May 1, 1891.] 



KNOWLEDGE. 



97 



of 18^" (the major axis of the ring system being 42i", 

 and tiie minor 4-0"). On the 31st he rises at llh. 22m. 

 A.M., with a northern dedination of 9° 28', and an apparent 

 equatorial diameter of 17i" (the major axis of the ring 

 system being 40|", and the minor 3f"). On the evening 

 of the .5th Titan is about 20" south of the planet ; and on 

 that of the 12th about 22" north. On the 14th lapetus is 

 about 36" south of Saturn. On the evening of the 21st 

 Titan is about 20" south of Saturn, and may just possibly 

 be eclipsed by the shadow of the planet. On the evening 

 of the 28th Titan is nf of the planet. Uranus is an even- 

 ing star, rising on the 1st at 6h. Om. p.m., with a southern 

 declination of 10° 33', and an apparent diameter of 3-8". 

 On the 31st he rises at 3h. 55m. p.m., with a southern 

 declination of 10° 11'. He describes a short retrograde 

 path to the N.N.E. of 86 Virginis during the month. 

 Neptune is in conjunction with the sun on the 28th. 

 There are no well-marked showers of shooting stars in 

 May. 



'The moon enters her last quarter at Ih. 51m. p.m. on 

 the 1st ; is new at 6h. 16m. a.m. on the 8th ; enters her 

 first quarter at 7h. 4m. p.m. on the 15th ; is full at 6h. 

 26m. p.m. on the 23rd ; and enters her last quarter at 

 6h. 55m. P.M. on the 30th. She is in perigee at 9h. a.m. 

 on the 5th (distance from the earth 227,015 miles), in 

 apogee at 5h. a.m. on the 17th (distance fi-om the earth 

 251,380 miles), and in perigee again at 9h. a.m. on the 

 31st (distance from the earth 229,565 miles). The greatest 

 western libration is at 4h. 10m. a.m. on the 11th, and the 

 greatest eastern at Oh. 44m. a.m. on the 24th. There 

 will be a total eclipse of the moon on the 23rd, which 

 may be well observed in India. At Greenwich only a 

 small portion of the eclipse is visible ; the moon rising at 

 7h. 56m. P.M., and totality ending three-quarters of an 

 hour previously. The last contact with the shadow takes 

 place at 8h. 17m. p.m., at an angle of 90° from the 

 northernmost portion of the moon's limit towards thg 

 west (counting for direct image). The last contact with 

 the penumbra takes place at 9h. 21Jm. p.m. 



amijist Column. 



By W. Montagu Gattie, B.A.Oxon. 



The Management of Trumps. 



AT the commencement of a hand, the question 

 whether or not trumps should be led, although 

 often difficult, can nevertheless be decided, in 

 the large majority of instances, on certain defi- 

 nite linos familiar to players of experience. 

 Differences of opinion exist, no doubt, as to the proper 

 course in particular cases, and there is wide scope for 

 diversity of style. There is, perhaps, no point of the 

 game into which the "personal equation" enters more 

 conspicuously, and a man's position in a scale of character 

 ascending from the extreme of caution to the extreme of 

 temerity might not inaccurately bo gauged by his manage- 

 ment of trumps. But, given a particular player, he will 

 nearly always be able to decide, as soon as he takes up his 

 cards, whether he will lead trumps or not. 



The case is difi'crent when the game has progressed 

 some stages, and when, at a critical moment, the question 

 of a trump lead has to be determined. General rules 

 have ceased to be applicable, and there is no longer so 

 much margin for individuality. The only safe guides 

 arc judgment and observation, and those are the dis- 

 tinguishing marks of the brilliant player. The following 



hand furnishes an interesting example of the importance 

 attaching to a right decision under such circumstances : — 



Hand No. 20. 



B's Hand. 



Score— AB, love ; YZ, 3. 



Z turns up the ace of clubs. 



Note. — A and B are partners against Y and Z. A has 

 the first lead ; Z is the dealer. "The card of the leader to 

 each trick is indicated by an arrow. 



Tricks— k^, 1 ; YZ, 0. 



Tricks— KH, 1 ; YZ. 1. 



Note. — Trick 2. — Z has the king of diamonds ; A has 

 all the other diamonds ; and Y, having rufled a doubtful 

 trick, is weak in trumps. 



Trick 3. 

 A 



Note. — From the fall of the cards, Y has led from at 

 least six hearts ; he holds the queen, and not the knave. 

 A can only have the knave, eight ; and Z can only have 

 the knave, unless he has commenced a call for trumps. 



First Line of Play. 



Note. — B desires neither to open spades, nor to lead 

 hearts up to Y's strength. Holding four trumps to two 

 honours, ho leads through Z's aee up to Y's declared 

 weakness. 



