HARMFUL BRIDGE

Hokitika Guardian, 11 January 1927, Page 2

HARMFUL BRIDGE

NOTED DOCTOR’S VIEWS,

1 Australia & N.Z. Cable Association/;

(Received this day at 9.0 a.m.) LONDON. January 10.

That bridge under certain circumstances is most harmful, is the emphatic declaration of Sir Arbuthnot Lane, in a letter to the “ Daily Express.” He vigorously attacks idle women playing all night with money provided by their husbands. Such people are rarely of active dispositions, and are usually stouter than the average. Consequently, they prefer sedentary occupation such as bridge. Lndouhtedly bridge, like most drugs, is beneficial in moderation but poisonous in excess when indulged in too long. It hypnotises the players and makes them blind to their own interests as well ns those depending upon them for comfort and companionship. Followed excessively, it must have a deteriorating influence upon intoliigencf and react harmfully on the health. It is detrimental physically and morally is too frequently associated with habits such as excessive smoking and alcoholism. Alost likely all this class suffer from the same complaint, which tends sooner or later to terminate in what to the community in general, is more or less a useless existence. Bridge fiends like hunting and golfing enthusiasts, become an intolerable nuisance, but the latter recreations have the advantage of being in the open air. The “ Daily Express ” editorially says a declaration from such a source is certain to create a great- controversy. The mere statement that the women are stouter than the average is sufficiently overwhelming.