Omaha daily bee., 1884-07-17

met In New York, Oct. 3, 1867, he
achieved great fame. He defeated an
tagonist after antagonist with the great.
est ease, until none was left to dispute
his superiority. At that time Paul
Morphy was but twenty years of age, and
his wonderful intellectual powers, in con.
n%ection with his youth, naturally created
the greatest enthusiasm. Out of a humid
red games, with more than a score of the
strongest players in the United States,
he lost but three. His deeds were heard
of In Europe. Everybody admitted that
he was more than a match for any oppo-
nent within the United States. His
southern friends were in extacies, and
the faith of the men OF New Orleans was
exhibited in a practical form. They of
fered to back their champion to any
reasonable amount, and thought 1t not
impossible to combine an international
hospitality snd a national competition.
Immediately after the congress they sent
forth a challenge to all the world to enter
the lists against Mr.. Morphy for 1000
pounds, or So, 600 of American currency.
The challenge was sent to Mr.. Staunton,
and that gentleman was assured il he &C.
copied it, of a reception every way worthy
of his talents aud position. But Mr..
Staunton's engagements would not per-
nit him to cross the ocean, and 30 the
idea of an engagement between the ma.
ture Englishman's judgment and the
young Americans genius must have been
abandoned if the chess-players of Eng
land had not brought the cham
piens into closer quarters. The
British chess association invited Mr..
Morphy to attend their annual meeting
in 1858, and he was glad to make ac-
quaintance with the European lights of
the chess world.
His first formal match was with Low
enthal whom he badly beat. The score
stood: Morphy, 8; Lowenthal, 3: drawn
2. This decisive victory united to his
courtesy and placidity reused
the greatest admiration for the young
American. At the Birmingham tourna-
ment he displayed extraordinary powers
by conducting blindfolded eight games
simultaneously against strong players.
Failing to get or a match with Mr..
Staunton, an old opponent of Stanley's,
Morphy went to Paris where his recep-
ton was of the most enthusiastic charac-
ter. He was the lion of the day. He
repeated his blindfold play to the ad-
miration of thousands, and then entered
the lists with Herr Harrwitz whom he
conquered. Herr Andersen, the victor
in the international tournament of 1851
emerged from his retirement in the Uni
versity of Breslau to become the next
antagonist of Morphy. The play was
brilliant and at the conclusion of the
match the score stood: Morphy, Z; An
derssen, 2; drawn, g. Europe could
furnish no other celebrity the equal of
Andersen, Harrwitz and Lowenthal who
could be induced to try conclusions with
the American prodigy, and 80 Paul
Morphy was left, like Alexander, without
to conquer.
He remained for several years in Paris,
but returned home just before the war of
the rebellion. Strange to say, when his
reason began to desert him, he took a
sudden dislike to the game of chess. He,
however, had many lucid intervals. In
1882, having been asked to furnish
materials for a biographical notice in a
proposed volume, he wrote The New
Orleans Bee that his father having left
him an estate ''ample enough to allow
me to decently defray all my expenses,
1 have followed no calling and have given
no causes for a biography. I have re-
ceived a diploma as a lawyer" His daily
routine of existence in New Orleans in
volved q walk on Canal street every
morning, where his dapper little figure
always scrupulously well dressed-became
as well known and as regularly looked
for as the MONDAY bell. After his daily
promenade he retired from public gaze
until evening, when he appeared in his
box at the opera, where, it is said, he
never missed a night. 1t is further re-
lated that he permitted no friendly
acquaintance; he was never known to
associate with anybody but his mother,
and persistently repelled advances from
those who, having been friends of his
early youth, desired to renew their asso-
Citations. He lived a strange life, and
was a strange, moody, and peculiarly
mournful man.