The Daily times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1886-1889, 1888-01-06
OF CHESS.
Play Of TIE Science Of War-Gsme hat
Lasted Q Lifetime.

Play Of tie Science Of war-Gsme That
Lasted . Lifetime.
Who really invented the game Of chess
history does not definitely prove, but IT is
known that Q Chinese mandarin, 1900
years ago, was able to soothe his troops
when they were clamorous for home by
proposing this game for their leisure hours
in winter quarters.
These games differ in the various com
tries OF the world. Thus, in the Hindoo
game. four distinct armies are employed,
each with their king, and each corps
counts among its fighting men an elephant
and u knight who Stay but cannot be
slain. The Chinese game OF chess. which
boasts Of the title Of Choke-Choo kong-hi
the play Of the science of war, has. a
river running through the center Of the
board which their elephants equivalent
to our bishopsl may never cross, and there
is O fort which their kings cannot pass.
The Orient was undoubtedly the birth
place of this historic game, and as far
back az 1910 IL fiourished in Europe.
There is record of Pope Alexander III re-
proving a bishop for playing the game
and Of his being compelled, as a punish
ment for INDUCING in such an amuse-
meut, to 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 a very practical account,
for when a 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 q chess board.
As a test Of temper and patience it has
peculiar merits, though there have e
some notable instances in which these
good qualities have failed. Is IL not re-
corded for our warnipg how John, son
of King Henry, and Fulco fell at variance
at chestes, and John brake Fulco's he'd
with the chest borde; and then Fulco
gave him such a blow that had almost
killed him. and I'm another chronicle how
William the Conqueror in his younger
yeares playing at cheese with the Prince
of France, losing a 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
NIlbitu VI III hCis uiN St'So w ~ ~
lowing account:
There il a story of W persons OF dis
tinction-the one lived at Madrid, the
other at Rome-who 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 I'm
ished. one OF them dying, appointed his
executor to go on with the game. Their
method was: Each don kept a c~hessJoard,
with the pieces ranged in exact order, in
their respective closets at Madrid and
Rome, and having agreed who should
move first, the don informs his playiellow
by letter that he has moved his pawn two
moves. the courier speedily returns, and
advises his antagonist that, the minute
after he had the honor to receive this, he
Likewise moved his king, 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
these occasions in recent times when a
game has been begun and finished 10y teie-
graph between places tar apart in the
course of u few hours Chambers
Journal.