, 1874-06-08
Paul mOrphYss Lnter Hlatory-AbsRFt
f1ntren Of His Own Genius.

Neto orlean. Correspondence ef Eittes' Sptrt.
In 1859 Paul Morphy, the worlds chens king,
and honors as perhaps have never been shown
to any exponent Of that or any other game of
skill. In tho fun flush Of bis brilliant career It
seemed that this dlstiagaiahed man would pur-
Hue to still greater fllllnosB tho measure OF lla
SUCCESS, which had made him lion not only in
America, but in Europe.
Strangely enough, no Withdrew from that pur-
suit directly upon bis return to America, and in
the retiremont of his New Orleans home Le grad
ually dropped out Of public existence, although
not out of public RECOLLECTION.
During tho late civil war le resided In franco,
whittier groat number Of New Orlesns oraoloa
migrated to avoid tho distressing exper,encoa
Orleans and engaged IN the pnrauit Of tho legal
profession. to which he Ind been bred by hiB
father, and which he abandoned for tho glories
Of cheBa.playing.
Here lie has coetinued to reside since TINT
tin1e. and, singular to relate, during tho parEod
from hls return to tue present day ho has not
played q single game Of chess, aud, what Is
more singular. he has manifested such an an
tlpathy to the game that, BY oxpresa under-
standing hnong Ills friends, the subject ia be-
fore him forbidden one. and even a chance
allmson Aareto in Ids prcaenoe is painful one.
Tho question TINT quite naturally arises rs,
.'why Is this thus :" No ono has yet been abio
nearly ten years he hos not even seon choaa-
board, and II he has Ills way about II; he never
will soo one moro. These facts asce1tainell
aome days ago, when, upon learning OF report
that ho was expected to play ohoss at the. forth
coming Centennial Exposition, visited him at
Ills residence to know whoth1r there WAS any
Foundation for the fumor.
OF course there exists bore tlaal ct speoula-
tion touching the action OF Mr. Morpl,y in thus
agoidtng-nayt shu'ininy-a career which, to
most mon, would be the contamination Of fond
ambition: the goal Of public adulation and pop
Nlar honozs, 80 fascinating to tho average human
heart,
In imparttng to mo what havo wrltton bore.
Mr. Morphy begged that would not write any
thing about him nor mention hts nRme In con-
necsion ri Ii ohcss; TINT 10 had done with 1t for
eyor. and no dontrnn no public mention OF hts
name. But know it will he Of interest to many
to rovive recollection OF this strange geutun,
aud have, therefore, baen constrained to set
down what may be read herein.
Those who know him best account for his
present Bentimenta upon the principle that when
Ao became professional clenH-player la did 30
against the advice aud earneBt appeals Of lla
family, aud that In following tile bont Of his In
clinasion ha sacrificed most brilliant busineys
prospects. which wora then opening before him.
tunities he had wastod, and in the sumo way he
camo to look upon his chess playing prooliyities
M Responsible for suoA misfortune, and gradually
turning against it in resentment, he liaa grown
into au abhorrenco Of it. Truly, that's What 1T
aoouls and nothing olBe
1t may, therefore, bo understood that the To-
port concerning his reappoaranoe as . chesB-
player is baaelcas, aud 1t may bo furthermore
Understood TINT the light OF the ohesa-pnying
genius OF this greatcst player the world over aRW
Is lost to that world forever.