Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1859-05-18
NO. III.
MISCELLANEOUS READING.

MoRPHY, THE AMERICAN CHESS PLAY Err
On Tuesday evening. the 10Th. the powers
Of this extraordinary player were put t" II
severe test in match which came OF NJ the
ST James's Chess Club, Regents Quadrant,
in which Mr. Morphy played simultaneously
with five Of the most expert players OF th"
club. including its President, Mr.. Lowenthal.
The tables were arranged in a row, each table
being occupied on the one side by aplayer.
and on the other passage was lett tree,
along which their single antagonist might
pass backwards and forwards. MIR. MOrphy
is man of small stature and rather juvenile
appearance, but his head is exceedingly well
formed, his eye bright and his coutenanca
generally gives the evidence of q ine ner-
Nous organization and quick intelligence.
lie seems to play perfectly at his ease, gen
orally making his moves with rapidity, al
though sometimes stopping aid seeming to
give the move in hand good deal OF careful
consideration. We endeavored TO ascertain
whether. like other great players, he had any
tavorite move or leading idea in his play.
and there did seem to be little uniformity
in the cases in which he obtained the first
move. But AZ this happened only in two
cases out OF the five, he was IN the other
three necessarily influenced by the opening
of his opponent. Speaking generally, hls
style Of play seems to be rapid and lmpetu-
Gus, and hi. coup d'Ra so perfect that he
can master at one ance all the exlgencIea
ot the board. More than once in the course
of the play his opponent had TO call for time.
which he conceded with the most good
humored courtesy, chatting in the interim
with whoever chanced to stand near him
The great secret of his success, over and
above great practical skill as chess player.
would appear to lie in the wonderful power
and tenacity of his memory. We have seen
men who could balance ten dinner plates, or
ride six horses at once, but in those cases
the act was at best imperfectly done. MIR
MOrphy's case is different. He plays the
most abstruse reflective of known games,
and plays it with given number ofthe best
known players, and the only advantage he
has is the prestige ofhis wonderful name,
which certainly had considerable effect in
producing caution on the part of all his op-
ponents. The games took place in the ele-
CANT and capaclous smoking room OF the
ST. James's Restaurant, and all the players
to whom Mr. Morphy was opposed worship
ped tha fulglnous genius OF the place. we
observed however, that he did not smoke
an important fact for the advocates Of the
counterblast, If any one required partI-
cularly clear head it would be man who.
single-handed, undertook to play chess
against five of the best players in London,
and Mr.. Morphy, although an American.
would appear to deny himself his cigar in or,
der to secure the necessary amount otcerebral
lucidity.
The players against Mr.. Morphy were
first table, NJ. de Riviere; second, Mr.. $.
Boden; third Mr.. W. Barnes fourth, MIR
Bird; fifth, Mr.. Lowenthsl. The play
commenced at six o'clock, and was kept up
with great spirit till a late hour of the night.
The following was the result: The game at
the first table was won by Mr. Morphy; at
the second, the game was drawn; at the third
it was won by Mr.. Barnes; at the fourth by
Mr.. Morphy; at the fifth it was drawn
London Paper.