Belington progressive. [volume] (Belington, W. Va.) 1912-1927, 1927-03-10

lads It's likely that you succumbed to
the lure of the little black and white
squares. Why did you do it? And why
did the solving of puzzles, which has
been practiced by man since the earli-
est days, wait until 1924 and 1925 to
become universal pastime?
Here is what DIR. Fl. E. Jones and
Prescott sLeck of Columbia university,
In recent article in Popular Science
Monthly, have to say about 1t:
The second question possibly fs the
most easily answered
Crossword puzzles never could have
fiourished in the past for ths reason
that the level of general education.
even score of years ago, was much
lower than at present. and solving the
puzzles requires at least an elementary
education.
Another reason for their success H.
that crossword puzzles are almost ths
first fad of history the practice of
which costs virtually nothing and re-
quires the development of no special
physical dexterity the acquisition of
no unusual equipment, the learning of
no rules.
occurs an even more potent reason for
the amazing popularity of this newest
fad. Successfully working out cross
word puzzles, more than any other
similar amusement of recent history.
satisfies long list of the Fundamental
desires of human kind. Social distinc-
ton, sex, imitation, group loyalty, CO.
operation, competition, pleasure, play.
amusement, humor, curiosity, activity
and constructiveness-a of those in
grained, instructive wants of man are
satisfied merely by printing letters in
the proper squares.
Cross word puzzles are supposed by
many to increase our power of concen-
tration, to help our memory and orr
reasoning ability, and, by demanding
decisive Judgments are even regarded
as an aid to the will. 1t would REQUIRE
whole course in psychology to pre-
sent an adequate criticism of these
views Suffice 1t to say that we no
longer believe in vague, general "facuI-
ties Of the mind" You may strength
en- your biceps by pulling chest weights
and find the increased strength useful
In playing baseball or hoeing potatoes.
but the brain does not behave in the
same way. Mental habits are usually
quite specific, so, though cross word
puzzles may increase your vocabulary
and play useful role in keeping you
out Of mischief, neither they nor any
other single discipline can be expected
to have much effect in Improving the
mind" The one reason for doing cross
word puzzles is for the fun of It, They
are innocent amusement-nothing more
nor less!
Although psychology can explain
much of why we behave like human
beings" it can't explain all of our
apparently unnecessary and meaning
less doings. For superstition comes in
to claim responsibility for making us
do certain things or to refrain from
doing them. For instance why do some
people regard the number Is as up-
lucky, refuse to sleep In Room 13 at
a hotel, sit at a table with II other
guests or have part in any action
in which that number is involved ?
Just where this superstition originated
IS unknown. In Biblical DAYS the
Hebrew word for 12 was associated
with the word death and In Morse
mythology the number is one of Ill
omen because of the tradition that
the sun god Ballur had to die because
there were 13 gods in Valhalla, an in
tolerable situation TIE fear Of IL