BRIDGE ADEPTS EARN BIG MONEY

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LIII, Issue 16317, 18 April 1927, Page 4

BRIDGE ADEPTS EARN BIG MONEY

£SO FOR HOUR’S LESSON IS NOT UNCOMMON IN NEW YORK. NEW YORK. March 19. While Uio experts in the great indoor sport of bridge gain no such lump sums as do heavy-weight boxers for single fighis, their rewards are not exactly niggardly. Sidney S. Lenz, bridge statistician, refused £2OO for an hour’s lesson. IV. €'. Whitehead, who is a sort of Hoyle in the bridge held, asserted that “it is not at all unusual for a master of bridge to earn £2OO a week during the season.” The season lasts from October to May.

When asked to reveal his bridge, profits, Mr. Whitehead replied that he was not starving. “1 don't waul, to tell you what 1 make,” be said, "but other authorities make big money in bridge. And it is becoming more popular every day.” Mr. Lenz, who with his partner finished second in the Cavendish trophy tournament, said that ho could not afford to give his valuable time to teaching bridge, and he did not want to become a professional. He said his yearly income did not approach Babe Ruth’s. Another notable bridge authority, Milton- C. Work, had to give up teaching bridge because it consumed too many valuable hours. Mr. Work writes about bridge fora newspaper syndicate. When ho is not. writing lie is busy with “demonstrations” of bridge in various parts of the United States. A demonstration consists of an hour of talking to players seated around tables with 'cai'ds in their hands. Mr. Work gives them for a standard fee, £SO for one and £75 for two demonstrations under the same auspices and on the same day, but Mr. Work thinks his fees are “remarkably low.”