Wood County reporter. [volume] (Grand Rapids [i.e. Wisconsin Rapids], Wis.) 1857-1923, 1874-11-12
Paul MOrphy's Latter History
absurd Hatred OF His OBn
Genius.

! New Orleans Correspendenaeo ofWilkes' Spirit
In 1859, Paul Morpby, the world 5
chess king, returned to America crown
ed with such tripiu phs and honors as
| perhaps have never been shown to auy
exponent of that or any other game ot
skill. In the full flush Of his brilliant
/ career it seemed that this distinguished
man would pursue to still greater ful-
iness the measure Of his success, which
had made him lion not only iu Amer
ica, but in Europe
Strangely enough, he withdrew from
that pursuit. directly uPan his return
to America, and in the retirement Of
his New Orleans home, he gradually
dropped out Of existence, although not
out of public recollection.
During the late civil war, lie resided
in France, whittier great number of
New Orleans creoles migrated to avoid
the distressing experiences Of that epo-
ch. At its close be returned to New
Orleans aud engaged in the pursuit Of
the legal profession, to which he had
been bred by his father, and which he
abandoned for the glories OF chess
playing.
Here he has continued to reside sin
ce that time, and, singular to relate,
during the period from his return to
the present day, he has not played a
single game OF chess, and, what is
more. singular, he has manifested such
an antipathy to the game that, by ex-
press understanding among his friends,
the subject is before him a forbiden one,
and even chance allusion thereto in
his presence is a painful one.
The question that quite naturally
arises is, ''whY is this thus?" No one
has yea been able to answer It. Ger
tainly it is, however, that for nearly
ten years he has not egnn seen a chess
board, and If he has his way about it
he never will see one more. These
facts / asccrtained some days ago, when
npon learning Of a report that he was
expected to play chess at the forthcom-
ing Centennial Exposition, / visited
him at his residence to know whether
there was any foundation for the ru.
NOR.
Of course there exists here a deal Of
speculatian touching the action Of Mr..
Alorphy in thus avolding-nay, shun-
ning--a career which, to most men,
would be the consummation Of a fond
ambition the goal Of pUblie adultaion
and popular honors, so fascinating to
the average human heart.
In inpaEting to me what I have
written here, Mr., Morphy begged that
| would not write anything about him
nor mention his name IL c0nencti0n
with chess that he had done with It
forever, and he desired no public men
ton of his name. But [ know it will
be Of interest to many to revive rec
objection of this strange genius, aud |
nave, therefore, been constrained to
set down what may be read herein.
Those who know him best account
for his present sentiment upon. the
principle that when he became aTspro-
fessio1al chess-player he did so against
the advice and earnest appeal Of his
family, and that in following the bent
of his inclination he sacrificed most
Brilliant prospects, which were then
opening before him.
In time he came to realize what gol-
den opportunities he had wasted, and
in the same way he came TO look upon
his chess playing proclivities as respon-
slble Tor such misfortune, and, grada-
ally turning against it IN resentment,
he has grown into an adherence of it.
Truly, That's what it seems, and moth
ing else.
| Il may, therefore, be understood that
the report concerning his temperance
as chess player is base.ess, and 1t may
be furthermore understood that the
light Of the chess playing genius OF
this greatest player the world ever saw,
is lost to that world forever.