Reese-Schapiro--new information
Hello RGB readers,
As a service to its membership, the British Bridge League has
commissioned the writing of a set of biographies of the great
British bridge players of yesteryear. I have been assigned the
task of writing the life story of Mr. Boris Schapiro, a dominant
player in British bridge for more than forty years.
As part of my research, I monitor this news group. I noticed
recently a number of threads on the topic of Mr. Schapiro, his
partnership with Mr. Reese, and the unfortunate allegations
surrounding them in 1965. I recently came across an extraordinary
correspondence in Mr. Schapiro's files that is directly relevant
to this discussion. I have transcribed those letters here to
provide those who are interested early access to this important
material.
It seems that Mr. Schapiro maintained a correspondence with
an avid amateur bridge player, one Mr. Argen Discord-Smyth.
These fascinating letters provide insight into the events of
1965 as well as the working of Mr. Discord-Smyth's mind.
Reginald Thistlethwaite
Official Biographer
British Bridge League
-------------------------------------------
Dear Mr. Schapiro,
It is a great honor that you would respond to my previous
letter. I am thrilled to hear the truth about these silly
accusations. Those yanks really are insufferable. Isn't it
extraordinary that the top bridge players in the world
including the captain of one's own team and the president
of the B.B.L could believe such lies?
Respectfully,
Argen Discord-Smyth
The Grange
Regurgingham on Mare
PS. You will get a good laugh out of this: someone at
the club claimed that Victor Mollo made up his stories!
Let me tell you, I gave the blighter a good ticking off.
-------------------------------------------
Dear Boris,
Thank you for your kind response to my last missive. I
was surprised to hear that Mr. Mollo may have rearranged
the cards a bit for publication, but I suppose, you can't
always get the spot cards just so at the table.
I have something that I thought would interest you. I have
taken the liberty of including a small sample from my poem,
An Ode to Mr. Reese, which I have been composing in my spare
time. I know it is not worthy of the great man, but perhaps
you would tell me your impressions anyway. I would be forever
in your debt.
You know I always had a thing
For Englishmen with cunning rare
At whom the knavely foe would fling
The cheater's cap, when they did dare
Terrence Reese you have no peace
From lying lips which know you not
I'd tell them truth if't you would please
Straight from this heart with love besot
Terrence was a sweetly name
When ‘pon my lips it newly came
But now that time has squeezed it dry
I do with Terry pass it by
Terrence, Terrence why the frown
Let me turn it upside down
From our bridge I'll tell the town
He who lies is but a clown
Warmest regards,
Argen Discord-Smyth
PS. I have booked the flight for my summer vacation
at Loch Ness. I hope to see you there. This time,
surely I will sight the monster.
-------------------------------------------
Dearest Boris,
Thank you for your letter of the 25th. Your words of
praise for my modest verse are too kind. It is so
refreshing to find another soul who loves a deft turn
of phrase as much as I.
However, on to other concerns. I have an urgent business
matter about which I need your opinion. A dull-looking
chap approached me the other day with a business opportunity.
For a modest sum, he is willing to part with his ownership
of a significant metropolitan property. I can't tell you
exactly what it is, but I can say it is near the borough
of Brooklyn, New York, and many people cross it every day. The
amount he is asking is very reasonable. What is your opinion;
should I make this investment? Please advise.
In haste,
Argen Discord-Smyth
PS. Had the most wonderful time last weekend with the blokes
from the pub. They invited me to join them on a hunting
expedition. We had a jolly good time, but I must say that
snipe was deucedly quick. The other blokes spotted it several
times but no matter how fast I turned, I always missed it.
-------------------------------------------
Dearest Bobo,
It is such a pleasure to be getting on so well with you.
I am glad you approved of that investment idea. I was able
to talk the young fellow down an extra 20%! (The fellow was
nice enough, but quite a dullard). He was so thrilled when
I finally gave him the cash that he literally jumped up and
ran out of the house.
But on a more serious note, I had a very rummy conversation
with my mother last week. She tried to convince me that
there is no such thing as the tooth fairy! I told her not to
talk rot of course. But ever since then, I have been wondering
why she would tell such a monstrous lie. I suspect my old dad
may be behind this. Perhaps he has put her up to it to prompt
me to move out of the house. I would not put it past him.
The weekend was much better. The most extraordinary thing
happened on Saturday. I ran into O. J. Simpson on the links.
You may remember him as that American footballer chap who was
accused of the most horrible murders. As it turns out, he is
an awfully nice fellow and the victim of a terrible conspiracy.
I spent the afternoon helping him search for the real killers
in the rough, but no luck. Oh well.
