Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-12-25
.rcra OF CuEss-PLAYERs.
A Psn Picture Of Nome N0fafis C"af'
acknowledgements Ct Paul Nor
phy Recalled.

Correspondence kahsRb Si,y '""'"'
AS a dabbler in chess | have often
taken occasion during my scJourn IL
Paris to spend an idle hour at the Cafe
dc Ia Regence. This time-honored
temple of Caissa is the Mecca OF chess
players. Pilgrims from the four quar-
iers Of the globe visit it with curiosity
and respect. Though London is the
centre Of the chess world, yetthe English
Diyan has no such long sweep of his
torical associations as the French Re-
eence. Built on the spot where Henry
Nv. made his victorious entry into Pans
the Cafe dc Ia Regence maintains tbs
genius loci, and is a perpetual battle
ground Of kings.
Asa monument Of the past, its name
is itself history, and bears witness to
n cornerstone laid in the early part OF
the eighteenth century, or more than
$50 years ago. Indeed the Regence Is
of such a goodly age that among Its
original frequenters were Rousseau
D'Alembert, and Msrmontel, who were
all in their graves before the dawn OF
the present century.
1t was the trystipg-place of Robe
spierre. 1t was the biyousc OF Bona
parte. 1t does not boast Of any tangi-
BILE relic or sourenir Of Robespierre, but
it preserves a small table Of gray mar
bic on which the young Corsican lost
many q game Of chess to his friend Cap.
tain Bertrand. Years af;erward, at ST.
Helena, where the great exile was al
lowed to do little else than to play chess
he still played itb,dly. His memorial
table at the Regence, bearing his almost
illegible name on worn-out silver
plate, has been put to much service
since his day, and has been the scene
of many q more brilliant chess contest
than he himself was ever able to wage.
1t is true that he won somo vapid VIC
tories over Nine. de Remusat, yet all
bis recorded games, without exception,
are of inferior quality.
The long line Of magnates of the Re-
gence began Of course with Philido. He
has proved to be the St. Peter Of an un-
broken apostolic succession. His ca
nonicals were Of long past fashion,
powdered wig and kneo-breeches. His
portraits make him look like an Ameri-
can grandfather Of continental days. |
fancy him bordering his "pawns,"
which be called "the soul Of his
chess" lie was the one Achilles Of
his age; but among his later contem
por aries and his immediate successors
were several Agamemnons. These
were Legal and Verdoni, Sasias and
Calvi, Boncourt and Mouret--all giants
in their day.
And one OF them was not only 4
giant, but a dwarf. This was little
Monsieur MouTet, who was such q
piemy that he was able to wiggle into
the celebrated machine known as the
chess automaton. where he hid his tiny
self from all spectators, like mouse in
a wainscOt, and where daily, for many
months. from bis place Of concealment,
he moved the fatal fingers Of that grim
wooden Turk who administered check
mate to lords and ladies, to princes and
potentates, and to all other visitors who
we're willing to give good pay FOR being
we'll drubbed. 1t was long time be-
fore the cunning imp within was sus-
pecied by the curious world without.
A very different type of man from
Mouret was Deschapelles, whose form
was tall and stately, whose face never
wore a smile, and whose disposition
was so Jealous that she bore, like the
Turk, no brother near the throne"
lie disdained to play with any oppo-
nent on even terms, but always gave
odds. At length when a few younger
PLAYERS whom he bad trained grew
into an equality Of force with their
trainer and he was no longer able TO
win from them at odds he suddenly
ceased to play altogether, and proudly
abdicated his sultanship.
The present representative'in-chiet
Of the Regence is Arnous dc REVERE.
lie received his fist chess training
from Kiezeritsky and became the lntl-
mate friend Of ANDERSEN, Stanton,
and Morphy. He may now Justly be
called the - douen " or veteran Of living
chess. players in France. But a rumor
has Just been set aiiOat that the &C
compiished man is shortly to be APP
pointed to a position in the govern
mental commission for tie centennial
Of the French republic.
Americans on visiting the Regence
are proud TO see the honor which It
renders to the memory Of Morphy; II
has put his bust en- fare with that Of
Philidor. Ny recollection is fresh and
vivid Of Morphy's pale, intellectual
face and forehead; and regret thai
in his bust, though it vas tho work OF
no less a sculptor than Lequesne, do
not find a satisfactory image Of the
marvellous young man. 1t lacks what
Shakspesre's description gives 70
Cicero and what nature gave TO Nor
ply" fiery and ferret eyes" Bat
as the bust was nodded from life i. can
never have rival In authenticity, aud
must be accepted as historical. | hap
pened to be at the Regence when tho
news came Of Morphy's death. The
immediate and unanimous verdict o.
the whole chamber OF experts was iha'
he had proved himself the unvigal'e
and supreme player Of his time, and
that his only predecessor Of equal grade
was Laborrdonnais. Morphy had never
beer daily conner and goer at the Re
gence like LabourdOunsis, AMI vet
Morphy's connection with the famou:
cafe was sufficient to give the house a
unique addition to its historici A
celebrity, for it was at the RegencC
that be made his most surprising exhi-
bition of blindfold play. 1t was at
the Regence that he yanquished Harr
witt, and i. was under the shadow OF
the Regence, in private apartment a
few steps distant, that he affixed the
final seal to his patent Of supremacy
by cOnquering Andersen.
Ii is known that gold watch and
chain Of great value was publicly pre-
sented to Morphy at the New York
University on his return from thes;
European victories. This SOUVENIR,
which ought to be in America, is al
the Regence. Its posseSsor is Arnous
de REVERE, who few days ago, as a