its greatpowers. And it is he who, largely by his ozvn efforts, has invested its old age zvith new attractions, and spread them over a nezv world. '' Cavendish " dedicated his work to the most eminent WJlist personage then living ; I hope you will not think me too presumptuous in doing tJie same. Yours very faithfully, William Pole. PREFACE It is with some diffidence that I have com- plied with a request, from several quarters, that I would write further about Whist. The latest progress in the game has taken the form of very elaborate detail in the practical Rules ; and I have always preferred to leave this branch of the subject in the hands ^ of more experienced players, confining my ^ own province to considerations of a wider H range and more general character. I have, however, been glad to know that M this latter course has not been without util- I that, in the com- ^H ity ; and venture to think ^ plicated maze of practical instruction now offered to students, it may be salutar}^ to' in- terpose some more comprehensive views. And I believe that such an object may be most usefully attained by a careful scientific study of the whole history of the game; not as a mere curious collection of dry facts and dates, but for the purpose of tracing out the principles and motives which have deter- mined and guided its progressive changes. Vlll PREFACE The influence of a philosophical study of History on the judgment of current events is now well established in literature, and there seems no reason why it should not be applicable here. The progress of Whist proves to be a clear case of gradual Evolu- tion, which has never yet been thoroughly examined, and this is a want I have endea- voured to supply. It is impossible to write on historical mat- ters without copious references, and I have to make many grateful acknowledgments of help in this direction. In the first place I have to thank Mr. Murray for liberally allow- ing me to incorporate in these pages, so far as I desired, the article written by me for the Quarterly Rcvieiv of January, 1871, the object of that article being somewhat akin to my present one, though on a more limited scale. Messrs. De la Rue, also, have been good enough to give me free permission to make extracts from the excellent works published by them. Then I have to make a special acknowledg- ment to the Whist authorities in the United States of America. The position which modern Whist has taken there is so remarkable, that 1 have thought it right to devote a large space to its description and consideration, and in doing this I have had the kindest PREFACE IX aid from the Officers of the American Whist League. And further, the Editor and the proprietors of their official organ, the Mil- waukee Whist Journal, have liberally sanc- tioned my making free use of any matter therein contained, without which, indeed, my work would have been impossible. And lastly, I must express my special in- debtedness to my old friend '' Cavendish," not only for the references to his valuable works, which will be found throughout this volume, but for personal assistance in its preparation, to an extent which I cannot at- tempt to specify. W. P. London, January, 1895. CONTENTS INTRODUCTION. PAGE instinct in The love of gaming appears a natural man ; but he has impressed upon it the stamp of his great mental powers i Whist is a remarkable example of this ennobling influence, and hence its great intellectual attrac- tiveness, 2 It is become both a Science and an Art, and each of these requires special study, 3 The immense variety which has been developed in it, out of the most simple means 3 Even to such an extent as to give rise to different kinds of game, all based on one elementary skeleton form, 4 These varieties have been brought about in regular sequence, by a gradual process of evolution, . 5 It is possible to trace distinct stages of progress, approximately identified with particular varieties of game, 6 But the later forms, though generally more advanced in their character, have not superseded the earlier ones, and need not do so, 7 Parallel cases in the biological world, 7 The object of this book is to trace the gradual Evolu- tion of Whist, and to discuss the aspects which it has presented in the different stages of its progress, 8 Xll CONTENTS PAGE This progress may be approximately divided into four Eras. As is generally the case, they overlap, or run to a certain extent into each other ; but they may each be broadly characterized by a particular form of game, 9 These four Eras, and their corresponding varieties of game, will occupy the Four Parts into which the present work is divided, 10 PART I. THE PRIMITIVE ERA, A.D. 1500 TO 1730. Chapter I, Early History. Whist is of English origin, 13 The game of " Triumph," quoted by Latimer, ... 14 " Gammer Gurton's Needle," 15 Shakespeare, 16 '• Ruff and Honours," 17 "Whisk." Taylor, 18 "Whist." Cotton, Pope, Johnson, 19 " Swabbers," 22 Tricks of Sharpers, 23 Low Character of the Game, 24 Thomson's " Seasons," 25 Ombre and Quadrille 26 Chapter H. The Primitive Game. Whist was then played by the lower class of people, . 27 The kind of game may be identified by wide-spread traditions still extant, 27 CONTENTS Xlll PAGE Description of the essence or skeleton of Whist, which runs unchanged through all forms, 28 Object of the play, 29 The means by which this object was attained in the Primitive Game, 29 Tricks made by high or master cards ; or by trumping, 29 Some slight consideration given to the partner; re- turning his lead, 30 Avoidance of leading trumps, 31 Opportunities for skill, 31 This game still largely played, 32 PART II. THE ERA OF HOYLE, A.D. 1730 TO i860. Chapter III. History. Hoyle, Payne, and Matthews. The Crown Coffee-house Whist Party, 35 Edmond Hoyle, 36 His antecedents and education, 36 His long study of the game, 36 He resolves to teach it professionally, 37 Records of this ; the Rambler ; the Gentleman s Magazine, 37 Notes given to his pupils, 37 Afterwards published in a book, 38 Its great success. Remarkable effect produced on Society, 39 The Humours of Whist, a satire, 39 A remarkable " coup," 40 XIV CONTENTS PAGE Whist admitted at Court, and acknowledged as one of the Royal amusements 42 Whist at the Universities, 42 Death of Hoyle, 43 Late discoveries of contemporary references to Hoyle and his work, 43 Byron and Homer, 44 Hoyle's successors, 44 Payne and his Maxims, 44 Whist at Bath, 45 Matthe\YS's Advice to the Young Whist Player, . 46 Alexander Thomson's Epic Poem, " Whist," in twelve Cantos. Its pretensions to scholarship, ... 47 Whist in France. Louis XV,, Josephine, and Marie Louise. The " thinking game," 48 Talleyrand and his mot, 48 Deschapelles and his Traite du Whiste, 48 Whist in Austria. Metternich, 49 Whist in the London Clubs, 49 Introduction of " Short Whist." Its true explanation and object. Playing to the score, 49 Honour Scores, 50 Chapter IV. The Hoyle Game. Improved modes of considering the Game, New Rules given out by the Crown Coffee-house party, 52 New and more intellectual views of the objects, and the modes of attaining them, 53 Different treatment of master cards, 53 More attention to the relative positions of the cards in the four hands, 53 CONTENTS XV PAGE The long-suit system, 54 New ideas about the use of trumps, and the process of trumping, 54 Hoyle's probable mode of illustrating his views, . 54 Inferences as to the hands from the " fall of the cards," 55 Hoyle's manner of teaching, by personal instruction and examples of play, 56 Notes or memoranda given to his pupils, which have been preserved in his published book, .... 56 Description of the book and its chief contents ; its merits and defects, 57 Modern editions of it, 61 Payne's Maxims.

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