CROSS-WORD PUZZLES MANIA.

Press, Volume LX, Issue 18266, 27 December 1924, Page 5

CROSS-WORD PUZZLES MANIA.

AMERICANS HARD HIT. (rnov orn omt coEßtsrosDisn SAX FRANCISCO. December 3. At first regarded as a passing joke the eoss-word puzzle has settled down as a perfect mania throughout the United States ns well as in the Dominion of Canada. Various reasons have been attributed to its origin, but the one most accepted is that a facetious lady in writing a letter to a friend wished to express herself in a new way and divined the first crossword puzzle, which when interpreted by the receiver proved to lie but a simple epistle. When it had been acknowledged by the receiver the writer of the original thought it might prove of interest to the general public- and she forthwith dispatched it to an American daily newspaper. It caught the public favour immediately in that city, but it was not until a few weeki had passed that it was taken up by leading American and Canadian newspapers. The diversion grew in favour daily untH it reached the intensity of a mania. Nowadays ou tramcar, in the railway train, in waiting rooms, on the ferry boats, and almost everywhere, persons arc seen poring over the checker board cross-section forms of the newspapers, seeking synonyms and endeavouring to fill in the spaces. As a result of the craze dictionaries have been sold by the thousand and books of synonyms, as well as such small books of the type of "Just the Word Wanted," are having an extraordinary vogue. There have been public protests in the Press at the waste of time of the people following the pastime of solving the cross-word puzzles, but staid old college professors have seized the opportunity to uphold the jpastime, declaring that it widens one's vocabulary and tends to people better expressing themselves when speaking and writing. The columnists and funster writers have made immense capital out of the mania, but still the pastime grows by leaps and bounds. Spreads to Stage. Cross-words on the chorus girl's dressing table, cross-words on the bosoms of the stars, eross-words tucked between pages of the theatre programmes to be worked upon between acts and helped by words that ehanco in actors' speeches—these are some of the things theatrical managers are encountering when they try to run a show on New York's Broadway. Coss-words and ruin are regaded as synonymous by the theatrical managers. Since the little checker boards, whose every square has a "letter, meaning all its own," entered the theatre havoc has been played. Pour big theatrical managers in New York have been wailing a chorus about it, for th'e cross-word puzzlee lias invaded the foot-lighted stage with a vengeance. In the past few weeks not one performance has been called without a battle being previously waged to get the gentlemen and ladies of the ensemble out on time. There has been a word escaping them that just had to be found before the audiences could be faced. The craze has affected the attendance at the theatres and music halls of America, for many people have stayed at home attempting to solve the puzzles. Even on the cinema "lot" fair actresses have been known to hurriedly depart in the midst of filming proceedings when they have suddenly thought of the solution of a puzzle. Somo of the newspapers have hit upon an idea of rewarding the originators of cross-word puzzles that have appeared in their papers. After giving each puzzle inventor, the magnificent sum of one United States dollar, all thoso puzzle inventors have been invited to a special performance in a loading theatre in the same city in which the -newspaper is printed. New cross-word puzzles have appeared on the screen, and big prizes have been offered to the persons solving the puzzle quickest. Great scenes of excitement have invariably characterised these special parties of cross-word puzzlers. Gross-Words in Pulpit. Cross-word puzzle enthusiasts flocked to the Knoxville Baptist Church in the smoky city of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where Rev. George F. McElvein, the pastor, before launching into his sermon, let his congregation solve one of the familiar spaced squares which concealed thfe words of his text. The,puzzle, containing 144 squares, was laid out on a large blackboard in the front of the auditorium, printed copies of the definitions were distributed among the pews and the congregation was invited to fill in the spaces. Fifteen minutes were allotted for solution and, as many experts had been attracted by the announcement of the novel feature, all the ninety-five words were called out from the pews within the time set. Dr. Robert K. Rott, Professor in the English. Department of Princetown University in New Jersey, has recommended a real use for the cross-word puzzle, urging its use as a text book in the University course, with the presentation of the most difficult puzzle ever devised to the students and then setting the students to solve it by way of examination. Dr. Rott said he saw no reason why such a course of instruction could not be developed with inestimable profit to teacher and students. He suggested that the University consider the matter. "In fact, aside from the vocabulary course, the puzzles could be used intensively in practically all departments of the University. They would be particularly interesting in the classics and modern language departmeuts," said the Professor, adding:. "Imagine a cross-word puzzle made up only of Latin words, or one consisting of biological, historical or chemical terms. There would be a revival of learning."