Edmund Hoyle and Whist Etiquette

 

Originally the game was called “whisk”; it was Mr. Hoyle who, by his continual utterance of the imperative and hushing monosyllable “whist!” when gaming with those whose tongues were apt to wag irrelevantly, caused the diversion…

IT WAS ACCORDING TO HOYLE…

Great Master of Popular Game Responsible for Rechristening of Game of Whist

It was an agreeable spectacle to witness Edmund Hoyle (the master of whist, whose code of etiquette for the game has been accepted for six generations) drive up to the Three Pigeons tavern at noon in his white hackney coach with his emblem - the Ace of Hearts - blazoned on the panel. Hoyle was “a man of very speechless humor,” who was lured into the study of whist because it was a silent game, says Christopher Morley, in “The Power of Sympathy.”

Originally the game was called “whisk”; it was Mr. Hoyle who, by his continual utterance of the imperative and hushing monosyllable “whist!” when gaming with those whose tongues were apt to wag irrelevantly, caused the diversion, at first only in sport, and then in genuine interest, to be rechristened. 

The mornings he spent in tutoring wealthy ladies in the rudiments of the fashionable game, this being the chief source of his income. He was very particular, moreover, as to the standing and rank of his pupils; he was much in demand and could afford to take only such students as satisfied his fastidious taste for youth and beauty. – North County Times, 1923

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Etiquette Tidbits from the 1930’s

       

A gilded age, combination olive serving spoon and fork, circa 1880. – “If there is no olive spoon on the serving plate, the dinner guest may take olives with the fingers.”

Water and beverage glasses at the dinner table should never be more than three-fourths full. – 1937

Never extend or “crook” the little finger when holding a tea or coffee cup. – 1936

The word “personal” should never appear on an envelope. The notation "please forward’’, however. is perfectly correct. – 1937

A young woman who sends flowers to a person who is ill should include her visiting card, writing a brief message above the name-line. – 1937

When a man is not sure whether the occasion calls for a tuxedo or full dress clothes, he should wear the swallow-tail. – 1937

Sport clothes now are considered standard dress for auto travel. – 1938

During bidding, a bridge player should not call his partner’s attention to the score. The host or hostess at a bridge party should explain all rules of progression before play is begun – 1938

If there is no olive spoon on the serving plate, the dinner guest may take olives with the fingers. – 1938

🍽Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J. Graber, is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia

Etiquette and Royal Gamblers

One should not expect a King to politely pay a gambling IOU. One should simply consider it an honor to lose money to someone of such noble birth.— "The King can do no wrong, you know. That being the case, what is the use of a King's redeeming his I.O.U.'s like any common, ordinary plebeian?"

Kings and Princes at the Gaming Table

Few, if any, nationalities, and still fewer classes of society, are exempt from the gambling mania. The demon of chance sways men of all sorts and conditions in all sorts of climes. The bootblack in the street will at any time risk his hard-earned pennies on "craps"; the millionaire in his so-called palace not infrequently stakes what would be a competence for the ordinary man on the turn of a single card. And so the fever goes— from hovel to palace and through all the intermediate stations in life.  

If there is any one class of mortals particularly stricken with the gambling fever it is royalty. The possession of substantially unlimited wealth, the constant adulation and semi-worship of their subjects, and the other environments and conditions peculiar to the crowned heads and their cousins and aunts and so on, predispose the kingly race to more often rapid life. One feature of this rapid life is devotion to dice and cards. ln all Europe there is scarcely a royal family which has not one or more members famous, or notorious, as you please, for his gambling propensities. In court circles everybody gambles, I may almost say.

The princelets and dukelets aud kinglets gamble in order to while away the monotony of life, and incidentally to acquire possession of as many pounds or francs or marks of their faithful courtiers as possible; the blue-blooded gentry and wealthy parvenus who encourage this same enviable desire of their supposed superiors gamble that they may have the honor of allowing said superiors to win their cash. 

What are a few paltry hundreds or thousands in comparison with the honor of having stacked it against His Royal Highness, the Prince of This-That-or-the-Other, with three or four kings against his royal highness' three or four aces? This is the way those people look at it, and thus it is that royalty's high-minded desire to gamble is soothed and sustained. But for this soothing and sustaining on the part of royalty's courtiers and admirors royal gambling would soon die out, simply because it would not have anything to feed upon.  

Royal I.O.U.s are very pretty things to put in a frame or paste in the family records, but as a rule the "I.O.U". part does not add much to their value. "The King can do no wrong, you know. That being the case, what is the use of a King's redeeming his I.O.U.'s like any common, ordinary plebeian?"—Sacramento Daily Union, 1893

Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J. Graber, is the Site Moderator and Editor for Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia

Etiquette Playing "Whist"

The Amalgamated Female Whist Players of America? "If you are a bystander, walk around the table and look over the hands of the players."

