, 1879-05-18


White to play and mute in four Inorcs. =.
. SOLUTION TO pRoBLEM NO. 1T.
y Whlts FR1aekk Fta H.
l. 9.Kt toKt 4 2.-Any move.
PAUL MORfUY AS HE IS.
OLD ISLANDERS NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. OF THE
CHESS OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES DETAILS or His
CONDITION.
To lovers of that noble, intellectual. and refined
pastiue, the time -htnored game OF chess, who
have been accustomed to regard Paul Morphy as its
living oracle, and who have followed his brilliant
career from the time when be, a boy Of 10. first
learned to marshal his forces upon the checkcred
battle- field, till the time when, still mere YOUTH
he met and vanquished all the veteran heroes in
the service OF Cassa, it is Fad to reflect upon bis
present condition-upon the abrupt Termination Of
life go full OF prospect and promise 1t is q
mournful picture to see the modest possessor Of
this wonderful mind, man whom nobility has
been eager to honor. and to whom the greatest in
Icllects OF tho world have made obeisancc, wan
der1ng alone the streets Of his native city, poor,
retfu OF the past Indifferent to the future uncon-
sc1ous OF the sceptre be could yield ut will, the
victim Of strange haluc.nation that prompts him
to devote all OF his eneEcics to an Insignificant.
hopeless case at Law, which, ii gained, would yield
no pecuniary or other advantage. His burden, ard
the grief Of his friends and relatives sufficiently
cslumnious reports IN regard to bis intemperance.
combative procifvltes, lmpudent annoyance Of the
opposite sex and no other offensive peculiarities.
4 glimpse Of Paul MorDhy is q satisfactory fefuta
ton Of all such charges. Keatnees sobriety, anna
bility, modestv. dignity. culture. and refinement
are ali andeniably represented in his dress, and
"1Of low and unsightIy stature, and OF darkish
hue. only those that can see below the surface Of
thtnss will ia bis shining eyes, developed
forehead, and amiabl8 bearing, tho extraordinary
being. OF a perfectly harmless character, Of d
truly noble and Hoeral disposition, he possesses
that .chiTa'rous spirit which, being founded on
moral consciousness, allows no infringement on
ones dignity and self-respect bur. in opposition
te arrogant selfconcelt is In complete accordance
personal integrity wIl probably. through the love
Of the noole game. not only be preserved, but
eren be brought to a still higher standard Of per
fecnon.'
These words, occurring in Max Lange's book on
Morphy, written at the time OF the chess heros
transatlantic triumph. would appear not at all in
prediction in the last sentence; and who. can Say
thai it is impossible for this yet to be fulfilled:
On the street in New Orleans last month I fire.
presence, and had better opportunity OF studying
him, at the old Spanish Cathedral. on Easter Sun
day, than elsewhere. he paid desout attention to
the services, and appeared thoroughly familiar
with all OF the ceremonies, always assuming the
kneeling posture, and moving his head and lips
responsively at the right time without apparently
taking the cue from any Of the worsnipins thronr:
At one Time an nntldv person brushed against his
back, and he seemed distressed for sume moments
wita the idea that his coat had been soilcd, en-
dcayoring to ornsh il with his handkerchief. I
caught m inQuiriEg look from his eye, and my
glance must fave satisfied MIN that his coat pre-
Composed himself and resumed bis attentive aif'
even spreading his handkerchief In the aisle and
knecling upon it.
have spoken Of his imagined sa1utations, and
his pleasant bow and smile, and graceful wave OF
the hand. in response. This must have occurred
twenty Or thirty times, as be stood behind q mas
which it was impossible for any one to sec him
from the direction in which he looked. In the
speculations regarding his mental arrangement, it
has been nntural to attribute it. in great meas
nre, to over-excrtion OF brain powerin mis- won
derlul tents at chess, but nothing has ever been
found 10 establish positively, such q conclusion.
him no effort, Analyses that would require weeks
of aborious study on the part OF the greatest
ters, he would make IS rapidly as his eyes could
fold rames. played simultaneously against strong
players, appeared TO require no more atten-
tioa than the perusal OF q book or: paper. With
rare exceptions, be appeared to know intuftiyely
the strongest moves that could BE- made. His un-
Gle, Ernest Aorphy, during his visit in cinciu-
e5 s {os
the table, aud get up on the checkcred table
problem that had suddenly sprung into his head,
using the cruea, salr-cc1iars, and napkinr rings for
pieces. asked him il his nephew was rcmarka-
tle for anything else than his peculiar aptitude for
Chess. aud recollcct that he stated: amongst
opera, he could hum or whistle it from beginning
to end
At school, and afterwasd at college, Paul Morphy
was always criticised for his continuous 8tudy and
aversion to youthful sports, he never taxing any
part IN outdoor g'mes or youthful exercises. So
it seems that chess is not to blame for his present
singular condition. except rs it represents pur-
ton OF the mental operations in which his brain
was constantly employed
It is unquestionably IN instance OF brain ex-
cessivelr developed st the expense OF the physical
man, leaving the mind expanded to the utmost
bounds Of sanity. and ready to wnuder outside Its
limits on the occurrence OF some peculiarly exctt-
ing circumstance; and this happened, probably. In
the sudden realization that what he had considered
comuctency was expended. and that he had be-
come, for the present at least dependent. After
tnis he was in no condition to reason-to see that
be had lived e1travasnntiy while abroad and after
his return. and that his expenditures were in ex-
cess OF his share OF his fathers estate. He
Imagined that he had been defranded, Intentionally
or through mismauagement: hence the litgions
course he has pursued. Possibly his aversion to
chees came through associating 1t with his mtsfor-
tnnes, his heaviest expenditures having occurred
while away On his sictotious tour through Europe
have ihoaGhf sompee 1estosaon Of bis
OF the patttcnlarlzed account he demands from
Trustees or Administrators, for he is wonderfully
acute 1t figures. and might be convinced If iucon-
trovcrtible calculations were placed before him.
Why It is not done ia not known, whether on &C
count Of an impossibili1y. the amount Of labor
thought justified through the entire satisfaction OF
other interested parties: I understand that he has
right to demand such IN account, and that he
could enforce it, probably II be not regarded
insane. or II Others would join his cause for the
sake Of humoring him. It Is said to the reproach
of certain lawyers that would aavise and encour-
age him in his hopeless case as long as Ae had
money to fee them but that now they will not give
him q hearing.
Suggestions In reference to medical treatment
amount to nothing, because he acknowledges no
ailment- Efforts have been made to induce him To
travel that his physical health might be benefited
and that his mind might be diverted from it's ab-
sorbug subject; but he regards this playfng into
the hands Of his enemies, says his absence from
New Orleans is just what they are scheming for,
and avows his intention Of remaining to dcfeat
them on their own ground.
It is distressing to admit that Paul Mozpby is
hopelcsslY lost 10 the intellectual world Must
that euperhuman mind be forever devoted to the
pursuance OF such petty, insignificant object
when 1t is capable OF exeHing such wondrous pow
ert The gratitude OF all maukfnd awaits him who
f1avfaa Gorna fnr