Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1875-11-22
PAUL MORPHY.
E. WMITMORE,
Publisher and Proprietor.

The Recent Career of the once
World Renowned Chess Player
Gliding Himself for Ingratftude,
He Becomes a Hopeless Maniac.
New Orleans cor Chicago Times.l
Fifteen years ago the name of Paul
Morphy, the famous chess.player, was as
familiar as household words in almost
every portion Of the civilized world. He
was lion in his day, and no mistake,
and for young mamie was not over
twenty then = he made considerable
noise.
For twelve-month he was sensa-
ton, and then passed away from public
notice and fame as suddenly as he had
risen to those giddy nights. Among
those who recollect
THE BRILLIANT CAREER
of the great chess king, there are very
few who could tell you anything about
his existence during the past ten years,
or indeed, whether be lives or is dead.
But it is safe to assume that the re-
vival of the subject here will prove a
matter of much interest to thousands,
for although Morpby dropped from the
worlds view many years ago, he has not
by any means been forgotten, and the
very mention OF his name, almost any.
where, will suffice to awaken curious
desire to know what has become of him,
and what has been bis history since he
resigned his crown in the domain OF
chess.
With the wonderful and dazzling ca
reer of Morphy in 1859 and 1860 all men
are familiar. What led to it will be here
recited. He was born in New Orleans
in lS40, of Creole family, rich and re-
spected. When a mere lad, he evinced
an appetite for chess, and in six months
after having played his first game, he
developed into
A MARVELLOUS PLAYER.
He not only beat his father and his
teachers, but vanquished the best chess
players in the city, ard in three months
more had so progressed, that among the
most skilliul players at the game in New
0rleans-and there were many good ones
here-none could even approach him.
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 continents His entrance upon
the life of q public chess player was
effected against the remonstrances of
his parents and his kindred, who saw
something ignoble in the public parade
of young Morphy's talents, and the cul-
tivation of the notoriety which would
necessarily follow. But Paul was
charmed Rt the prospect of becoming
famous, and no argument could turn
him from the course upon which he had
set his soul So he became great, but it
will be hereinafter seen, that as the
price of his fame was his family's sor-
row, it came home to him in after years,
and made him a morbid, melancholy
man. 1t has at last reduced him to
A MENTAL WRECK,
and he is now an inmate of private
asylum, where he has resided for the
past three months and whence he will
perhaps never emerge alive, as he is con-
sidered to be hopelessly insane When
Morphy returned from Europe in 1860
after his magnificent triumphs there, it
was not as conqueror that be came,
but as a man who, having tasted the
fruits of glory, has found them bitter in
the end, and disgusted with himself and
mankind, resolves TO eschew the world
and its people forever. This was Nor.
ply s condition of mind when he came
back to his New Orleans home late in
1860, and then was seen the first CLEAN
of his after sorrow, which reproached
him for having grieved his family, and
which settled upon and remained with
him ever after.
From the hour of his arrival here he
declared he had done with chess for the
rest of his life, and he not only vowed
never to play the gamo or look upon
chess board more, but be expressly en-.
Joined upon all who knew him to never
sllude to the subject OF chess in his
presence, save under pain Of his seVerest
displeasure. 1t came to be generally
understood that he had thus set his face
against what had once been his pride
and ambition, because to its indulgence
he charged not only remorseful feeling
at having crosaed the wishes of his
parents, but likewise the forfeiture of
brilliant business prospects. At all
events, he despised chess as much as he
once loved it, and be steadfastly refused
to miDgle in the world beyond the con-
fines Of his own kindred. Thus he lived
q secluded and morbid existence here,
until the outbreak Of the late war, when,
in company with several members Of his
family, haven't abroad.
In 1866 he returned to New Orleans
and renewed his life here under the same
conditions which had prevailed before
his departure, save perhaps that he was
more retired than ever. Still he was
CONSPICUOUS CHARACTER,
although no one except his mother could