Exultantly yours,
Argen D-S
PS. I am finding it awfully difficult to hold my cards up.
Every hand position seems to tire my wrists. Can you provide
me with any advice on this topic?
-------------------------------------------
Dearest Bobo,
Thank you for your advice about holding my cards. I tried it
immediately. You are absolutely right! Holding my cards with
index and middle finger spread in a V is far more comfortable.
Yesterday, I saw the most wonderful chap on the Rosie O'Donnell
television show. The man could bend spoons with his mind! I
thought if this bounder could bend a metal object, I wonder
what I can do with a deck of cards! I immediately dug out my
Uri Geller Crystal Mind Power Kit from my closet. This could do
wonders for my game.
By the way, you will never believe what rot people are saying
now. Some fool claims that Rosie O'Donnell is a homosexual.
Extraordinary how some blokes are jealous of another bloke's
success.
Gratefully yours,
Argen
PS I am anxiously checking the return mail every day. My letter
to the North Pole was dispatched more than a month ago and
I am expecting a response soon. I do hope St. Nick still has a
copy of that wonderful Dianetics book.
-------------------------------------------
Bobo Darling,
That blasted Andrew Gumperz had the most terrible lies to say
about Terrence Reese today. Claims that T. R. had a 25-year
history of cheating at cards before 1965. He says Reese was
caught twice playing with a marked deck of cards and was
nearly expelled from the Crockford club for cheating at
poker by colluding with you no less! Claims that you and he
were first accused of cheating in 1949, and that you were kicked
off the British national team in 1950 becausee of it! He says
you were again accused of cheating in 1952, 1955 and 1960.
T. R. was a terribly noble fellow to tolerate such foul
accusations. It is sad that he was so unlucky; why nearly
every important figure in British bridge has called him a
cheat at one time or another! That Gumperz fellow says you
can read it all for yourself in, "The Great Bridge Scandal"
by Alan Truscott.
The thing that is so puzzling is the attitude of these yanks.
Even if these ridiculous allegations were true, how could
they have any relevance to Buenos Aires? What a record of
cheating, collusion and dissembling could have to do with
this case is beyond me. Everyone knows T. R.'s reputation
for unimpeachable ethics. If you ask me, Truscott and the
lot of them should be horsewhipped.
Angrily yours,
Argie
As a service to its membership, the British Bridge League has
commissioned the writing of a set of biographies of the great
British bridge players of yesteryear. I have been assigned the
task of writing the life story of Mr. Boris Schapiro, a dominant
player in British bridge for more than forty years.
As part of my research, I monitor this news group. I noticed
recently a number of threads on the topic of Mr. Schapiro, his
partnership with Mr. Reese, and the unfortunate allegations
surrounding them in 1965. I recently came across an extraordinary
correspondence in Mr. Schapiro's files that is directly relevant
to this discussion. I have transcribed those letters here to
provide those who are interested early access to this important
material.
It seems that Mr. Schapiro maintained a correspondence with
an avid amateur bridge player, one Mr. Argen Discord-Smyth.
These fascinating letters provide insight into the events of
1965 as well as the working of Mr. Discord-Smyth's mind.
Reginald Thistlethwaite
Official Biographer
British Bridge League
-------------------------------------------
Dear Mr. Schapiro,
It is a great honor that you would respond to my previous
letter. I am thrilled to hear the truth about these silly
accusations. Those yanks really are insufferable. Isn't it
extraordinary that the top bridge players in the world
including the captain of one's own team and the president
of the B.B.L could believe such lies?
Respectfully,
Argen Discord-Smyth
The Grange
Regurgingham on Mare
PS. You will get a good laugh out of this: someone at
the club claimed that Victor Mollo made up his stories!
Let me tell you, I gave the blighter a good ticking off.
-------------------------------------------
Dear Boris,
Thank you for your kind response to my last missive. I
was surprised to hear that Mr. Mollo may have rearranged
the cards a bit for publication, but I suppose, you can't
always get the spot cards just so at the table.
I have something that I thought would interest you. I have
taken the liberty of including a small sample from my poem,
An Ode to Mr. Reese, which I have been composing in my spare
time. I know it is not worthy of the great man, but perhaps
you would tell me your impressions anyway. I would be forever
in your debt.
