The weekly Anglo-African., 1859-09-10

result, Tor the most part, Vi lfdiuInSj some-
times gift We notice, in nearly all the
chess-playing friends we have named, that
their failure in play depends on the lack of
this faculty IT. D., for example, makes
the most vigorous attacks of any of them,
but, after the twelfth or sixteenth move,
his attention is exhausted, and some care
less move makes him an easy prey to less
vigorous opponent. In his case, this fail
ure in attention, or continuity, as confined
TO has chess play, in business, or in public
movements, in which he is deeply interest
ed, he is constant, persistent, and steadfast
as sleuth-hound. This would seem to
indicate that his perceptive faculties are
deficient, or are easily wearied, over the
chess board Per contra, among these
friends, P H. R., the engraver, is the only
one who plays an even, unfagging game
throughout; indeed, as many have found
to their chagrin, plays the better end game,
the worse his chances appear to be. His
perceptive faculties are trained by his en-
ployment, and rather improve than weary
by continuity of exercise.
Another amateur, W. G. l., is a most
interesting study at the chess-board. He
has fine perceptive faculties, is a splendid
boxer, of quick, strong combative temper
ament, and of full physical imagination.
He makes the most beautiful combinations
we ever saw on the chess board: they seem
as brilliant as fireworks; but he loses al
most every game, not from breaking down
of his continuity or attention, so much as
from an incurably mercurial disposition,
which leads him to fOrsake a sound move
for one apparently more brilliant, but less
safe. This gentleman bought mare the
other day, which in twenty-four hours
kicked three wagons to pieces, and threw
him out each time: of course, instead of
getting rid of her, he is bound " to break
her, it will be such splendid feat"
From the nature of the faculties which
it calls into play, we regard chess as a
physical as well as intellectual exercise,
requiring muscular work as well as brain
work Cricket, billiards, chess, rise from
the Observation-Disclosures to the intellectuo-
physical, and chess, billiards, cricket, re-
verse the order Lookers-on at cricket
| feel the blood rush. the muscles clench, and
hurra" escaping from the lips Look
ers-On at billiards, tell me that to see Phe-
Ian play affords the highest possible physi-
cal enjoyment Lockers on at chess feel
their muscles twitching, their fingers clasp
ing and moving imaginary men-and their
heads aching when the game is done.
Another reason why we regard chess
less as an intellectual than physical exer-
else consists in the fact, that the highest
eminence in chess is attained before the
age of full intellectual development In
our American Chess Congress, the champi-
ons of the champions were very young
men-Morphy twenty, and Paulsen twen-
ty-three or four Mcdonnell, Staunton,
Harrwitz, Stanley, all won their laurels in
their early days. The best chess players
on record, in like manner had attained tt cir
eminence while under thirty years of age;
while the human intellect is not at its full
development until between the thirty fifth
and forty fifth year Of the individual, And
if chess playing maximum occurs before
the intellectual maximum, it follows that
chess is not purely intellectual exercise
Furthermore, mans force in chess, like
his physical power or force, diminishes
after he is thirty years of age. Yankee
Sullivan at forty three, some eighteen years
after he had passed his physical maximum,
was no match for his own equal, aged TWEEN
ty-fve hence the years told in Tom Hyer's
favor. In like manner, Mr.. Stanley, who
at twenty-five had won a match against
Mr.. ST. Amant, in New Orleans, was but
third-rate player at forty years of age;
and the real excuse for Mr.. Stanton, in de-
Ginning to play with Morphy, was, that he
had passed his maximum chess-playing age
some twenty years ago, and could not be
expected, an old man, to acquit himself as
if he had been young one. 81 will take
to my work, let the young gentleman take
to his play" was really truthful and ade-
quate reason for declining to play; but
"why not say this before?' say the critics.
Because, on practising, as he doubtless did,
in private, Mr.. Staunton discovered that
his chess skill was dulled to his own appre-
hension, his chess muscles had lost their
wonted fire and lubricity in the gam5lt.
Aat reste what a stupid piece of red repub-
| +bo ,,.5et &c Az