Whist Wednesday: The Basics

If you were wondering what Whist was all about, don't worry because YOU will have your chance to play it at the Lafayette Ball! Just make your way from the Ball Room, through the garden walk, to the back Exhibits and Game Room where you will find at least one table set up for the playing of Whist. We will have staff available to remind you of rules, and a rules sheet at the table, but use the links below to familiarize yourself (and any friends and partners attending the ball with you!) with the game prior to the ball and you'll be sure to take all the tricks!

Due to its simplicity and scientific nature, Whist was a much preferred game during the Regency and is seen more in Regency novels than any other card game. Ironically, the name Whist refers to an observed silence while playing the game, despite the fact that the game itself was considered a social game and much talking was expected during its play.

According to George Hempl, who wrote a book about the game in the 19th century: “Whist was a favorite game with Josephine and Marie Louise, and it is on record that Napoleon used to play whist in Würtemberg, but not for money, and that he played ill and inattentively.” (Whist in the Georgian and Regency Eras)

Click the links below for 2 quick video demos on the basics of playing 4-person, 2-team Whist.

Now that you've got the basics down, enjoy some contemporaneous satirical cartoons lampooning the game.

Marquis Monday - Learn More about the Man

 Learn More about the Man

Okay - you may be following along in great anticipation of the Lafayette Birthday Ball because you love Regency events. Or . . . you may be really annoyed that I have been focussing so much on this event and era instead of the 1930s which had been my focus for so long. I have to say I appreciate everyone tolerating my historical and sewing ADHD and sticking with me as I jettison all over the place between 1770s and 1970s. I promise "vintage" will be back on the menu in due time.

In either case . . . while Lafayette was something of an iconic hero in his time, his glory days have become overlooked in our modern times and most folks don't really know much about him. So on the Mondays between now and the ball, I'm going to share some tidbits about the man the ball will be celebrating.

I hope you enjoy!

Marquis de Lafayette, in full Marie-Joseph-Paul-Yves-Roch-Gilbert du Motier, marquis de Lafayette, Lafayette also spelled La Fayette, (born September 6, 1757, Chavaniac, France—died May 20, 1834, Paris), French aristocrat who fought in the Continental Army with the American colonists against the British in the American Revolution. Later, as a leading advocate for constitutional monarchy, he became one of the most powerful men in France during the first few years of the French Revolution and during the July Revolution of 1830. (From Britannica)

I'm Cheating Here Folks!

I'm going to kinda cheat on this first Marquis Monday installation and point you to a couple of groups that you should follow if you want to really get into the fun history about Lafayette and start preparing for all the really fun Bicentennial Events that are going to start up in 2024.

Bicentennial Events, You Ask?!

That's right! August 16, 2024, kicks off the beginning of this monumental occasion with hundreds of events planned tracing the footsteps of Lafayette on his tour of America as the “Guest of the Nation” between 1824–1825, in the exact order he traveled.

Click on any of the images below to go to their sites to learn more about this Great Patriot, Hero in Two Worlds, and Ardent Supporter of Emancipation and Equality for All.

The American Friends of Lafayette has a really active Instagram Site so I suggest you go follow them there as well!