The Kenosha telegraph. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1860-1888, 1874-06-11
PAUL MORPHY'S LATER HISTORY
9n ABSURD HATRED OF HIS
OWN GENIUS,

a +" OWN GENIUS.
a correspondent of Wilkes Spirit of
the Times writing from New Orleans,
says of Morphy's later life: In 1859 Paul
Morphy, the worlds chess king, returned
to America crowned with such trsumphs
aad houors 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 seems that this dis
tinguished man would pursue to still
greater fullness the measure of his success
which had made him lion not only in
America, but in Europe. Strangely
enough, he withdrew from that pursuit
directly upon his return to America, and
in the retirement of his New Orleans
home he gradually dropped out of public
L
existence, although not out of public rec
objection. During the late civil war he
resided in France, whittier a great num-
Der OF New Orleans creoles migrated to
avoid the distressing experiences of that
epoch AT its close he returned to New
Orleans and engaged in the pursuit of
1.-THE legal professions which he had been
bred by his father, and which he aban-
doned for the glories of chess playing.
Here he has continued to reside since
that time, and, singular to relate, during
the period from his return to the present
day ne has not played single game of
chess, and, what is more singular, be has
manifested such an antipathy to the game
that, by express understanding among his
friends, the subject is before him for
hidden one, and even a chance allusion
thereto in his presence painful one.
The question that quite naturally
arises is, ''Why is this thus?" No one has
vet been able to answer it. Certain it is,
however, that for nearly ten years he has
not even seen chess board, and if he has
his way about it. he never will see one
more. These facts I ascertained some
days ago, when, upon learning of report
that he was expected to play chess at the
forthcoming Centennial Exposition, I Wis
tied him at his residence to know " heller
there was any foundation for TIE rumor
OF course there exists here a deal of spec
ulation touching the action OF Mr.. Morphy
in thus ayolding-nay, shunning--a ca
reer which to most men would be the
contamination of fond ambition: the
goal of public adulation and popular
honors, 80 fascinating to the average hu-
man heart. In imparting TO me what /
have written here. Mr.. MorphY begged
that / would not write anything about
him, nor mention bis name in connection
with chess; that he had done with 1t for
ever, and he desired no public mention
of his name. Bat / know it will be of
interest to many to revive recollection
of this strange genius. and | have, there
fore. been constrained to set down to
what may be read herein. Those who
know HIM best account for his present
sentiments upon the principle that when
be became professional chess player he
did 80 against the advice and earnest ap.
y eals of his family. and that In following
the bent of his inclination he sacrificed
most brillla' { prospects. which were then
Opening before him. da'A Em ,soils
.I In time lie came to realize what gold
en- opportunities ne had wasted, and in
the same way he came to look upon his
chess.playing proclivlties as responsible
for his misfortune. and gradually turning
against 1t in resentment, he has grown into.
an abhorrence Of it. Truly, that's what
il seems, and nothing else. Itmay thore-
fore be understood that The report con-
corning, his temperance as chess-plsy.
er is baseless, and ii may Furthermore be
understood that the light Of the chess
playing genius of this greatest player the
world ever saw, is lost TO the world for
ever. .uasr 4Yasff III adt ai tsa hv D. II
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