The independent press. (Abbeville C.H., S.C.) 1853-1860, 1859-06-17
PAUL MOPRHT,

Oh w e'h"s'iav evening The presentation
OF the splendid chess board and men aud to
Paul M"rphy Ly the New York chess cIub,
took place at the chapel Of the university in
that city before very large crowd which
assembled on the occasion to witness the
novel and i-tercsting ceremony. John Van
Buren,, in delivering to tho invirciLIe
American champion of this noblest Of games.
this beautiful testimonial Of regard Of his
rountrymrn addressed him 10 an appropri-
ale and elegant speech.
Mr.. Morrhy responded in terms SO hap.
py and becoming that we cannot resist Tie
insertion Of what he said.
Mr.. MoRpHy's REPLY TO Mn. VAN BrKES
Mr.. President, Ladies and gentlemen ::
Twelve mon;hs have elapsed siucc bidding
a'lieu to my Western home. sou..h! be.
yond the blue waters the foreign skies Of
another hemisphere, aud again have | re-
turned to the land Of my birth anl atfcc-
ton. Another year has glided by, and
once more do find myself surrounded hv the
friends whose good wishes ard appreciation
checrcd my wandering course. thank
them--I most sincerely thank them for Tie
more than cordial welcome which has greet.
cd my return To tHe Empire city. We'll!
may they say that they lave made t!:e;r
city the ver.ian: spot in nay sandy patti
the green aud ever-h'ooning oasis vi ,cp"se
where, like the wayworn traveller, forget
the gueand exposure Of the journey, aud
gather renewed lie and energy for its com
rlrtion. No, satisfied, however, with show
cring innancra5!c attentions upon me, they
this night cap the climax Of their favors Lv
presenting me, in con junction with u larg.
uumber number Of the citizens Of New York
this beautiful piece Of workmanship as su.
perb testimonial! Of their regard aud svmpa-
Thy. How thankfully received how dear
lv prizcI-mere words cannot portray.
shall proudly take it to my Southern home
and preserve 1t as precious mcmcu,o Of
my friends in New York.
fear, ladies and gentlemen, thai
lengthy comments upon the game Of chess
might prove unin'ereo;inG to large portion
OF the highly intellectual audience before ne
Oiny European tour l will only say that il
has been pleasant in almost cve,y respect,
OF the adversarirs encountered in the peace
iui jou>,s Of the chcrkcred field, retain n
! lively and agreeable rcro!crtion. found
them gallant, c!'ivalrous and grn.IcInanlv,
rs well became true vhtaries Of tho kinuly
pas,imc. 4 word now on the game itself
| Chess never has been and never can h.
aight but recreation. 1t should not he
indu!ged in to the detrinent Of other and
more serious avoca;ions-sheuli not ab.
sorb the mind or cngross the thoughts Of
those who worship at its shrine; but should
be kept in the back ground and are restrain.
ell within its proper province. y mere
game, a relaxation from the scverer pursuits
Of life, it is deserving of h. III commendalon.
1t is not only tie most delightful aud srirn
| titir, but the most moral Of amusemrnts.
Uniika other games in which lucrc is tie
end and aim of contestants, it recommends
itself 70 the wise, by the fact that its mimic
battles are fought for no prize, but honor.
tits eminently and emphatically the phi
Iosopher's game. Let the chess-board su
perse.le the card table, and n great i'm.
provcInen, will be visible in the morals OF
tho community. Great applause. But.
ladies and gentlemen, / need not expatia.e
on the fields so ably traversed by tho elo-
quent gentleman who has just addressed
you. | thank you from my heart for the
very flattcring manner in which you have
been pleased 10 receive his too complimcn.
tary remarks, and for the numerous aten-
tions received at. your hands. shall leave
New York with melancholy sorrow, for !
part from friends than whom no truer can
be found. Let them rest assured that along
with the memory of the chess.bo pos
scss the memory Of the heart. And, now,
with renewal cf my sincere thanks for
the splendid token OF your regard with
which you have presented me to night, and
the assurance that shall cherish in untiul
ing memory the remembrance Of my sojourn
here, bid yon, ladies and gentleman, n
farewell, which l iondly hope will not prove
the last.
A COOP ONE-Wh.h 0. S. Fowler-so
the story runs-frst commenced the exami
nation of bumps. some Of the students in
the New York University were disposed to
quiz him. A peculiarshaped squash was
found in the college yard, and plaster cast
taken of one end Of it, it quite closely re