New-York daily tribune., 1857-10-03

emneDce m the knowledge of its intrCacies ard the
honor Of originating it is much qaesto rsrdta 10
Eastern olimes as was the birthplace of Homer among
the cities Of ancient Greece. Scholars have published
| volume after volume on the origin Of the game his
tory has been ransscked mythology turned inside out,
and phlology used up; yet the nativity and age Of
Chess remain undiscovered mysteries Sir I.aac New
ton traced the origin Of the Arts and Sciences to
ArabaPetrea; and when that hitherto sealed country
is opened up by some future Benzopi or Layard, we
moy learn Of Chess what the ruins Of Nneeeh and
the dumb monuments Of Egypt have failed TO teach
vi one thing we are certain. Chess has been
played in Asia from remotest times, and no one can
tell when it was introduced into Europe. The En-
gish evidently paid early attention to the game, for
the first book printed in the English language was
le Game of Chesse," by Mr.. William Caxton, OF
blessed memory. Cations house was standing in
London until within the last years, and when il
was pulled down, a chess enthusiast purchased the
large oaken beam running through the center Of the
principal room, and caused magnificent set Of men
10 be carved from it. The English have always been
remarkable, says Phidor, for their attention to the
game, more go than other European nations. Oliver
Cromwell found time for ndulgng in its opening and
gambts, even while engaged in checkmating his King;
and the infamous Judge Jeffreys is stated to have
played match with young lady, the stakes berg-
the life Of her lover. The Duke Of Cumberland, the
hero Of Culloden and Fontenoy was a proficient in
the ame and personal friend of the great Phdor,
as was also the Dukes famous rival, Marshall SAKE
SAKE, by the bye, was problem maker, as well as
good player.
According TO the old Spanish tradition, Columbuss
discovery of America is mainly due to hard fought
game of chess. Ferdinand of Spain passed the later
lnp 20 t1o doyn hon xd.
cipal antagonist being and old grandee, whose skill
put the monarchs powers to severe test. Columbus
had long been dancing attendance at the court 10 pur
suit Of the one aim Of his Gfethe grant Of an exped
tion in search of new word-and although he had hih
eIto failed n his aim, yet he had enlisted the sympa-
thies and support of the good Isabela Ferdinand
one of those matteroact who object to furtherng
the schemes Of enthusiasts, and withheld his consent
to New-World expedition being formed Poor Co
unbus would long before have sought assistance else
where but Isabella prevented him, and redoubled her
efforts with her husband The day arrived when the
great navigator was to receive his final answer;
he wended his way toward the palace at nightfal|,
more with the intention of bidding adieu to his royal
paroness than from any hope Of success with Ferdi
nand. Isabella had not, however, resigned herself
and Columbus to defeat and, the latters arriving,
sbe Immediately sought the King who being absorbed
in a hard fought game with the aforementioned old
noble, was not in likely mood to be bothered by the
application of an mportunate sailor The Queens
interruption had the eft ct of merely distracng the
monarchs attention. causing him to lose his principal
piece which was followed by volley of imprecaons
on sutors in general and Columbus in particular. The
game grew worse and worse and defeat seemed immi-
nent Now Isabella, without verplaying, had picked
up considerable knowledge of the game by watching
her husband and the nobles and when Ferdinand told
her that her proege should be successful or otherwise
according as the game resulted che Immediately bent
all her energies upon the board The contest had been
unusually long and the couriers clustered round the
table, amused at the excitement of the King aud the
quiet satisfaction of his antagonist And go the game
went on, which was to decide the discovery of new
world, until Isabella leaned toward her husbands ear
and whispered, "You can check-lnnte him in four
moves" In the utmost astonishment the King reex-
anined his game found that his wifes assertion was
correct, and announced a few minutes subsequently
that Columbus should depart his voyage of dscov-
ery with the title of admiral of the Fleets"
Hitherto, Americans have paid no national attention
TO Chess but this defect will shortly be remedied.
Next week, a Congress Of players will open IN this
city, which will doubtless give national importance
to the game such as it possesses in all the countries Of
Europe We have large number OF hrst-ciass play
ers scattered throughout our immense territory, and
Chess Clubs exist and flourish in all our large cities.
Deputators are now daily arriving from almost every
State in the Union, California being represented
while Mexican and Cuban players have signhed their
intention of being present next Tuesday, when the
Congress opens at Descombe's Rooms, Broadway
The great feature in the proceedings will be contest
for superiority among all the delegates, and eight
prizes will be given to the winners; in addition to
which. a book will be published containing the pro-
ceedlngs of the Congress and history OF Chess in
America. The entire expenses will be betrayed by
subscriptions Of s. and upward, the ist amounting al
the present time to nearly sl,5Oo.
Chess amateurs ought to take pride in the success OF
this Congress, the first in America Even those VINO
have but slight knowledge of the game should come
forward and hand in their subscriptions, without Whcn
! there will be no admission to the Congress. Were
BENJAMIN Franklin living he would write telling ap-
neal in favor Of American Chess and its beneficial ef
fects on the mental faculties, especially OF the
Young. The Treasurer is James Thompson, esq, OF
Broadway, who will be happy to receive subscrp-
tons from those of our readers who have the interest
! of so noble game at heart.
| The New.YoIk Chess Club is the originator OF thus
National Festival. There many strong players 10
the Empire City, and yet ii is by no mears improbabI.
that the principal prize may be carried off by strae
GER for astonishing things vouched for III reference
| 10 one gentleman from Louisiana ard another from
Iowa. However, the time draws near for solution
of this problem Of superiority
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