The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1883-05-12 00:00:00

CHESS WITH LIVING PIECES.

A novelty was introduced to the London public on
Monday afternoon at the Cirque, Argyll-street, Regent.
street, in the shape of a tournament, in which the
ordinary figures of a chessboard were represented by
non-commissioned officers and men of the Household
Brigade' who had been most carefully trained by
Colonel Stirling.
The object of the entertainment was beneficent, as
the proceeds wern to be devoted to two charities, one
being the Royal Hospital for Children and Women,
Waterloc-bridge-road, S.E.—among the patrons of
which are her Majesty the Queen, the Prince and
Princess of Wales,the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh,

the Duke of Albany, and the Queen of the Hellene
the other is the West-end Hospital for Diseases of the
Nervous System.
At the performance there were present the Prince
and Princess of Wales, the Duchess of Edinburgh,
the Duke and Duchess of Teck, the Duchess of
Buccleugh, the Baroness-Burdett Coutta and Mr.
Burdett-Coutts, Sir W. Brett, Lady Brassy, Lady
Waterford, Viscountess Clifden, Lady Freake, &c.
The scene of the performance (formerly Hengler's
Circus), retains many of its original features; but in
place of the sawdust, the " ring' is covered with
matting, the centre being occupied by a huge chess-
board, each square carefully lettered and numbered.
As the Prince and Princess of Wales, accompanied by
the young Princes and Princesses, entered the royal
box, the whole audience rose, and the band of the
Coldstreams played the National Anthem. Her Royal
Highness carried a magnificent bouquet presented by
Miss Montague, whose father, Lord Robert Montagu, .
is chaitman of the committee f the West-end Hospital.

At the conclusion of the National Anthem seven
boy pipers from the Royal Caledonian Asylum, led by
their instructor, Sergeant M'Grego:, emerged from a
little tent and marched round the arena playing the
music so dear to the heart of the Gael, while a couple
of sergeants took up their positions as nominal
"players " on each side of the tent opening.

At sound of trumpet forthwith- issued Mr. J.
Broome, chamberlain of the board, heading the pro-
cession of castles with their pawns, who marching to
the head of the board, filed right and left to their re-
spective squares. To them speedily followed the
knights in well-simulated panoply of steel, obtaining
the cheers of the crowded audience, whose plaudits
again rang out as the venerable bishops made their
appearance, " white " bqing vested in tall modern
mitres, " fiddleback " chasubles, and full-sleeved
surplices; while " black " wore the undress habit of
a cardinal.

After a befitting pause came the royal processions
with stately step and slow, the pieces already on the
board lowering the red and white bannerets which
alone distinguished the " sides "as kings and
queens passed by amidst the renewed cheers of the
assembly.
The various dresses were of the most tasteful de-
scription, and well sustained the severe test of mingled
gas and sunlight to which they were subjected. The
pawns wore habits of divers colours appropriate to
pages in the days of chivalry, and admirably looked
their parts. The kings and queens were in blue and
red, the royal dames being in particular marvellously
well got up.

Again the trumpet sounded and play began, each
move being announced in tones resonant of the word
of command. Rapidly and noiselessly rooks and
pawns moved from square to square, as did the bishops
with dignified gesture, while the clang of armour and
accoutrements distinguished the movement of the
knights. As the various pieces were " taken " the
captured ones saluted the victors, the bishops retiring
in the attitude of benediction (albeit with the wrong
hand), while one of the knights created much amuse-
ment, mingled with applause, by the dejected air with
which he sadly retreated from the board and took his
seat in the rear of the victorious side.
At ten minutes to four a flourish of trumpets an-
nounced that the red king had been cheekmated, and
he surrendered his sword to the conqueror. Another
signal gathered the pieces with much celerity in the
centre of the board, whence they retired in pro-
cessional order.

After an interval of ten minutes a second game was
played, when white was again the victor. The first
game was played by Mr. Hirschfeldt and the second
by Mr. Hoffer.

As the moves were made much more rapidly than
is .the usual practice at chess the interest of the spec-
tators was well maintained and the greatest interest
was manifested by all present, the Royal visitors re-
maining until the close of the second game.