Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1859-05-14
Morphy. the American Cbes. PI,y.r

On Tuesday evening, the Goth. the power of
this extraordinary player were put to n severe
testIn a match which came off at the St James :
Chez ClIb. Regents Quadrant in which Mr.
MJTPhy played simultaneously five If the most
expert players Of the club. including its Presi-
dent, Mr. lanUenthal. The tables were arranged
Ia row, each table being occupied on the one
sldc by n player. and ON the other a passage
was LETT Tree, along which their single antagO-
INST might pass backwards and forwards MIR
MpTPhy J. man of sniall stature and rather
Juvenile Appearance. but his head il exceeding
iy well formed, his eye bright. aud his cputen-
ance generally gives the evidence of fine ner-
N"H- organization and quick intelligence lie
-eems 10 play perfectly n, his ease generally
making his moves with rapidity. although some
times stopping and seeming to give the move in
hand good deal 0f careful considerations We
enlcavured TO ascertain whether. like other
great players. he had any favOrife move or
leading idea lii his play. and there did seem to
b. a little uniformity in the cases i'm which he
obtained the first move. But n. this hapnened
OILY IN two cases out Of the FIVE, he was in the
other three necessarily Influenced by the Opon-
ing OF his opPoncnt. Speaking generally, his
style "f play seems to be rapid and impetuous
and his oOHp d OSI 10 perfect that he can mss-
ter at one glance all the e1iyencies of the board
More than once in the course Of the play his
opponent had to call for time, which he con-
ceded with the most good -humOred courtesy
to stand near him. The great secret nf his sue
Cess, over and above great practical skill ~ a
chess player, would appear to lie in the wonder
idl power and tenscity Of his memory. We
have seen men who could balance ten dinner
plates or ride six horses at once. but in those
cases the net was a; b"st imperfectly done
Mr. M0rphy's case is # rent. Hep V lie
most abs'ruse reflective of known gau.,- AMI
plays II with given number Of the best known
players, and the only advantage he has j the
prestige of his wonderful name. which certain
" had considerable effect in producing caution
on the part of all his opponents The games
took place in the elegant and capacuus snUk-
InE .uOn IF the ~ James Res aurant and all
the players to- which Mr. Morphy was opposed
UuTsiITped the fUliginOus genius Of the place
We Cbsery ed, however. that he did not smoke
al important fact for the advocates of the coun-
terblss;- If any one required particularly
clear head it would be a man " no. single han
led, undertook to play chess against five the
best players in London, and Mr. M0Tphy al
though American. would appear 10 DENY
himself his cigar in order to secure the neceS
sAry amount of cerebral lucidity
The players against Mr. Morphy were-frst
table, NJ. dc RiYieTe; second. Mr. = BOden;
third. Mr.. W. Barnes; fourth. Mr.. Bird; fifth.
Mr. L"wenthal. The play commenced at six
clock and was kept up with great spirit till
late hour OF the night. The following was
tue result The game at the first table was
won by Mr. MOrphy: at the second the game
was drawn; at the third il was won nv Mr. Rar
nes; at the fourth by Mr.. Morphy; at the eth
II was dTawn.-LOOfOU Paprr