The weekly north Iowa times. [volume] (McGregor, Iowa) 1857-1867, 1858-12-15
WHOLE NO. 113.

| ,oi'oe "ItA thanksgiving. OnCe more
therefore, We say. let the smoke of the
right sacrifice everywhere ascend from
every pewter platter; let every slice be
savored with the salt Of sincere faith,
the pepper Of piety, and a liberal out.
pouring from the mustard pot of mercy
and aims giving Jet every morsel be
chewed with the tooth of charity, swal
lowed in the goodly SAVIOR of clear
conscience, and wa he'd down with the
sweet cider of a single. hearted satisfac-
ton. Let both dinner and doctrine 90
straight to the heart, edifying both the
inward and outward man, and may We
conclude the feast by picking up the
crumbs Of calm content. -.
Chess.
What is chess A game of mind.
| A contest between individual intelects 8
of no mean power. 1t is evidently a
pastime of study and of thought that
renders leisure a fertile source of men
tai strength and cultivation. Before
moralizing on the subject however, it
may be as we'll to say something about
the origin and antiquity of game,
which has been in vain traced back for
some knowledge of its first invention,
into the mist and darkness of unrecord-
ed ages. According to several authors,
some OF whom evidently drew upon
imagination for their facts, Chess was
invented about $50 B. c., while other
contend that it was unknown until the
fifth century of the Christina 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 certain great King,
tor the purpose of te1ching him, in the
most delicate and agreeable manner
possible, that monarch was powerless,
unless protected by his subjects. And
this, in fact, is one of the greatest lessons
taught by the game. which played with
sixteen pieces on each side, videlicet-
one king. one queen, two castles or
crooks" two bishops, (called by other
names in the East, two knights, and
eight common soldiers termed pawas.-
W hen the king is "check mated )" that
ls, placed in such situation that he can
neither be protected by his subjects, nor
move without the liability of capture,
the game is Won by his opponents. OF
himself he possesses very little power
but oriental galIantry has made the
queen the most potential and formidable
piece on the board. Throughout all
time, chess has been favprite pastime
with men of mind. And why :? Be-
cause it so far absorhs the faculties and
direct them into one channel, that with
proheien.s, the outer world and i,s ea-e;s
a.s lof tAc Time forgotten, and each
| champion thiaks. reasons aud even
d-eams Of ittlo else than defeating his
antagonist at the chequered board. -
Then 1t is seldom if ever, played for
non Y, so that gambling at chess is al
together out of the question. Generals
and other great commanders have ever
pa.ronlzed the amusements, as h move
ments and combinations required for
success, bear a strong affinity to the
strategy of war. and indeed may in some
measure be said to suggest pans, of
military enterprise, both attack and de-
fence. Philosophers have resorted to
chess, because it has tendency to
strengthen the reasoning power; while
dlvines, statesmen, and eminent LAWYERS
have adopted it as an amusement for the
same reason.
We have chess anecdotes of Napo.
leon lst, of Wellington, of Dr.. Franklin,
with many other notabilities of the pre-
sent and last gene; ations, while of tie
times preceding their day, the personal
illustrations are innumerable. Of the
absorbing power of the game. a s.rik-
ing incident is related in the annals Of
the 10th century. Two mobiles, a Bar
on and Duke, were imprisoned in Cor
many in the same fortress, for rebel
lion against their liege lord, the Emper-
or. The Duke was condemned to die.
and the Governor Of the fortress was
dispatched to him with the death war
rant on a certain evening. He found
the Duke engaged in a game of chess
with his friend the Baron, and no SOON
er did the victim perceive his TAILOR,
with sealed parchment in hand, than
he said Stop, Mr.. Governor. know
you have my sentence. But don't in
terupt me now, for | am sure to van
qulsh the Baron in three moves more ?
And so he did, and then coollv said !: /
Now tell me on which day / am to
die The Governor read the fatal do
cument, and reported the scenes and
dialogue to the Emperor, who was S,
affected with the presence of mind dis
PLAYED. that he patdoned both Duke and T
Baron, who thereafter ranked among
the most loyal Of Imperial supporters.
China and India produce extraordinary
players, Oriental Morphy's.' even to
this day !; but then they apply their
discipline to nothing beyond stheir
profession. They are chess players on
ly. Instances Of serious illness have
often been produced by defeats a.
chess, and it is more than probable that
the indisposition of a distinguished op.
ponent OF Mr.. Morphy. the great Amer.
lean hero OF the recent tournament in |
Europe, has been caused by his being
In conclusion we NAV
add that chess steadies the mind, sooth.
es the passions, restrains the impulse
Of unbecoming haste, improves the rea.
soning faculties by positive action, pro,
notes inductlve philosophy IN its rela-
tion between cause and effect. teaches
foresight. circumspec:ion. caution and
self-reliance. occupies the hours Of re-
creation in q way that prevents their
employment in frivolous amusemeuts or
dissipation, and in some measure indon.
,rinates its disciples with those truths
Md that intellectual practice of COM
bined lopic and tho mai harn afics fannLf |