The Morning Tulsa daily world. [volume] (Tulsa, Okla.) 1919-1927, 1922-11-13
Capital City Takes to the
Mongolian Tricks Like
Duck to Water
DENNY BROUGHT IT
Naval Secretary and Party
Fell in Love With Fasci-
mating Amusement

lad In the Chinese historic game Of
"mahjong" which Is sweeplng
through army and navy circles here.
"Mahiong' is one of the most fas-
Ciuiting games In the world. II is
centuries old and has figured largely
In Chinese life and literature, but not
until recently has been taken up by
occidentals. The Pacific coast has
been won over to the game. II has
abandoned bridge, whist and even
the great American poker game for
the quaint ivory and bamboo pieces
OF the Chinese game.
Among the members Of the DENLY
party who are especially proficient
in the game IS Mrs George Barnett.
wife OF Maj. Gen. George Barnett, u.
= NJ. c. Mrs. Barnett. who Is an
adept chess player. quickly grasped
the intricate principles OF the game,
having been taught by Chinese. Her
years OF residence in China, when
General Barnett was head OF the
Pekin guard. had given her a work.
ing knowledge OF the Chinese lam
guage so she understood the various
symbols without much instruction.
since her return to Washington the
news has crept out that she had a
beautiful "mahiong" set AS a result,
Mrs. Barnett has been besleged by
those who wish to learn the game
The niceties OF "mahjong" become
apparent as it Is played. II has stood
the test of over twenty centuries in
China and is still the most popular
game there today. For many genera
tlons only the nobility were allowed
20 play the game, but 81 has now ex-
tended to all classes. The Chinese,
with their magnificent thoroughness
have developed the fine points OF the
game To an extent not reached by
any European OF American counter
part. Volumes are published in Chi
nese by experts similar TO books on
bridge used in America and Eng
land.
"Mahjong" in English is spar
row." and the game represents spar
rows playing about the great wsU OF
China. II is extremely picturesque
and poetic and is supposed to have
originated IN Canton or Ningpo. AT
any rate. II has been played in China
since the days OF Confucius.
The game Is played with n set OF
1876 pieces OF bamboo and ivory, SIM
liar TO dominoes. engraved in colors.
Some OF the sets are extremely beau
tiful with their hand-painted designs.
There are "a distinct pieces and four
of each kind make up a set.
These 90 pieces are composed as
follows: First. there are three suites.
designated by bamboo" dots" and
characters" The Chinese call them
respectively, "Tiao," 'Tung,' ana
"Wnn." These suites run from 10 3.
In addition there are four winds,
known as the east. south, west and
north winds and also the special
honor pieces the red dragon
green dragon" and the white
dragon
-Four players figure as individuals,
not a partners. Dice are thrown ana
the high throw becomes the east
wind" or dealer"
The 136 pieces are placed down
and thoroughly shuffled. Each
player takes "a pieces and arrangess
them in n row II pieces long ana
two pieces high. These four rows are
then showed forward to form mol
low square in the middle OF the table
10 represent a Chinese city wall. The
dealers side of the wall Is always
east, the wall opposite Is west, TO MS
right is south and TO his LETT nortn'
The dealer throws the dice TO de.
termine the portion OF the wall
where II is 10 be opened, The second
throw determines the exact spot at
which the wall is to be opened. The
player winning this throw adds the
number TO the total previously
shaken and then counts off from the
right end of his row, clockwise' the
number of pieces indicated by the
total OF the two throws and opens
the wall at this point. lie takes out
the two pieces called the loose
tiles" and lays them TO the right or
the opening They thereupon mark
the end OF the wall.
The dealer then takes the first
four pieces TO the left OF the opening
followed by south, west and north
each drawing four in turn going In q
clockwise direction around the wan
until each man has IL pieces. on the
fourth draw each player draws one
piece from the wall, making IL in
each hand. The dealer then draws
an extra Niece, making IA in the
dealers hand The pieces are then
arranged in order OF the suits or the
hand, with each players hand con-
cealed from the other three as IN
dominoes.
The dealer, east wind, starts the
play by discarding one piece, up IN
the center of the table. South theh
draws ono and discards, ana so on,
until one player completes MS mana
The object of the game is to obtain
a complete hand made up or fouF
sets OF thrces. Each set may oe
either three Of n kind, OF the same
D suit. or "A sequence in the same SUIT
called "A run" and an extra palr'
II pieces in all. -.
should a PLAYER discard n piece
and any other player have pair or
three OF this same piece, even
though out OF his own turn, he must
say "pung" and place this discarded
piece with the pair Cor three) from
his own hand. face up, on the "a PIE
in front Of him, making three tor
four) of a kind. He then discards
from his own hand 10 keep the num-
her of his pieces correct lS In NUM-
ber). Thon tho play carries on 70 the
right of the one who plunged ana
the other player or players lose their
right to draw in their turn. ~ r.
There are numerous possibilities ~. IN
the score since one can total mo
than $4,000 points In one hand. q
scoring limit of 800 points on any
one hand is usually fixed upon a, a,
the start OF the game ana eac y
losing player pays In chips only 5oo
points when the winners score j.
200 or more. except In case or east
VINO, when loser pays double
Walton Names His Secretary.
nKT AunIA CITX Nov. H.