A MAN-JONGG SET.

Shannon News, 28 March 1924, Page 4

A MAN-JONGG SET.

USE FOUR PACKS OF CARDS. v

A GAME FOR COLD NIGHTS.

Do you play Mah- Jongg? Or have you watched it play€d? (says a writer in the Weekly Scotsman). Were, you not attracted with those mysterious “pong” “kong” "chow,”, and* Mahjong?” Have you heard “go on” said in a pure Chinese fashion as ongg?” , ' If not—you soon will! Whoso once plays and masters ‘the mysteries of this fascinating Chinese game will stick to this ancient pastime, good for modern busy life. Why not.you? Try it!

Price too prohibitive? Rules complicated? Nonsense! Of course, several pounds would buy a beautifully finished set. Paying under a pound, you still may have a set. But. if you find even that a too expensive investment into this mysterious and unfamiliar game—

Well, have it then for a few shillings, or _Lf or nothing! a very noble and attractive Mah-Jongg can be easily made in your own home. It has been done, and the game played; and, I assur e you, the enjoyment it is ik> less mighty than when handling the precious ivory pieces!

Buy four packs of strong Patience or ordinary playing cards. (Or make use or those which you have in our home!) It is better to choose them all of the same black pattern.

A Mah-Jongg set must have the following - pieces:Four of each: Red, green and white dragons. . . •• •■ l 2 Four of each: East, south, west. and north winds . . . • 10 Nine sets of circles, - four iudcntical pieces in each .. 36 Nine sets'Vf ' 'characters, ditto'''BO Nine ' sets of bamboos, ditto .-. 30 Four seasons •. • • • • •• • * Four flowers .. •« ! •• •• * "" 144

The set contains besides: 2 dice, 4 tokens of.»tne players, and counters for scoring. Your plan is this. First take from the,packs all the diamonds, from two t!o nine, inclusive. Add the corresponding aces. You have at once the required set of circles; if you like, you paint circles around the pips /' Repeat the process exactly in spades. They,will form your nine sets of bamboos. /Them pick up four kings of hearts. Place figure 1 in the corner of each of them, The four queens of hearts mark with the figure ' 2. On four knaves place tlie figure 3. Continue with the kings, and knaves of numbering'them 4,5, and 6 consecutively. Finish with the same cards of spades, in the like fashion, marking them 7 -8, and 9. You have made your nine of characters. Now take twelve "blanks or leastpiped cards (aces, twds, threes, or fours will do). Colour upon four of them, as fantastically as you can,, red dragons; upon the next jiour, green dragons; the last leave white. Or you may cut out effective zigzags of suitably coloured paper and paste them upon the cards. The four tens of spades arc your east winds; the four tens of hearts, south winds; of diamonds, west;dubs, north. For your better convenience, mark them with the letters E, S. W.

n. . - ; Paint upon four cards of the rest ol your most loved flowers, ’•numbering them 1. 2,3, 4, you have the flowers. On the next four, picture the simple enfblems of the seasons, adding the words: “Spring, 1.” “Summer, 2.” “Autumn, 3.” “Winter,4.” The seasons are ready. . And so your playing set of MahJongg is at your service. \ .Four different fancy buttons will make perfect tokens of the players. They even give an additional Chinese touch! i Anything tiny is good for scoring purposes. Perhaps the most lovely, Chinese-like things are various kinds or beans (or buttons). It is enough t° allow: Points. 12 of large size, each meaning 500,, 20 of a shade smaller, for .. , 100 20 still smaller, for •• •• • .-50 40 still smaller, for .. • • •• 10 100 of the smallest .. •• . • • 2 With this your last preparations are completed. Mah Jongg is yours, and at no expense. Next comes playing tho game.