"Rules That Scientific Players Will Most Certainly Approve"

The following eight rules, which were adopted by the third annual congress of the Amalgamated Female Whist Players of America, are formulated to prevent the learner from unintentionally making the game dull and uninteresting. They should be carefully memorized by the beginner:


First — Conversation during play is limited strictly to the weather, fashion, society, the drama, music, art, sports, the new woman, the last few tricks taken and everything else that may tend to break the tiring monotony habitual to the new players. The success of the game depends on this.


Second —Each player should at once throw out a hint as to the quality of her hand, her satisfaction or dissatisfaction with it, and her approval or disapproval of each play. This will make you a popular partner with the men.


Third—A player should never wait to lead until the preceding trick is turned and quitted. Delays of this sort are always unnecessary and make the game slow.


Fourth —Never fail, as the second trick is turned, to inquire what is trump. Repeat the inquiry at short intervals throughout the band. This is the easiest way to fix it indelibly in your memory.


Fifth—Frequently a card should be played in such a manner as to call particular attention to it. If you think your partner is not aware of it, touch your card and say: "Now, remember, I played that!" He might have finished the game with the impression that it had played itself. 


Sixth—When you have played the highest in suit, and it is your partner's play, never fail to remind him that it is your trick. He might think it belonged to your uncle in California.


Seventh—When you are accused of revoking stoutly deny it. If it is proved against you, you can explain at length just how you came to do it. If you discover your own revoke, never fail to revoke a second time. In this way the first error will escape notice for a little longer. This will make all the men glad they are in the game.


Eighth—If you are a bystander, walk around the table and look over the hands of the players. Do not forget to call frequent attention to the game during the play of each hand. This will prevent your husband's friends from feeling neglected. — Los Angeles Herald, 1896

Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J. Graber, is the Site Moderator for Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia

Etiquette and Card Games

“Betting at cards is vulgar and something to be avoided. The habits of English society, however, sanction the staking of small sums, but even this is to be discountenanced as far as may be.” Vingt-et-un is French, and literally is translated to “twenty-one.” It's first known use was in 1772. Refers to American “Blackjack” when card playing.

Entertaining and Card Playing

Refusing to Play — 
Never urge any one who seems to be unwilling to play a game of cards. They may have conscientious scruples in the matter which must be respected.

It is not kind, however, to refuse to play, if conscience does not dictate the refusal, when a game cannot be made up without you.

Understanding, The Game —

Do not attempt to play, however, unless you know the game moderately well, for it is especially unjust, if you have a partner, to allow him or her to suffer through your ignorance.

Precedence In Cards —
In a game of cards married and elderly people take the precedence over young and unmarried ones.

Proposing A Game Of Cards —
It is the privilege of the host and hostess to suggest cards as a means of amusement for their guests. The latter should never call for them. 

On the other hand, cards should not be brought out at every visit, because some might prefer conversation to playing.

It is best in large assemblages to furnish the cards and tables, and allow the guests to play or not at their option, now and then exercising a little friendly aid in seeking for people disposed to play in making up a game.

New Cards —

New cards should be provided on every occasion.

Husband And Wife Playing Together —
Husband and wife should not play together in the same game, either as partners or antagonists, for they are so well acquainted with each other's modes of playing that they possess an unfair" advantage over others.

Cheating At Cards —
Never violate the rules of a game, and by all means never be guilty of cheating. If, however, you detect another guilty of either of these breaches of good manners, either point out the error or the intentional wrong in a quiet manner or let it pass.

Never get excited or lose your temper. People who are liable to these irregularities had best abstain from playing altogether.

"Whist" —
Do not keep up a continuous conversation during a game, which will distract your own mind and that of others from the cards. Give your whole attention to the matter in hand, and procure at least comparative silence. "Whist" is defined in Webster "a game of cards so called because it requires silence and close attention."

Haste In Playing —
Never hurry any one who is playing. It is necessary, in playing their best, that they should take their own time without interruption.

Betting At Cards —
Betting at cards is vulgar and something to be avoided. The habits of English society, however, sanction the staking of small sums, but even this is to be discountenanced as far as may be.

Meddling With The Cards —
Never finger the cards whilst they are being dealt. Not only do not actually look at the cards before they are all dealt out, but do not seem to do so. Let your cards lie before you until all are dealt and you are at liberty to take them in your hand.

Chess And Other Games —

The rules of etiquette concerning cards apply with equal force to chess and all other games of skill or chance.

Knowledge Of Cards And Other Games —
It is desirable, unless we have religious scruples in the matter, that we should all have a tolerable knowledge of these various games, in order that we may contribute to the amusement of others, and not run the risk of being accused of being selfish and impolite.— E.B. Duffey, 1877

♠️Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J. Graber, is the Site Editor  for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia