Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1924-12-18

expects it to be remedied speedily"
Nearly everything in this country is
investigated sooner or later. adds the
Indianapolis News, and since the
crossword puzzle craze has become
epidemic a State or Federal inquiry
may be expected. People who have
not yet become crossword puzzle
fans, but who are plagued by other
members of the family who are, wish
to know what is back of the move
ment." The Boston Traveller fears the
worst and adds: The crossword puz-
zle mania is bad enough now. good
ness knows, with formerly sane folks
saving the air, paving the diction-
aries and clawing the minds of
friends and enemies for missing
words. There is no peace in the land.
Reviewing the history of American
fads, including the ouija mah-j ong
and the crossword puzzle, the Mil
waukee Journal contends, what these
succeeding 'crazes tell us is that as
a nation with good deal of leisure
we haven't learned how to use it"
The Journal suggests that if each
individual used his spare time to de-
velop his own Observation-Disclosures it
in whatever way he felt would give
him the most pleasure and the most
returns, that would be a craze worth
while" On the other hand, the Cleve-
land Plain Dealer believes the cross
word puzzle ought to have some ele-
ment of permanency, because lit is
not silly. Considered from several
viewpoints it is beneficial mental
exercise. incidentally, it is good fun"
x x * X
BY comparison, continues the Nash
vile Banner, the cross word phase
of American desire for fads is 70 be
preferred to anything which has re-
Gently come along. 1t is eminently
better than repeating phrases about
every day in every way and wonder
ing what it is all about. 1t is more
enlivening and instructive, too. than
indulging in endless bouts at Chinese
dominoes, otherwise known as NAH
jong. 1t is bound to teach the enthu-
siast more about his own language
and facilitate his use of 1t. 1t is also
calculated to impress quite a good
many Interesting and useful facts
about history, mythology, science,
business and sport" The Lansing
State Journal thinks the cross Nss-.5
puzzle will compel a lot of people 20
increase their knowledge of words.
In that 1t will serve useful purpose.
Is it too much to hope that they use
them when they get acquainted with
them?" If one acquires a new word
Dy wrestling III out Oh crossword
puzzle, and it finds resting place in
the mind, the Ell Paso Herald believes
that sooner or later, in the proper
connection, it pops out. A fragment
of the newly acquired vocabulary has
been put to use. Another thought
begs expression, and like as not an
other new word enters into it. And
so it goes" Says the Wichita Eagle:
I'VE do not doubt that the crossword
puzzle has concealed in it a great
American bareback and is good for
the Nation. Basically, America re-
mains deadly serious on one thing in
articular-education. The cross
word puzzle fits in. 1t doesn't merely
deal with words; it deals with the Sc
Iective qualities of.the mind. 1t doesn't
call so much upon knowledge as upon
skill. And mental skill is at the bot
tom of American education" The Sa
vannah Press decides: THE sport
which demands a little thinking is not
utterly despised. 1t is an unselfish
game, any number can join in, and the
family need not preserve a stony
silence, as Is necessary where bridge
or radio enters the home