Evening star., 1922-12-03
Centuries-Old Royal Game
OF China Luriine to Many

Mah-jongg has come to Washing
ton. And never did brilliant
idebutante. nor even royalty itself. so
, completely captivate and engross So
| ciety men and women as NAH -jongg
! is doing. Mah-jongg is not a man.
neither a woman nor a debutante. 1t
! is just the centuries old royal game
Of China. played with the most ex-
quisite little blocks Of ivory or ala
| baster. costing anywhere from $50
to $3.50. 1t is the most exclusive
! game known. Only since China has
| become a republic has 1t strayed be-
yond the court circle. after being
| closed in through all the preceding
ages too far back to be Of record.
When the court circle scattered.
/ nah -jongg scattered. too, and is
, slowly creeping over this country.
i having arrived first in San Francisco.
1t has taken hold Of 4 small circle
in New York, where it has gripped
| the people like II has in Washington.
to the exclusion of bridge and auc-
tion. lunch parties, tea parties. and
almost. but not quite. dinner parties.
too. The game is played with small
dominolike blocks. upon which are
carved or painted, in exquisite colors
and designs. birds, flowers and vari-
GUS characters and circles. Now, as u
matter OF fact. sets made Of celluloid
may be obtained. They are made in
this country. but are, of course. not
nearly 80 desirable among the smart
set as the genuine ones, particularly
the old ones which come direct from
"a In u he
! rules Of the game were carefully
guarded within the royal circle Of
China. thus keeping It literally the
kings game. Now even the rules may
be obtained in this country if one
knows where.
Mrs. George T. Marye. wife of the
former United States ambassador TO
Russia, and Mrs. Gibson Fahnestock
. were the first to bring mah-jongg to
Washington. and Mrs. Marye had the
advantage Of Mrs F'ahnestock be-
| cause she came home first this au-
| tumn. Mrs. Fahnestock brought hers
from Europe and Mrs. Marye brought
hers from San Francisco. and both
nave been busy playing the game and
teaching it to friends. Mrs. Marye
! has had numerous parties-mah-jo -jongg
! parties-until the town is set agog
with it. There are in all perhaps
seven women who now own sets of
the little ivories, including Mrs.
! Marye and Mrs. Fahnestock. They
are Mrs. George Barnett, wife of the
major general of the United States
Marine Corps. who brought hers from
the orient last summer when she ac-
c"mpanied Gen. Barnett. in Secre-
tary Denby's party. to Japan; Mrs
William A. Slater: Mrs. John Rodgers;
Mrs. Wright. wife of Gen. William
Mason Wright, and Miss Patten. But
F; it is spreading rapidly and innumer-
able sets have been sent for. some Of
ivory and some of ceiluloid 1t all
depends. Cards Of invitation have
been received here from New York
Tor a mah-jongg tea to be given Mon
day afternoon at the Ambassador by
F.; the book committee on children's
! libraries. of which Mrs. Herbert
Hoover is honorary chairman and
Mrs. John L. Griftiths, widow of the
former consul general to London. Is
chairman Mrs. James Robert Nc
kee. daughter of the late President
BENJAMIN Harrison. is corresponding
secretary Of the committee Nah
Jongg sets are to be the prizes 4
| number of people interested In the
children's Libraries will go over from
Washington for the -jongg tea.