Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1873-01-04
CAess (hnznpiens
TEE POPULAR E0TIoN OF THEIR UNPrrNDs.
FOR ANYTHING EIsB.

TIE POPULAR xorrox or raRIR pSrrrxpss
FOR ANrrHrKe ELSE.
The late esgicai death Of Fourier de Saint
Amant brings back many interesting recolle ,
tons. Once famous as the greatest chess
player in the world. and for years held 70 be
the champion OF France, NJ. Sc. Amant lived
to be nearly seventy-three, and TO die from
being thrown from bis carriage. Not mach
has been heard of him of late years; but,
society, both in Paris and iondsn. rang vim
his fame. II was In 1s43 that Howard Stsun-
ton ventured TO dispute St. Amant's title TO
be called the chess champion of Europe.
The celebrated match then arranged-ths
greatest ever contested for the amount
of the stakes. the wide interest excited, and
the time consumed In the games-ended IN the
Frenchman's defeat. II was gallant struggle
and the prevalent opinion OF experts has been
that Mr.. Stanton, distinguished rs were his
merits, won by superior endurance rather tn an
ey superior skill. However, the match was
fairly played according to the stipulated terms,
and to the victor the honors fairly belonged.
The excitement over this memorable encounter
was intense. That created by the Keenan,
Sayers battle was nothing to IL. All classes in
England and France watched the match with
breathless attention. The games were COM
mented upon from day to day by the leading
effect upon the result of each new DEVELOPMENT
Of tactics was weighed and disputed as il the
tate OF empires was the stake ar issue.
IL 's common superstition that people who
play chess well can do nothing else well, ana
the negative side of the proposition has SEINE
toierable evidence to support it, Several ia
nous captains who excelled in the real Geld of
war nave failed in the mimic field OF chess.
Napoleon, who was passionat=iy fond of the
game, never could attain to any strength in
1t, and the same has been and Is true of eminent
soldiers In our own country. But it happens
that both parties IN the chess match spoken of
have proved themselves the possessors of m arked
ability in other vocations. Chess is a pane of
sngnss f:Scins,on and people having natural
apt to devote themselves too exclusively to its
pursuits. They are thus likely to be credited
In time with ability for nothing else. On the
other hand, the bad players who are good sol
diers have commonly given toe much time
and thought TO excel in war to leave space to
exec! In chess. On the whole, much the same
with equal vigor and industry bring success In
the other. n. st. Amant himself disproyed the
popular notion with skill and remarkable
ant departments. In his mission to Cayenne he
showed high qualities as dlplomatist and
statesman. His works on the French colonies
are standard books of study and reference. At
he repeatedly-snd notable In 1s4s-evinced
courage, presence Of mind and military capaci-
ty: He made chess bis pastime rather than the
though, from the renown he acquired by its
practice, his name was more frequently con-
nected with chess than with ything else, It is
certain that in the absence of that particular
TALENT bis claim as man of distinction would
have been generally allowed.
counterpart to this experience lie suggested
by the name of Philidor, whose name would
have come down TO US as a famous musician
had his powers at the chess. board been less con-
spicuous. Mr.. Stanton. too, would be we'll
known; or, we should rather say, better known
as the historian of Shakespeare, and as the his
torian OF the great schools Of England, but for
his overshadowing exploits at his fayorite game.
These examples, which are but few among the
m any that might be given, are pretty good
proofs that to be strong at chess does not imply
weakness in other things. The penetration
sagacity and self-control, and what is more i'm
portant still, the special faculty for judging in
critical situations of the relative importsuce of
things, must needs be as important elements for
general success in life a. for success in the
checkered arena that saw the triumphs of a
MoIphy or Saint Amapt.