Smyrna times. [volume] (Smyrna, Del.) 1854-1987, 1888-02-15
cURIosITIEs OF CHESS.
Play Of the Science of War--Game ThsI
Lasted n Tifati,,,a

Play of the Science of War-Game Thsi
Lasted a Lifetime.
Who really invented the game of ches,
history does not definitely prove, but it i.
! known that q Chinese mandarin, 1 .9O(
years ago, was able to soothe his trooY,
when they were clamorous for home by
| proposing this game for their leisure hour,
in winter quarters.
These games differ in the various coun
tries of the world Thus, in the HindoC
game, four distinct armies are EMPLOYED
/ each with their king, and each CORPS
counts among its fighting men an elephant
and knight who Stay but cannot be
slain. The Chinese game of chess. which
boasts of the title of Choke ChOo- Kong Ki
Vhe play of the science of war;, has a
river running through the center of the
board which their elephants equivalent
to our bishOps) may never cross, and there
IS q Tort which their kings cannot pass.
The Orient was undoubtedly the birth
place OF this historic game, and as far
back as 1910 it flourished in Europe.
There is record of Pope Alexander II re-
proving a bishop for playing the game
ana OF ms being compelled, as a punish
ment for indulging in such an amuse.
menJ, 10 repeat the psalter thrice and
WASH the feet of twelve poor people for
his sins.
At the time of the Conquest the game
was turned to very practical account
for when q young nobleman wished To
pay court to the lady of his love. the fond
parent commonly made trial of his tenn
per by engaging him over a chess board
AS test of temper and patience il has
peculiar merits, though there have been
some notable instances in which these
good qualities have failed. Is it not re-
corded for our warning how "John, son
of King Henry, and FulcO fell at variance
at chestes, and John brake Fulco's he'd
with the chest horde; and then Fulco
gave him such a blow that had almost
killed him;' and in another chronicle how
William the Conqueror in his younger
yeares playing at cbesse with the Prince
OF France, losing n mate, knocked the
chesseboard about his pate, which was a
cause afterward of much enmity between
them"
Nor are examples lacking of the abuse
of patience. The same authority who has
written Of the fiery FulcO gives us the fol-
lowing account:
"There is a story of two persons of dis
unction-the one lived at Madrid. the
other at Rome-wbo played a game OF
chess at that distance. They began when
young, and though they both lived to a
very old age, yet the game was not fin
lshed. One Of them dying, appointed his
executor to go on with the game. Their
method was; Each don kept a chessboard.
with the pieces ranged In exact order, in
Their respective closets at Madrid and
Rome, aud having agreed who should
move first, the don informs his playfellow
by letter that he has moved his pawn two
moves; the courier speedily returns, and
advises his antagonist that, the minute
AFTER ne had the honor to receive this, he
likewise moved his kings pawn two
PAGES; and so they went on
IL would doubtless have turned the
brain Of either Of these two worthy dons
II they could have been present on any Of
1hese occasions in recent times when
game has been begun and finished by tele-
sraph between places far apart in the
course OF few hours. -Chambersi
Journal