New Orleans daily crescent. [volume] ([New Orleans, La.]) 1851-1866, 1858-11-22

the withdrawal OF MIR. Stanton from the contest
with Mr.. Morphy, we give it entire:
BrFmrSGHAN, Oct. 1873.
dirty linen at home Among afew frivolous noodles
to whom chess forms the staple of life Mr. Morphy's
demands may assume an air Of importance hut to
sensible men they sound ileiably absurd, while to
those who take the trouble OF looking little below
the surface they seem something worse For, what
are the plain facts in this case Mr. Morphy started
for England, not to play match with Mr. Stanton
for he was told that gentleman was too deeply i'm
mersed in business to undertake one Int to take
part in general tourney to be held in Birmingham
Upon arriving here, he daily inscribed his name on
the list of cOmbatants, and paid his entrance fee
On hearing this, Mr. Stanton, in a spirit of what
some may call chivalry, but which looking at his
utterly uuprepared state for an encounter of this
| kind, ought more properly to be called duxotism
entered his name also. Well what haDpened? On
the mastering Of the heigerents, Mr.. Morphy who
had come some six thousand miles to run a tilt in
this tournament, was not present In his place came
note to say particular business prevented his at
tendance. A message was dispatched, intmating
that his absence would be a great disappointment,
etc, etc.
He replied that, understanding neither Mr.. S. nor
any other OF the leading players would take the field
he declined to do so. A second message was for
warded to the effect that Mr. Stanton was then in
Birmingham expressly to meet Mr.. Morphy and that
he an several OF the best players were waiting MIR.
N s arrival to begin the combats. To this came
final answer to the effect that the length of time
which the journey would last prevented Mr. Morphy
from joining in it, but ne would run down in two or
three days. Passing over the exquisite taste of this
proceeding, with the disappointment and muTmuring
it occasioned, l would simply ask if Mr.. Morphy
thought himself justified in Withdrawing from con
test which he had come thousands Of miles to take
| part in, and to which be was in a manner pledged,
upon pretenses so vague and fimsy, what right has
/ he to complain il the English player choose to with
| draw from one to which he is in no respect bound
and against which be may be enabled to offer the
most solid and unanswerable objections? In asking
/ this beg to discaim all intention OF provoking a
| chess-payers controversial thing the public take
not the slightest interest in and for which indivdu
ally entertain supreme contempt | am moved to il
| only by the spirit Of fair play
The writer of this pretty specimen of English com.
position and cockney spleen would have us believe
first, that Mr.. Morphy was afraid to enter the Bur
mingham tourney second, that Mr.. Staunton was
anxious to engage him on that occasion, and third
that Mr., Staunton's objections to a contest now are
" solid and unanswerable" His main objection has
been stated in his answer to Norphy's letter. He
says that he is unprepared, and has neither time FOL
preparation nor for the match If be was anxious
unprepared to meet Morphy at Birmingham, why i:
he afraid to do it now and if he has not time to play
match with NJ. why does he play with other people
The fact is after signifyug his willingness to under
take contest with the American champion, ant
naming the sum for which he would play, he hal
simply backed out. That is the way the matter
stands, and his trends need not attempt to write
down otherwise.