Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-06-18
PAULSEN, THE CHESS PLAYER.

correspondent of the Boston Journal. wri
ing from Chicago, says of the unparalleled
SaesS ieat recently played out in that city by
Mr Paulsen, as follows
Ihe most stupendous achievement in chess
tne world ever saw has just been successfully
performed IN this city, and Louis Paulsea now
sIand' peerless. On Monday evening he COM
ne,.ced playing blindfolded ten simultaneous
games against Chicago. His opponents were
carefully selected from among the most skillful
prayers OF the Chess Club, who used every ex-
er,,on to checkmItc their gallant antagonist.
Mr Paulsen sat apart from every one on the
stage OF Light Guard Hall, with his back TO
the ten boards Two gentlemen of this city
acted as teliers and circua cd among the play-
ers, calling aloud each move on the different
tables, which were designated by their respec-
two numbers from one to ten Mr. Pauircn
would reject few moments, and then without
apparent effort announce his own move in re-
tnrn His attitude and bearing we're like
those OF n person in trance His head thrown
stightiy forward, his eyes closed his figure mo-
toulesj, and nothing to indicate life save an
occasional working Of the face when a skilful
step was taken by an adversary or sudden
coup ae battaiYc contemplated by himself.
Inc progress was slow, of course slow. At the
close OF the first evening, however, enough Of
MS surprising ability was displayed to make
even the most experienced Of his opponents feel
nervous, and to inducothcm to use every tao.
uc 10 out maneuver him. During the second
evening his advantage over several was clearly
10 oe seen The spectators became much ex-
CRED, but the sympathies of those who had no
friends playing, were plainly given to that sin
foes ' "a
Mr Paulsen could Mt any time recspitulate
,ne precise position of each piece upon every
BOARD, aud when an occasional difference arose
concerning some disarraDgemsnt which be de-
Sarftn t,,I
correct, while those who had their eyes open
were forced to acknowledge their error. 1t
was evident that his astonishing memory and
concentration enabled him 10 recall at will each
move from the first upon either board, and thus
oIlnS IL as clearly to It's minds eye as if it
were bodily before him. The third evenin 2
was expected To finish this unprecedented feat
The audience was ON tip toe with excitement
ana every one seemed uucontrpilabIy worked
up, except be upon whom all interest centored
.he se,f-commsnd exercised appeared miraeu
i"uS, and none would have suspected what an
Intense, powerful stretch must have been upon
that singular brain. Calmly be sat, rs il cast
Ing somo problem in simple interest, rather
than PERFORMING labor Of hcrculcln marni-
tude.
Throughout he was subjected to one unfair
ness, which, however, serves now to heigbten
ms glory. Not only did he play against ten
opponents, but fifty-as by strange license, a
&c" VI tho duutencc were allowed to mlDoie
with the players and at each table two or three
deeply versed in chess, seated themselves to
advise thOse whom Mr.. PaulSen's brilliant at
tscks had dlscOmfitted. He thus battled with
the combined strength of the entire city op-
posing him. Every player, too, expected him
70 make the assault, while their chief effort was
% iortIfy position So as to be impregnable.
At III p. II. game nine resigned. In fifteen
minutes game FIVE did likewise and game two
was drawn at its players request. Mr. Paul
sen then made some dashing, splendid attacks
upon the rest, and might, doubtless, have fn-
ished there, but the midnight hour interrupted
lie agreed TO continue, but all thought best to
ADJOURN, and give those who wished an oppor-
tunity to play out at the Club room on the next
evening
Mr. Pculsen rose quickly when this decision
was announced, seemingly not jaded in the
least. He is an ordinary looking man, with a
decidedly German east of features, and nothing
but n singularly broad head to indicate uncom-
mon powers. The games were finally finished
last eyening-Mr. Paulsen beating FIVE of the
remaining seven and consented to draw the
other two, though he might have won even
them, as their players we're losing coolness
Ten games blindfolded is without a parallel
Mr.. Morphy never attempted but seven, and
thus is Outdons. The whole city is flied with
wonder. The victor is decidedly q lion Of con-
siderable altitude, and his achievement cannot
probably be exeelled under equally trying
circumstances.