The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1859-02-24
History of Chess.

The precise period of the origin 0
chess is not known, but it is undoubted
ly of great antiquity. Treaties had beer
written to prove that it had been invent
ed among the Greeks at the siege o
Troy, that it originated severally with
the Hindoos, the Chinese and the Egyp
tians. In support Of the last hypothesis
some of the ancient monuments of thai
people have been cited, upon which are
depicted men playing game of some
sort on board covered with small NOV
able figures. 1t would seem, however,
that this was game resembling draughts
or checkers, and the prevailing opinion
is that chess in its present form was in.
vented by the Brahmins somewhere
about the fifth century, and from them
introduced among the Persians, the Sar-
acens, the Chinese, and other Oriental
nations. In A. D., sO2, we find it in
practice among the Greeks of CONSTANT.
nople. 1t is popularity supposed to have
been introduced to Western Europe by
the Crusaders, but there is strong reason
to believe it was known in the Court o
Charlemagne at a much earlier period
Among the rude chivalry of the middle
ages 1t was favorte sport, and frequent.
ly led to rough encounters, in strange
contrast with the courtesy which has
uniformly distinguished chess contests
in modern times. Thus we read that the
great King Canute and Earl Ulf were
playing together, when the King insisted
upon taking back false move, which SO
irritated the Earl that he overturned the
chess board. This led to wrangle be-
tween him and the king, which ended
rather tragically for the poor Earl, who
was decapitated by the kings orders ear
ly the next morning. William, the Con.
queror, in his younger years, was check
mated by the Prince of France, and was
so much irritated at his defeat, that be
broke the chess board over his antago.
nist's head. and so on.
Chess is honorably associated with the
art of printing, the first book printed
with metal types in England being a
treatise of the game. This was printed
by William Caxton in l474. Philip IL
of Spain, was an enthusiast at the game
He assembled at his Court all the lead
ing players of Europe, and those who
distinguished themselves in the conflicts
were loaded with honors and gifts. Ruy
Lopez was for long time the chess king
at Philips Court, but was destined tc
lay down his laurels at the feet of young
Italian, Leonardo, of Cutr. Paolo Boi,
another Italian, was also famous PLAYER
at Philips Court. There is no record oil
any encounter between Boi and Leonar
do, though they must have met frequent
ly. Of Greece, another Italian, who
four'si;sd soon after, cotemporary wri-
ter says Z" He was at chess a bravo, who
sought in all countries some famous
knight with whom he might fight and
break lance, and he found none whom
he did not overcome"
The famous Philidor, who fourished
about the middle and close of the last
century, has left behind him an unrval-
led name as chess player. Towards
the end of his life, finding no antagonist
worthy of contending against singly, he
undertook and accomplished the extraor-
dinary feat of playing three games blind
folded, simultaneously. This perform
ance, which has ever been regarded as
one Of the most wonderful exhibitions of
human skill and memory on record, has
never been rivalled until within a year or
two past. But no player that ever lived
excited in his day half so much curiosity
and wonder as that famous automaton
which was first exhibited at the Court of
Maria Theresa in the year 1909, and
which. for forty or fifty years, amazed
and perplexed the curious in all parts of
Europe and America. This was an eff
fgy of Turk seated at table or box.
which played with and generally van
quished, all who were disposed to try
their skill. The solution of the mystery
was very simple skillful player was
concealed in the box, who watched the
game and moved the automaton as be-
came necessary; and although the visi-
BILE parts of the box and the figure were
full of cog wheels and springs, these had
ho USE eAcepe to ueiuue tne spectator ana
to hide the concealed operator ThA...
tomaton r0Sarueu us miracle oil In
vention, but the greatest proof of ingen-
uity in its proprietor is the fact of his be-
ing able, for so many years, to battle the
curiosity of the crowds who thronged to
inspect so wonderful piece of mechan
ism. and were intent on discovering the
mystery. 1t was constructed by NJ. de
kempilen, an Austrian courtier, who re-
ally possessed great mechanical ingenui-
ty, and contrived many machines dis
playing high inventive faculty.--Bah.
Anaer.
The several firms of De Rothschild
havn q canital OR sum at thair insiania-