The New York herald., 1922-12-04
Mah-Jongg Party
Follows Typical
Oriental Dinner
Mr.. and Mrs. 0akes Introduce
Chinese Game-Benefit
Play Tomorrow.

Afah-Jongg the Chinese game of a
thousand wonders" that has been played
In its homeland since the days OF Con-
fucius long before the Christian era,
had its first tryout last night In New
York as a source of private amusement.
Tomorrow afternoon the ancient game
Will be introduced to the local public
at the first Man-Jongg tournament in the
Ambassador Hotel for the benefit OF the
book committee on children's libraries
Tomorrow those who wish may play.
Last evening a few residents OF New
York were introduced to the game as
guests OF Mr., and Mrs. Charles Oakes at
a soiree in their apartment at 1898 Fifth
avenue, which they called an East or
Suez Evening" Mah-Jongg was the real
excuse, with an elaborate scheme of en-
tertalnment and decoration built up
about the venerable diversion that only
now is becoming known to New York.
Mr.. and Mrs Oakes brought several sets
OF the game with them from China.
where they travelled recently. and all of
the party fixings.
The Mah-Jongg party was preceded by
dinner, with the dining room and din
ner table decorated in an Oriental man
ner. In the center of the table was a
large figure of Chinese god the host
and hostess picked up in China TO be
their Guardian OF the Temple" At one
end OF the room was Japanese dining
table in miniature, over which presided
the God of Plenty. Opposite was "A rep
lica OF a Chinese village, with native
nuts and coolies dragging ri<ishas, as
part OF a Chinese landscape.
The guests felt some apprehension
when they took their places at their
plates. which had been laid upon squares
embroidered with the Chinese New
Years greetings. to see only chopsticks.
but at the proper moment knives and
forks were produced by the Chinese but
Ter and walters. The place cards were
old Chinese stamps cut out TO depict
different Oriental types. The room was
gay with red and yellow paper stream
ers, such as hang In every Chinese house
TO keep the devils out. The menu was
equally Chinese. with chicken chop suey
and Bombay duck, which is not duck at
all
The candies. passed after the coffee,
were in flat straws, the exact size OF
the counters used In Mah-Jongg. as we'll
as in the form of the blocks or pieces
OF the game-"bamboos," 'circles," ="
characters" winds" and dragons"
Then came the game. with Miss Lillian
Woodward, just back from China. 10
4HslfuVl 'lc bucsts III It's nlNsltrlcS anu
destinations. She also will be on hand
again tomorrow afternoon 10 help out
tho public.
The guests included Miss Anna Van d.
Malcom, Mr.. Carle J. Blenner. Mrs. Her
bert Wilks Roberts. Mr. and Mrs. Il.
Norman Nichols Mr.. and Mrs. Cosmo
Hamilton. Mrs. Walter Rutherfurd. Mr..
and Mrs. c. G. Padel MIR. John Larkin,
Mrs. Hayden Harris. Count Byron Khun
de Prorok, MIR. and Mrs. Frank Ludlam.
Mr.. Wallace Furman and Mr.. Edmund j.
Stone.
Mr.. and Mrs. Oakes reached New York
Just ahead OF the flood tide of Nah
Jongg popularity that seems to be sweep
ing this way. II was, they say, the only
game being played on board the ships of
Oriental lines. When they reached Lon
don they found England had caught the
fever.