Clearfield Republican. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1851-1937, 1875-12-22
PA UL MORPHY.
THE RECENT CAREER oFTnE oNcr soail-
REMOVED CHESS spLAyER---nE nFruMEs
A HOPELESS MANIAC.


New Orleans Cor Chicago llme..
Fifteen years ago the namo Of l'ital
Morphy, the famous chess player, was
rs familiar as household words in al
most every portion Of the civilized
world. Ho was lion in his day, and
no mistake, and for a young mnn--he
was not over twenty then--hc made
considerable noise. 'siF -iNaa..l q
For twelvomonth he was a sensa-
tion, and then passed away from pub.
lie notice and fame, 40 suddenly as he
bad risen TO those gddy heights.
Among those who recollect the bril-
liant career Of tho great chess king,
thero are very icw who could tell you
anything nbout bis existence during
the past ten years, or, indeed, whether
ho livcs or IA dead,
But II Is safe to assume That the 70.
vival Of the subject hcrc will prove y
matter of much interest to thousands,
for although Morphy dropped from the
worlds view many years ago he has
not by any means been forgotten /
and tho very mention OF his name, al.
most anywhere, will suffice TO awaken
a curious desire to know what has be.
come Of him, and what has been his
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 viii
here be recited, He was born in New
Orleans in 1910, of creole family,
rich and respected When mere lad
he evincod an aptitude for chess, and
in six months after having played his
first game he developed into marvel.
GUS player He not only bcas his ia-
thcr and his teachers, but vanquished
the best chess players in the city, and
in three months more had so progressed
that among the most skilliul players
at the game in New Orleans and there
were many good ones here-none could
even approach him.
AT this time bis fame had Travelled
not only TO the North in bis own coun.
try, but TO Europe, and then his star
began to rise until it became brightly
conspicuous on two continents. His
entrance upon the life Of public chess
player was effected against the remon-
stancos of bis parents and his kindred,
who saw something ignoble in the pub.
lie parade of young Morphy's talents,
and the cultivation Of the notoriety
which would necessarily follow. But
Paul was charmed at the prospect of
becoming famous, and no argument
could turn him from the course upon
which he had set bis soul. So he be-
came great, but il will be hereinafter
seen that as the price Of bis fame was
bis family's sorrow, il came home to
him in after years, and made him
morbid, melancholy man. 1t has at
last reduced him to 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
considered to be hopelessly insane.
When Morphy returned from Eu.
rope in 1860, after his magnificent tri.
umphs there, it was not as a conquoror
that he came, but as q man who, hav.
ing tasted the fruits of glory, has found
thcm bitter in the end, and disgusted
with himself and mankind, resolves to
eschew the world and its people for.
ever, This was Morpby's condition of
mind when he came back to his Now
Orleans home late in 1860, and then
was seen the first CLEAN of bis after
sorrow, which reproached him for hav.
ing grievcd his family, and which set
tied upon remained with him ever
after
From the hour of his arrival here he
declared he had done with chess for
tho rest of his life, and he not only
vowed never to play or look upon
chess. board more, but he expressly y en-
joined upon all who knew him to never
allude 10 the subject of chess in his
presence, save underpain of his issevercst
1t came TO be generally
that he had thus set
his face against what had once been
his pride and ambition, because to its
indulgence he charged not only re-
feeling at having crossed the
wishes of his parents, but likewise the |
forfeiture OF brilliant prospects. AT
all events he despised chess as much
as he had once loved it, and he stead
lastly refused to mingle in the world /
beyond the confines of bis own kindred. ,
Thus he lived a secluded and morbid |
existence here until the outbreak of the
late war, when, in company with sew /
eral members of his family, he went
abroad.
In 1866 he returned TO New Orleans !,
and renewed bis life here under the I
same conditions which had prevailed |
before his departure, save perhaps that ,
he was more retired than ever. Still {
he was conspicuous character, al- ,
though no one except his mother could ,
lay claim TO bis friendship or his no.
tice. His daily routine of existence in
volyed a walk on Canal street every
where his dapper little figure !
always scrupulously well dressed {
became as well known and as regularly |
looked for as the MONDAY bell. Afler
his daily promenade he retired from |
public gaze until evening, when be ap- ,
pcared in his box at the opera, where /
il is said he never missed night II
Is further related that during these l
years hepcrmitted no friendly acquaint. ,
ancc he was never known TO associate +,
with anybody but his mother and per-
sistently repealed advances from those
who, having been friends Of his early
youth, desired to renew their associa-
tions. lie lived a strange life, a strange,
moody and peculiarly mournful man.
Twelve months ago, be began TO I
show the frs; positive symptoms Of q .
down of his mental faculties,
and he soon manifested such cccentri-
cities Of disposition in public life, that
bis mother began TO be unhappily |
about him.
This concern, as it proved, was not
warrant. He continued to
increased symptoms of men.
tai alteration, and a;teT yainly striving
to battle with the inevitable, his mo.
ther sadly recognized the TACT that her
son was insane, and three months ago,
rs already reoitcd in this article, he was
placed IN an asylum.
1t is a sad sequel TO history whose
pages were once aglow with n worlds
plaudits, and there are many
In both this country and in Europe
who will invest the knowledge here
with tender interest, and
with il revive tho rccollections Of a
man who, in bis time, was famous far