The Fairfield herald. [volume] (Winnsboro, S.C.) 1849-1876, 1875-12-01
P$Uu MORPiIY.
RENOWNED DCHEss-FLAYER---HEB BECOMES
A HOPELESS MANIAC

player, WAS rs familiar as household
words III almost overy portion Of tho
civilized world IIe was n lion in
his day, and no mistake, and fer q
young mao--ho was not over twenty
then--he made considerable noise.
For d twelve month he was II sen
satlon, and then passed away from
public notice and f,.me rs suddenly
as he had risen to those giddy
heights.
Among those who recollect the
brilliant caroor of tho great chess
KING, there arc very few who could
tell you anything about his existence
during the past ten years, or, indeed,
whether he lives or is dead.
But it is safe to assume that tho
revival of the subject here will prove
matter OF much interest to thous-
ands, for although Mo;phy dropped
from tho worlds view many years
ago he has not by any means been
forgotten and the very mention of
his name, almost anywhere, will suf-
tlce to awaken u curious desire to
know what has become Of him, and
what has been his history since he
resigned his crown in tho domain Of
chess.
With the wonderful and dazzing
career OF Morphy in 1859 and 1860
al mon are familiar. What led to it
will here be rccited He was born
in New Orleans in 1910, of Il Creole
family, rich and respected. Whom a
mere lad he evinced an aptitude for
chess, and in six months after playing
ms first game he developed into a
marvellous player. He not only
beat his father and his teachers. but
vanqulshed tho best chess player il,
Il city, and in three months more
had 30 progressed that among the
iuost sklllful players ut the game in
New Orle ns-and there wcEe many
good ones here-none could oven
approachhim.
At this time his fame had travelled
not only to the North in his own
country, but to Europe, and then
his star began to rise until it became
brightly conspicuous On two CONT
nents. His entrance upon the life
Of Il public chess player was effected
against the remonstrances Of his
psn cnts md his kindred, who saw
something ignoblo in the public
parade of young Morphy's talents,
and the cultivation of the notoricty
whi' Ii would necessarily follow. But
Paul was charmed at tue prospect of
becoming famous, and 10 argument
could turn him from the coarse upon
which lie had set his scuI. So he
became great, bat it will be hereafter
seen, that us the price OF his fame
was his fnmily's sorrow, it me
10 him in after years and lnuic him
4 morbid. mr!alrholy man. 1t hus
rs last reduced hi n 70 q mental
wreck, ana he is now III inmate Of IA
private asylum, where he has resided
for the past ihree months, and
whence lie will pa"haps never
emerge alive, rs he is considered to
be hopelcssly insane. When Nor
ply returned from Europe in 1860
after Ills magnificent tl'i,mphs there,
it WAS not rs q conqucror that he
came, but as q man who, having
tasted the fruits of glory, has found
them bitter in the end, and disgust
Ell with himself and mankind, re-
solves to oschow the world and its
people forever. This WAS Morphy's
condition ofmind when he came back
to his Now Ole rs home in 1860,
and then was seen the first leam of
his after sorrow, which rcproachcd
him for having grioved his family,
and which sotu'ol upon and re-
NAMED with him ever after.
From the hour of his ar, ival here
he declared he had done with chess
for the rest Of his lilo, and he not
only vowed mover to play or look
upon chess board moro, but he
expressly enjoinel npon all who
knew him to never allude to tho sub
ject of chess in his presence, save
undor pnin of his scvorest displeas
ure. 1t came to be generally I'M
derstoOd that he had thus sot his
face against what once been his
chief ambition, because to it's indul-
gence he charged not only romorse
full feeling ut having crossed the
wishes Of his parents, but likewise
the forfeiture of brilliant business
prospects. At all events, he do
spisod choss as much as he had
once loved it, and hc steadfastly
refused to minglo in the world DO.
yohd the confines of his own kin.
drcd. Thus no Hvod d secluded and
morbid eXistonce here until the out
break Of the late war, when, in COM
pa1iy with several members of his
family ho went abroad.
In 1866 he returned to New Or
loans, and renewed his life hore
under tho same conditions which
had prevailed before his departure,
save perhaps that he was more re-
tired than ever. Still he was a con.
spicuons character, although no one
except his mother could lay claim to
his friendship or his notice. His
daily routine of existence involved q
walk on Canal street every morning,
where his dapper little fgure--al.
ways scrupdlot1sly we'll dressed--.