The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1858-12-02
History Of Chess.


The precise period of the origin otchess is
not known, but it's undoubtedly of great an
tiquity., Treaties had been written to prove
that i: had been Invented among the Greeks at
siege of Troy, that it originated sevarally with
the Hindoos, Chinese, and the Egyptians. In
support of the last hypothesis, some of the
ancient monuments of that people have been
cited, upon which are depicted men playing
small moveable figures. 1t would seem, how
ever, this was game resembling draughts or
checkers, and the prevailing opinion is that
chess in it's present form was invented by
Brabmins somewhere about the fifth century,
and from them introduced among the Perslans,
the Saracens, the Chinese, and other Oriental
nations. In A. D., 500, we find ii IN practice
among the Greeks of Constantinople. 1t is
popularity supposed to have beer introduced
TO Western Europe by .he Crusaders, but there
is strong reason to believe it was known in the
Court of Charlemagne al much earlier pc
riod. Among the rude chivalry of the middle
ages 1t was favorite sport, and frequently led
to rough encounters in strange contrast with
the courtesy which has uniformly distinguished
chess contests in more modern times. Thus
we read that the great King Canute and Earl
Ulf were playing together, when the King in
sisted on taking back false move, which so
irritated the Earl that he overturned the chess
board. This led to a wrangle between him
and the king, which ended rather tragically for
the poor Earl, who was decapitated by the
kings orders early the next morning. Will
lam the Conqueror, in his younger years, was
check -mated by the Prince Of France and
was so much rritated at his defeat, that he
broke the chess board over his antagonists
head, and so on. ......a g. s.s.aa= ..... ..
Chess is honorably associated with the art
of printing, the first book printed with metal
types in England being treaties of the game.
This was printed by William Caxton in 1474.
Phillip II, of Spain was an enthusiast at the
game. He assembled at his Court all the lead
ing players of Europe, and those who distin-
gushed themselves in the conflicts were load
ed with honors and gifts. Ruy Lonez was
for a long time the chess king at Philips
Court, but was destined to lay down his lau-
rels at the feet Of young Italian, Leonardo,
Of Cutri. Paolo Boi, another Italian, was also
a famous player at Philips Court. There is
no record Of any encounter between Boi and
Leonardo, though they must have met frequent-
ly. OF Greece, another Italian, who flourish
ed soon after, a cotemporary writer says:-
she was at chess bravo, who sought IN all
countries some famous knight with whom he
might fight and break lance, and he found
none whom he did not overcome" a PIE
The famous Philador, who flourshed about
the middle and the close Of the last century,
has left behind him an unrivalled name as .
chess player. Towards the end Of his life,
finding no antagonist worthy Of contending
against singIy, he undertook and accomplished
the extraordinary feat Of playing three games
bliLdfoded, simultaneously. This perform
snce, which has ever been regarded as one of
the most wonderful exhibitions Of human skill
and memory on record, has never been rivalled
until within year or two past. But no play
er that ever lived excited in his day half SO
much curiosity and wonder as that famous au-
l
tomaton which was first exhibited at the Court
Of Maria Theresa in the year 1909, and which,
for forty or fifty years, amazed and perplexsd
the curious in all parts OF Europe and America.
This was an efiGy Of Turk seated at a table
or box, which played with and generally VAN
quished, all who were disposed to try their
| skill. The solution Of the mystery was very
simple; a skilful player was concealed in the
box, who watched the game and moved the
aut, maton as became necessary and although
the visible parts of the box and the figure
were full Of cog wheels and springs, these had
no use exceptto to deiude the spectator and to
hide the concealed operator. The automaton
was regarded as miracle Of invention, but
the greatest proof Of ingenuity in its proprie-
tor is the fact Of his being able, for 50 many
years, to battle the curiosity Of the crowds who
thronged to inspect so wonderful a piece oi
mechahicism, ant were intent on discovering
the mystery. 1t was constructed BY M. ds
Kempilen. an Austrian courtier, who. really
possessed great mechanical ingenuity, and con
| trived many machines displaying high invsn
: tive faculty.-[ Baltimore American.