The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1875-12-19

A Man who Holds Ills Own with tho strous-
est Plnycra of the Mnrlh.

The arrival IN New YORK Of Mr.. II. l..
Bird She distinguished English chess player Is
acircunstanco Of much interest to all dcNotocs
of tho game. Mr.. Bird has already tried his
hand with some Of tho best of the New York
plBcrs, aud has manifested his stion-th and
sail to the satisfaction Of all. He Is nearly
cyery evening iu the cafe international chess
room At III BDwcry, the main chess resort Of
the city, where lac sits the ccntr, of large
gathering Of chess players, come 90 see him and
witness hi, gamcs. For the last two or three days
ne has been playing with Alheroni, compare
lively new man in American ches- circles, and
not long from Europe but one who aspires To a
high rank among the opponents of the game
About the players sit and stand chess enthu-
sasts IA far "a glimpse OF the board can be Obj
tanned. They " every tongue and cline
They look very much like the cuts in KLIdder
ddd'sch in which all the nations arc represented
by appropriate physioghomies. One who Is at
home there recognizes an eccentric professor Of
Hebrew n German journalist OF the city spec
tacled and absorbed Russians, Frorchmen,
Germans, thoroughbred Down East Yanh res,
a Danish sea captain and an exied patriot and
ex-consul, men Of all professions and occupa-
ton, cOmpositors and lawyers, physicians and
peddlers; mon who are we'll dressed and seem to
have plenty Of money men who are poor. i'll
all equal. The best chess player Is the most in
terc-ting man. These all stand and watch the
games for hours upon hours.
MIR. Bird H. "a quiet, ROOd-naturcd, gentleman
Unlocking person of forty five bald, short, port
~, of round, norld face, frnged with lisht, soft
whiskers. lie might be mistaken for sea cap
tain on merchant vessel. lie moves the pieces
gently but without hesitation, and plays very
rapidly. He j. remarkable Tor the rapidity Of his
play. No English player of note equals him in
this respect. lie seems to have great endurance.
since his arrival hero he has sonnet ime. played
ten or iftecn games, or even more. IN a day. To
be sure. they were not Tor a ~taNe.
Mr. Bird ranks with the best Of the European
Wisker, Boden. Macdonncl, BlarShurnc. Iuker-
tort and Staunton, and with Buckle, the author
of the " History Of civilization and the great
chess player lie played with Andersen in the
tournament of ISL "a match with ~tc'nitz in
l~1-a vcN-hotly contested match. which was
on important business. to America, the score
standing: Steinhl 2 Bird. >; drawn. D. Mr.
lird games with Andersen and lioden are some
81 me hnr-t on record. WIN Mr Nisa'r WI"
was the winner of the challeng" cup of the Brit
~, 49, ,t i a.' ~ ~ l ~, I',t.tn ilN,n
match. ~tcinil f. the only 90" WIN whom he
ha. won less than his half Of The games.
IT. lives IN London, where BE- is honorary
member Of the city Of London Chess Club. and
is a fnvorite frcqucut"r of -. Gcorcc'- Chess
tlnb. the fashionable club. to which the nobility
and members of Parliament belong. lie was a
warm friend Of Siauntnn'- during the latters
lifetime. He Is 4 railway accountant by pro-
fession. Of large experience. and veil known in
connection with railway iuye.tisatiun~. lie has
N,st"r,,ie,,.s a rniiertinm ~ rh"i.c gn,,,n.
with notc-. dedicated to kuli-ch, which Is rapid
Us gong through the edition. He has been IN
New York three times heretofore, ia lo'O, -,
In Gi he came in the capacity of Auditor ~
the Atlantic and Great Western Railway. Many
persons are acquainted with him who know him
only IN business c"nnec tinn-. ana are mol aware
thlt h. plays chess at all although in lstB he
met Mckenzie here and played him nuinher
of games. Ihat was the only time before the
pic-ent that he played ia America. Having
mon -urc This "Trip. b" will. probably. play, a
good deal. lie las gwen notice that be + ready
a. enter the arena with ANYBODY. He has al