Fayetteville observer. [volume] (Fayetteville, Tenn.) 1850-1966, 1858-12-23
CHESS.

What is chess? A game of mind.
A contest between individual intel
lects of no mean power. 1t is evi-
IDENTIFY a pastime Of study and Of
thought, that renders leisure a fer
tile source of mental strength and cul.
tivation. Before moralizing on the
subject, however, it may be as well to
say something about the origin aud
antiquity Of a game, which has been
in vain traced back for some knowl-
edge of its first invention, into the
mist and darkness of unrecorded
ages. According to several authors,
some of whom evidently drew upon
the Imagination for their facts, Chess
was invented about $50 B. c., while
others contend that it was unknown
before the fifth century of the Chris.
ton era. The learned Hyde and Sir
William Jones were of opinion. that
it originated in India, and that it is
of immense antiquity. One tradition
states that it was devised by the
Minister of a certain great King, for
the purpose Of teaching him, in the
most delicate and agreeable manner
possible, that monarch was power
less. unless protected by his subjects.
And this, in fact, is one of the great
lessons taught by the game, which is
played with sixteen pieces on each
side, mdeliat-oue king, one queen,
two castles or 'rooks,' two bishops.
(called by other names in the East
two knights, and eight common SOL
diers termed pamns. When the king
is check. mated that is, placed in
such situation that be can neither
be protected by his subjects, nor move
withou: the liability Of capture, the
game is won by his opponents. OF
himself he possesses very little pow
er--but oriental gallantry has made
the queen the most potential and for.
midable piece on the board. Through
out all time, chess has been favor.
ite pastime with men of mind. And
why? Because it SO far absorbs the
faculties and directs them into one
channel, that with proicients, the
outer world and its cares are for the
time forgotten: and each champion
thinks, reasons, and even dreams Of
little else than defeating his antago-
mist at the chequered board. Then it
is seldom, if ever played for money.
SO that gambling at chess is altogeth-
er out Of the question Generals
and other great commanders have ev-
er patronized the amusement, as the
movements and combinations for suc-
cess, bear strong affinity to the
stratege of war, and indeed. may in
some measure be said to suggest plans
of military enterprise, both for attack
and defence. Philosophers have re-
sorted to chess, because it has a ten
dency to strengthen the reasoning
power; while divines, statesmen and
eminent lawyers have adopted it as
an amusement for the same reason.
Thus we have chess anecdotes of Ma
peleon |, of Wellington, Of DR.. Frank
lin, with many other notabil;ties OF
the present and last generations.
while of the times preceding Their
day, the personal illustrations are in
Vulnerable. OF the absorbing power
of the game, striking incident is
/ related in the annals Of the sixteenth
century. Two mobiles, Baron and a
Duke, were imprisoned in Germany
in the same fortress, for a rebellion
against their liege lord, the Emperor
The Duke was condemned to die
aud the Governor Of the fortress wa.
dispatched to him with the deaih war
rant on certain evening. He foun(
the Duke engagedin agame of chess
with his friend the Baron, and no
sooner did the victim perceive hi
jailor with sealed parchment in bis
hand, than he said, Stop, Mr. Gov
ernor. ] know you have my sen
tence. But don't interrupt me now
for I am sure to vanquish the Barol
in three moves more ~. And so b
did, and then coolly said, Nov tel
me on which day | am to Gle. Th'
Governor read the fatal document
and reported the scene, and dialogu'
to the Emperor; who was SO asfectes
with the presence of mind displayed
that he pardoned both Duke and Ba
ron. who thereafter ranked amons
tho most royal of Imperial support
ers. China and India produce extra
ordinary players, Oriental Nor