mer." The game enjoyed an
extraordinary vogue in high French society, where it was the fashion at
that time to admire all things American. "The ladies... filled my
pockets with bon-bons, and ... called me _'le petit Bostonien.'_ It was
indeed by the name of Bostonian that all Americans were known in France
then. The war having broken out in Boston and the first great battle
fought in its neighbourhood, gave to that name universal celebrity. A
game invented at that time, played with cards, was called 'Boston,' and
is to this day (1830) exceedingly fashionable at Paris by that
appellation" (_Recollections of Samuel Breck_, Philadelphia, 1877).
There was a tradition that Dr Franklin was fond of the game and even
that he had a hand in its invention. At the middle of the 19th century
it was still popular in Europe, and to a less degree in America, but its
favour has steadily declined since then.

The rules of Boston recognized in English-speaking countries differ
somewhat from those in vogue in France. According to the former, two
packs of 52 cards are used, which rank as in whist, both for cutting
and dealing. Four players take part, and there are usually no
partners. Counters are used, generally of three colours and values,
and each hand is settled for as soon as finished. The entire first
pack is dealt out by fours and fives, and the second pack is cut for
the trump, the suit of the card turned being "first preference," the
other suit of the same colour "second preference" or "colour," while
the two remaining suits are "plain suits." The eldest hand then
announces that he will make a certain number of tricks provided he may
name the trump, or lose a certain number without trumps. The different
bids are called by various names, but the usual ones are as
follows:--To win five tricks, "Boston." (To win) "six tricks." (To
win) "seven tricks." To lose twelve tricks, after discarding one card
that is not shown, "little _misere_." (To win) "eight tricks." (To
win) "nine tricks." To lose every trick, "grand _misere_." (To win)
"ten tricks." (To win) "eleven tricks." To lose twelve tricks, after
discarding one card that is not shown, the remaining twelve cards
being exposed on the table but not liable to be called, "little
spread." (To win) "twelve tricks." To lose every trick with exposed
cards, "grand spread." To win thirteen tricks, "grand slam." If a
player does not care to bid he