New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1874-06-14
Paul MOrphy's Later History.

New Orleans Correspondence of Wilkes Spirit.
In 1859 Paul Morphy, the worlds chess
King, returned to America crowned with
sucn trlumphs and honors as perhaps have
never been shown to any exponent of that
or any other game of skill. In the full
flush OF his brilliant career it seemed that
this distinguished man would pursue 20
still greater fulness the measure Of his
success, which had made him lion, not
only IL America but in Europe
Strangely enough he withdrew from that
pursuit directly upon his return 70 America,
and in the retirement of his New Orleans
home he gradually dropped out Of public
existence, although not out Of pnb,ic recol-
lection.
During the late civil war he resided in
France, whittier a great number Of New
Orleans Creoles migrated TO avoid the
distressing experiences of that epoch. At
the close he returned to New Orleans and
engaged in the pursuit Of the legal pro-
fession, to which he had been bred by his
father, and which he abandoned for the
glories Of chess-playlng.
Here he has continued to reside since
that time, and singular to relate, during the
period from his return to the present day
lie has not played single game Of chess,
and, what is more singular he has mani
tested such an antipathy to the game that,
oy express understanding among his
friends. the subject is before him forbid
den one, and even chance allusion thereto
in his presence is painful one.
The question that quite naturally arises
is: 'Why is this thus 2" No one has vet
been able to answer it. Certain il is, how
ever, that for nearly ten years he mas not
even seen chess board, and if he mas his
way about it he never will see one more
These facts l ascertaincd some days age.
when, upon learning of report that be
was expected to play chess at the forth
coming Centennial Exposition, l visited
him at his residence to know whether there
was any foundation for the rumor.
OF course there exists here deal OF spec
ulation touching the action of M McIphy
in thus avoiding-nay, shunning-a career
which, to most men, would be the consum-
nation of fond ambition: the goal of pub
lie adulation and popular hono,s, SO fasoin-
ating to the average human heart
In Imparting to me what / have written
here, Mr. Morphy begged that l would not
write anything about him nor mention his
name in connection with chess; that he had
public mention of his name. But know il
Will be OF interest to many to revive a recol-
lection OF this strange genius, and / have
therefore been constrained TO set down
what may be read herein.
Those who knew him best account for
has present sentiments upon the principle
that when he became professional chess
player he did SO against the advice and
earnest appeals of his family, and that in
following the bent of his inclination he
sacrificed most brilliant business prospects,
which were then opening before him
In time he came to realize what golden
opportunities he had wasted, and in the
same way he came to look upon his chess
playing proclivities as responsible for such
misfortune, and, gradually turning against
it in resentment, he has grown into an
adherence of 1t. Truly, that's what il
seems. and nothing else.
1t may, therefore, be understood that the
report concerning his temperance as a
chess-payer is baseless, and it may be fur
tnermore understood that the light of the
chess-playing genius of this greatest player
the world ever saw is lost to that world for