The Waterbury Democrat., 1933-06-03
-In-
.Mezc York
BY PAUL HARRISON

New York.-CalI it retrogression
if YOU like, or just 2 return 70 the
good old days. But the fact Is that
time continues spinning rapidly IN
reverse SO far as amugement-seek-
ers are concerned. The Players
club is staging a serious revival OF
"IJncIe Toms Cabin" The bridge
fans are toying with the idea OF
going back to variation Of whist.
Dice in parcheesi cups are clat-
tering all over town. Debs are
dfgnified men are going to sporting
getting measured for bicycles. And
dignified men are going to sport
ing goods houses for pairs OF adult
roller skates.
Mr. Ben Cannon, ancient cabby
who haunts the lower reaches OF
Central park, reports that his
barouche hasn't been SO busy in
years. Saucy bonnets and lego
mutton-ish sleeves are more than
ever in evidence on comely stroll
lers. There are ka1eidoscopes IN
Schwartz's window on Fifth Ave-
nue.. Some people are staying. in
nights to look at the modern
equivalent of the old family al
bum-home movies. The ping
pongists are still ponging and
pingfng, and backgammon hasn't
died out by any means. Also,
folks are now playing charades.
All this probably has some es-
sential significance which should
be called to the attention of Mr.
Roosevelt, who. incidentally, plays
an old card game called Miss Mil
ligan." But 1t doesn't mean that
- Ia s.@< evA INrx~-
| for entertainment, or that they're
necessarily amusing themselves at
home. Go to any night club these
evenings and you're likely to find
people spinning tops and roller
skating.
Parcheesi Booming
Parcheesi (and you do spell 1t
with a double "e') is staging u
comeback. There Is actually a
Parcheesi Association of America,
with q paying membership, which
exists for the sale purpose Of set
ting squabbles about the rules.
About 20 people day write in to
Mrs Melvin Fuller. the president.
Most of the questions, she says,
deal with perhaps a dozen moot
points, but sometimes an entirely
new problem comes up, and IS
submitted to the committee on
rules.
This, you understand, Is not the
parcheesi which was introduced in
this country in 1864; nor is 1t the
"parchis" that the Hindus played
centuries ago. This is CLUB par
cheesi," for adults. and has q scor-
ing system and a set of bonuses,
penalties and doubles which make
it exciting for gambling. There
also is a condition of vulnerable
ity, Just as in bridge. For instance.
when you have one of your four
men home" the other three be-
come particularly choice prey for
your opponents.
Famous Addicts
You'd be surprised, Mrs Fuller
says, at the list OF prominent folk
who are parcheesi addicts. By
| the way, this was the only game
that Thomas Edison enjoyed, and
it was favored by Calvin Coolidge.
Ring Lardner Is q fam and Neysa
McMein, the artist. Herbert Bay
ard Swope likes the great open
spaces of a parcheesi board. So
do the Wanamakers, Helen Whit
ney Bourne, and dozens of other
socialites. U. s. Attorney George
Medalie considers 1t q highly scien-
tific game. It's also played at
the Union Club, where a contro-
versy over a certain move recent
ly resulted in a blueprint Of the
situation being made and submit
ted to the association.
Lots of movie people are on the
rolls-Clara Bow, Madge Evans.
George Raft, Wynne Gibson. even
Jackie Cooper, who plays the
adult version with relish. Clifton
/, Webb, the dancer. has even elabor-
ated on the club parcheesi" rules.
adding an exciting new provision
by which you're permitted to chase
an opponents man all the way
homeland in SO doing may lose