, 1874-07-12

Sunday Morning, July IL. 1874.


THE CHESS CONGRESS.
The meeting of tic National Chess Congress
duriue the Dust week will be likely to revive the
nnbuc interest in this highlr-intellectua amuse-
nent. At the same time, the tendency OF publc
OF auasi-publc games BY chesa athletes Is to
r,ka the game laborious task rather than
refreshing diversion. The possibilities OF chess
by reason Of the infinite number OF eltuauons
and combinations which may bo grouped on the
sixtv-four squares, are illimtable. Consequent
IL. there is IN eyer-preEent temptation to the
amateur to 60 On and penetrate the great
Jungle where the Norphys, the Stauntons, the
Anderssens, the phihdors, have achieved mead
vsy without ever seeing any more daylight aheao
than the tyro who has just learned the fools
m.te by dreadful experience. 10 tho Averages
man or woman, chess is good eerEans' ou'
bad master for, when it once gets control, II
requires exclusive control, and 1t ls only DS Inc
greatest effort Of the will that an adept can
shake off tho a1luring gambits, and come back
TO the bread -and-butter world VIC are destined to
live in. Probably the players who have met IN
this city will have harder work to stop playing.
when the tournament is ended, than they had to
win their most stubborn victories.
Nevertheless chess holds the first rank US
purely intellectual amusement In point Of
usefulness, it is not to be compared with those
games wherein physical exercises calls the
muscles and the blood into healthful activity.
It is q contest OF brain and nerye-power purely,
always fascinating, never dobasing. but often
e1hanstiug. To its votaries, especially to those
who hare achieved great eninence. the question
Invariably comes in the end, Cui bono? Wo
have gone farther into the great labyrinth than
our fellows, but what have we gained?
Paul Morphy conquered the world of chess,
and forthwith became 1ecluse. Howard
6taunton attained extraordinary eminence, aal
At iato period in life exchanged the game for
5hakEpearean studies, in which he might have
made lasting mark it he had not wasted his
better years over pieces and pawns. Paulssen
:has half shattered noble mind by astounding
feats at b1indfold chess. The demands of chess
upon the intellect and time Of anyone who wishes
to achieve distinction are SO overmastering and
exclusive that there is room for any other pur-
suit What is called success in life is incompatible
with greatness in chess. Is greatness in chess
lauch5e ambition for n ratiornl being? Ne
think not and yet al occasional brush of ANA
teurs, iko that which is now taking place in our
midst, is By no means harmful. It may eyen DO
useful if it shall revive social interest in tho
game; for there are many things that re give
our time to that will bear no comparison With
cheso.
The palmy days OF chess, in modern timcs at
least, were in 1858, when the youthful genius OF
New Orleans came forward aud euccessirely de-
feated every player OF distinction in the civil
lied rorld. A1r. 1lorphy so identified |
himself with the game during that brief |
md brilliant tournament that tho very word |
chess brings up the ncmo OF Morphy. Although !
he has played no public games since TINT time, |
and although new champions have since risen,
he ia still tacitly acknowledged to be tie worlds
champion. Most readers still remember his en-
counters with Lcewentha1, Harrwitz, Ririerc,
Laroche, Journond, Deyinck, and Andersen. |
who all fell before him. Mr Staunton declined |
to meet him in single play, but played TWO con-
su1tation games against him, both Of which |
we're Won By Morphy. Since that period there |
has apparently bcen a reaction in the public !
Interest attaching to chess There has been |
no one in the field sufficiently distinguished to t
sentre public attention upon the game. OF |
late, however, = young Polish player, named
6tcinitz, has drawn good many eyes his vay !
BY his SUCCESS in the occasional tournaments in |
Europe, where cur whilom Dubuque player,
Psulesen, still struggles on, between headaches
Ind cold sweats, at those incredible feats OF
blindfold playing OF which he gave us q glimpse
In Chicago some seventeen years ago, and which
would have been tho death OF most men long