Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1857-10-09
[prnm 1he ~. Post. o.. e.1

! TIE NATIONAL. CnEss CoNvESTIoN.-The as
sembIng Of the first national convention of
chess-players ever held in America to-day, in
this CITY, is an important event in the history of
an ancient and noble game. Chess conventions
are not of unfreqUent occurrence in England and
| on the continent of Europe, where they hive
been of great service i'll awakening an interest
in the science and disseminating knowledge of
! its profound principles and best methods. The
most eminent professors of the game III this
country are expected to be in this city during
the week, and participate in the tournaments
which have been arranged by the comm ittee.-
The chess clubs Of this vicinity have neglected
no measure that would tend to secure the sue
cess of the convention and give it cctdt.
In several respects the game of chess Is like
philosophy, the natural sciences and the arts: 1t
employs very great and peculiar powers ofmind
Lit inspires those who are devoted to it, with
enthuSiasm-it is passiOnately pursued for its
own sake Its transmission to US from remote
antiquity shows that there is in it something
which meets need af human nature, and the
fondness manifested FOR it by person. most. dis
tinguishcd in various pursuits gives it credit
and dignity.
. The game of chess originated in Asia, but to
what particular portion of that continent be
longs the honor OF its invention Is yet n diSput-
ed question. Those who ascribc to it Il Greek
origin do so on historical grounds quite insult
ticient, and on slight knowledge of its cliarac
ter. III maze IT'S appearance III IlOuSlu
in tho time of the Crusaders, being learned from
the Saracens. Whether adopt the opinion
of Sir William Jones, that its native country is
Ilindostan or agree with Mr. lrwan and others
in accounting it an offspring of the Chinese
brain. we make no question OF its Asiatic origin
and great antiquity.
Chess has been especially favOrite with war
riors and generals and it might be supposed
that skill i'll war was associated with skill in
chess, did not the instance of Napoleon, poor
chess player, warn against too hasy generali-
zatioa. Both Tamerlane and al Amin, catiph
of Bagdad, are said to have engaged III the game
in the midst Of great battles. In battle be-
tween the French and English, in the twelfth
century, an English knight having seized the
bride OF Louis lie eros, cried out, "i'he king is
taken" But the monarch, striking him to the
ground with his sword, said: "Do younot know
that in chess the king cannot be takenE' An
| Elector of SaxOny having been taken prisoner
by the Emperor, Charles v, and condemned to
death, the decree was committed by letter to
/ him while engaged at chess with fellow pris-
oner Simply remarking upon tue Emperor's
1 proceedings, he challenged his antagonist to
continue the game, and, playing with his usual
attention aud ingenuity won 1t, evincing all the
satisfaction common on such occasions.
Two PerSians playing deeply together, me OF
! them lost his entire fortune, and offered is fa-
vorite wife us his last stake He was N the
tpoint Of being check-mated by his adv, rsary,
, vixen the lady, who had watched the sRme
from her window, called out to him to sacrifice
his castle and save his wife. William tho
Conoueror," says Burton, in the dndto dy Of
), AEeldneholg, ''in his younger years, playing at
cheese with tho Prince of france, losing his
+ mate, knocked the chesS-board about his pate,
which was the cause afterwald of much enmity
between them"
The game of chess has undergone various
notifications since its introduction into Europe,
and there arc still several points of dispute as
to its theory and pracii.e. New pieces have
been added occasionally, but the use of them
has raaely survived the inventors.