You know I always had a thing
For Englishmen with cunning rare
At whom the knavely foe would fling
The cheater's cap, when they did dare
Terrence Reese you have no peace
From lying lips which know you not
I'd tell them truth if't you would please
Straight from this heart with love besot
Terrence was a sweetly name
When ‘pon my lips it newly came
But now that time has squeezed it dry
I do with Terry pass it by
Terrence, Terrence why the frown
Let me turn it upside down
From our bridge I'll tell the town
He who lies is but a clown
Warmest regards,
Argen Discord-Smyth
PS. I have booked the flight for my summer vacation
at Loch Ness. I hope to see you there. This time,
surely I will sight the monster.
-------------------------------------------
Dearest Boris,
Thank you for your letter of the 25th. Your words of
praise for my modest verse are too kind. It is so
refreshing to find another soul who loves a deft turn
of phrase as much as I.
However, on to other concerns. I have an urgent business
matter about which I need your opinion. A dull-looking
chap approached me the other day with a business opportunity.
For a modest sum, he is willing to part with his ownership
of a significant metropolitan property. I can't tell you
exactly what it is, but I can say it is near the borough
of Brooklyn, New York, and many people cross it every day. The
amount he is asking is very reasonable. What is your opinion;
should I make this investment? Please advise.
In haste,
Argen Discord-Smyth
PS. Had the most wonderful time last weekend with the blokes
from the pub. They invited me to join them on a hunting
expedition. We had a jolly good time, but I must say that
snipe was deucedly quick. The other blokes spotted it several
times but no matter how fast I turned, I always missed it.
-------------------------------------------
Dearest Bobo,
It is such a pleasure to be getting on so well with you.
I am glad you approved of that investment idea. I was able
to talk the young fellow down an extra 20%! (The fellow was
nice enough, but quite a dullard). He was so thrilled when
I finally gave him the cash that he literally jumped up and
ran out of the house.
But on a more serious note, I had a very rummy conversation
with my mother last week. She tried to convince me that
there is no such thing as the tooth fairy! I told her not to
talk rot of course. But ever since then, I have been wondering
why she would tell such a monstrous lie. I suspect my old dad
may be behind this. Perhaps he has put her up to it to prompt
me to move out of the house. I would not put it past him.
The weekend was much better. The most extraordinary thing
happened on Saturday. I ran into O. J. Simpson on the links.
You may remember him as that American footballer chap who was
accused of the most horrible murders. As it turns out, he is
an awfully nice fellow and the victim of a terrible conspiracy.
I spent the afternoon helping him search for the real killers
in the rough, but no luck. Oh well.
Exultantly yours,
Argen D-S
PS. I am finding it awfully difficult to hold my cards up.
Every hand position seems to tire my wrists. Can you provide
me with any advice on this topic?
-------------------------------------------
Dearest Bobo,
Thank you for your advice about holding my cards. I tried it
immediately. You are absolutely right! Holding my cards with
index and middle finger spread in a V is far more comfortable.
Yesterday, I saw the most wonderful chap on the Rosie O'Donnell
television show. The man could bend spoons with his mind! I
thought if this bounder could bend a metal object, I wonder
what I can do with a deck of cards! I immediately dug out my
Uri Geller Crystal Mind Power Kit from my closet. This could do
wonders for my game.
By the way, you will never believe what rot people are saying
now. Some fool claims that Rosie O'Donnell is a homosexual.
Extraordinary how some blokes are jealous of another bloke's
success.
Gratefully yours,
Argen
PS I am anxiously checking the return mail every day. My letter
to the North Pole was dispatched more than a month ago and
I am expecting a response soon. I do hope St. Nick still has a
copy of that wonderful Dianetics book.
-------------------------------------------
Bobo Darling,
That blasted Andrew Gumperz had the most terrible lies to say
about Terrence Reese today. Claims that T. R. had a 25-year
history of cheating at cards before 1965. He says Reese was
caught twice playing with a marked deck of cards and was
nearly expelled from the Crockford club for cheating at
poker by colluding with you no less! Claims that you and he
were first accused of cheating in 1949, and that you were kicked
off the British national team in 1950 becausee of it! He says
you were again accused of cheating in 1952, 1955 and 1960.
T. R. was a terribly noble fellow to tolerate such foul
accusations. It is sad that he was so unlucky; why nearly
every important figure in British bridge has called him a
cheat at one time or another! That Gumperz fellow says you
can read it all for yourself in, "The Great Bridge Scandal"
by Alan Truscott.
The thing that is so puzzling is the attitude of these yanks.
Even if these ridiculous allegations were true, how could
they have any relevance to Buenos Aires? What a record of
cheating, collusion and dissembling could have to do with
this case is beyond me. Everyone knows T. R.'s reputation
for unimpeachable ethics. If you ask me, Truscott and the
lot of them should be horsewhipped.
Angrily yours,
Argie
posted by Andrew G at 8:17 PM
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