Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, Va. [W. Va.]) 1852-1859, 1858-11-19

ana Ohlcagp, Illinois, quote Douglas stock as
p buoyant and in good request Douglas is now
extra fine" among the political spectators.
- In this connection, we must not forget to men.
ton that we find in the mails, the report of a
specialization and celebration at Trenton, NJ
j., at which Douglas was glorifed immensely
and hoisted on very high pole as the man
for the highest Office in the gift of the people,
There is no doubt but what "the man from Ili-
nois" rs the Wing songs in the Scott campaign
used to style him, is n rising character, and has
fair showing for the White House in co.
Our staid and practical cotemporary, the
Cincinnati Gazette, devotes whole leader, tn.
king up more than one column of its mammoth
.sa pages to the history and commentator of the
y. ~ tnoble game of chess" The Gasettes account
:. is most ample and readable one of the origin
and perfection of the game. We are told that
for full "thousand years, numerous minds
have tried to improve the game" But it has
never been done. It is a game, lwelaro also
told, that has been the amusement of the most
refined and excellent of the earth, it has been
8 played in all ages, by "Divines, Scholars, War!
riors andaStatesmen.p Tho reason why this
game has always had such charm for intellcc-
tual people sis, that no game and no machine
yet invented, is so VGrious, complicated and per-
feet, us this" Something marvellous about it
is this:
Thousands of games of chess are recorded,
and tens of millions played and tens of millions
will be played and yet no two games having
= thirty moves will ever be alikeI Each player
sits down not only. to new game for himself
q but to a new game among all that ever were
played. The principle on which this depends is !
"a purely mathematical one, and arises from the
number Of changes which may be made out ola
sglven number of pieces, given number of
moves, and . given number of places
Concerning the origin of the game, We arc told
that
1t is claimed by the Arabians, and generally
believed to have originated in Persia or India,
and is, without doubt, of great antiquity. 1t
would be curious scene to look down upon
Joseph and Pharoah playing chess! Yet they
may have done so. More probably, however,;
the game really owes its origin to the brilliant
Court of Persia, whose art, luxuries and magnifs
cenccs were typical of the ancient mind.
Concerning the origin of the names of the
pieces used. we are told that
Tho Knight is by far tho most brilliant and
interesting piece of the chess board. He is so
representative, in his movements, of the true
knight of the Middle Ages, that VIC might easily
believe he was invented in tho time of Richard
Couer de Lion. He has not tho power of the
Queen, the dignity of the King, the strength of
the Castle, or the jurisdiction of the Bishop, but
he exceeds them all in his various, and gallant
movements Heis agile quick, and cavorling,
like the trained warrior on gallant steed. Mr..
JsdoTphy5 and all great chess players, have made
great use of the Knight, and the most brilliant
positions and strategiss in chess, have been
achieved by the Knight.
7, :, p, There are manuals and systems of chess
Also
There have also been what may be called
aLarl nE NVn.,,, H. ~. ~
the openings. Themost remarkable, and per-
haps the best is that of Phillidor, whose repu-
tation has not been obscured, even by more
remarkable players. His opening isthe common
one of the pawn and bishop, which opens a fair
field for after movements. The most noted
Italian school brings out the Knight the second
move, attacking the opposite person. and COM
polling his defence with the Knight The
Gam6its, so much celebrated, (and for the pur-
pose OF amusement only, the best) depend
solely on the principle of sacrificing a person
s4ora position, in which these games are pre-
cisely similar to the battles Of some great Gem
sseFals. But, the success of this game depends
wholly on the fact of surprising and disconcert-
ing your adversary by the vigor of your attack.
Hence, this is not safe againt great player
We hear that Mr.. Morphy has beaten all the
Gambit players, while he lost several games
playing with Mr.. Harwitz on the old, plan
THE Gambit games are delightful among friends
playing for amusement but are not equal to the
solid strength of the PhiIlidor opening.
The Gazette concludes its review with the fol-
lowing bit moraliziHg which strikes us as be-
ing altogether correct:
Some of our auste.e moralists may ask cui-
sRonO2 What is the slas3 Why should men
give so many hours TO chess9 To this we, shall
make two remarks. First, mankind must have
ADJUSTMENTS. The wise men will not ask whether
they shall have them; but whether they are of
ahihnocent and salutary kinCas We syInpathize
fully with, the Great Frederick, when his Prime
Minister caught him playing leap-frog with his
children and we sympathize almost as much
with the hard laborer aud the weary student,
who go from tho field, or the study, to bend the
bow Of mind or body, in some by play, which
Burdens not with its cares, and stings not with
Its evils. We grant that the best of all plSy is
to5be found in the, woods aud fields, romping
with nature, kissing the winds, loving the trees,
aud bsholdlng the unequalled glory of God, in
the surprising excellence of His works. We
grant this, and wish that all might feelit But
this is not ALL There are seasons of cold, days
ofdarkness, periods of physical inability-and
mustwe have no variety at these periodss Is
.therez nothing but talking and reading toAbe
m i.