Judge, 1931-02-21 · page 12 of 36
Judge — February 21, 1931 — page 12: what you’re looking at
What you’re looking at
# Judge Magazine: "The Authorized Rules of Contract for 1931" This is satirical humor about **Contract Bridge**, the wildly popular card game of the 1930s. The text, "endorsed by Jack Cluett" (likely a contemporary figure), mocks the game's actual rules by describing absurdly dysfunctional gameplay instead. The jokes target: - **Cheating/suspicion**: A bent card that reveals who holds it - **Social chaos**: Five players instead of four; one stands awkwardly raising eyebrows - **Physical comedy**: Hazardous wiring that trips players; constant chair-switching for cushions, scorepads, pencils - **Petty argument**: Players loudly disputing who cut the highest card - **Incompetence**: Dealers miscounting cards; endless bickering about whether to open/close windows The accompanying comic panels show portly figures in domestic chaos—a visual gag depicting real-life bridge games as suburban pandemonium rather than genteel entertainment. The satire mocks both the game's popularity and the social pretensions of players treating casual cards as serious business.
📄 Transcribed text from this page (OCR, searchable)
Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.
The Authorized Rules of Contract for 1931 As Endorsed by Jack Cluett 1, The game of contract is pla with two decks of cards. In one de the corner of the six of diamonds is bent. As a result, every time a hand is dealt, Mrs. West say “Ab-ha! Look who has the six of diamonds.” 2. Th played by five 4 ers. Four sitting at each side of square table covered with circular stains, and the remaining player, who is not allowed to touch the cards, go- ing from corner to corner raising his eyebrows and grunting. From time to time he may be requested to c some ice or empty an ash tray, ‘This doesn’t count below the line. The Fisherman's Baby. “Do you sell collapsible chairs?” 3. The table shall be set up so that the light will be satisfactory to, least, one of the players. ‘The wires of the bridge lamps shall be so. ar- ranged that anybody leaving his chair will fall flat on his fac +. Before commencing the pla Mr. Wentworth shall show. the players how to tear a deck of cards If. 5. After everyone is seated, four of the players shall cut for partners (to see who fights with who). 4 the cut is completed all four pl will arise and sit in different cl After tl are reseated one of the players will get up for a cushion, an- other will go for a score pad, a third will hunt for a pencil and the fourth will start a game of solitaire. 6. The five players will now ven- ture opinions as to who cut the high- est card. The player with loudest voice wins and deals. 7. After cach player (except. the rover) has received thirteen cards: rr at the left of the Vho did this layer opposite the deal- you playing the club d. The dealer discovers he only has twelve cards and says: “Mis- deal!” 8. After a new deal has been com- pleted a window may be closed by onc of the players if (a) the window is open; or the window may be opened if (b) the window is closed; or, if two I ts disagree on whether the win- dow shall remain opened or closed, it may be (c) opened and closed, if it is already closed; or (d) closed and opened, if it is already open. comicbooks.com