about, the amusing things that may happen in the life of a bridge player in "The Light Side of Auction Bridge" (Putnam, 3s, 6d.)- One of the most annoying players is the too slow player. "For heaven's sake make your mistakes quickly," said an exasperated player to such a one, The author, who says that one of the best players in London is a woman, writes that women' players. are usually erratic and will make' a call for no reason at all.
Superstitions abound One woman I know always sits on her handkerchief when things are going. badly, and she asserts it always brings her good luck. Another changes her luck by touching the poker or walking round her chair. Many men as well as Women are horrified if their partners,. in changing seats, move in the wrong direction. They must go the "way of the port?'—that is to the left.
Good players are sometimes part-nored by the most impossible players and it is difficult for them 'o-hide their annoyance. Mr. Manning Foster quotes the remark of such a victim Many of us can sympathize with the: feelings of the exasperated man who remarked: "Partner, I have three: opponents, and I must say of the three you are the most formidable."
The number of players who ara: able to make their calls in-a normal voice, under all conditions, is very few, according to the author Very trying is the would-be humorist who is facetious in his calling and imagines it is funny to declare 'Two in the heart suiting' or 'Another in my partner's suiting' instead of making his declarations simply and proper-
But in the matter of conveying information by.voices women are the worst offenders. In soft, honeyed, and dulcet tones they can express by thetrintonations a variety of different meanings. They can be conciliatory or de-fant, angry, revengeful, and desperate.
"Well, then, four hearts,' cooed one woman player to her partner who had been calling ''spades'"" against her.
She spoke quite quietly but her tones iero~ a challenge. They meant; intend to play this hand in, hearts, and if you go on calling your spades T shall overbid you."
Her partner gave way, but had the last word. At the end of the bani, in tones of deadly-cutting quietness, she remarked, "Well, dearest, we should'. have done much better in spades.""
Mr. Manning Foster also writes: about. "cheating," "the bridge~ bully," and other types of players..
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.