The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1889-12-31
NOT A CHESS PLAYER.


Nou ~ SDG00 PlAveW.
rAe.ss He H.A Yr-.s...s-a . cssss Cafe
for Ftfts~a Yesr~.
He had frcquentcd the Cafe de rEurope
for fully fifteen years, says n writer in the
New York Times. and wal az well known
tn the chess players there as was the lady
Of the counter His was n thoughtful face.
and he would sit for hours watching the
been observed that hc would take quite M
much interest in the struggles of n ponr
player as the brilliant strategy of the elite
OF the champions Of the chcss-board. II
was argued that the knowledge this per
son possessed must he profound; equal tn
that of Phillidor. Occasionally the silent
visitor had bcen asked tai decide q
question i'm dispute, hut he had, though
politely, invariably declined giving
his opinion. His habits. were as regular
ciseiy, and during the evening drink two
cups of coffee with n little glass of Brandy.
AZ 10 precisely he would slowly eat a
to the he would retire. During
the two hours and n half he had silently
IL was believed that he was capable of
playing several games at the same time,
because he would as often AS not follow
the battles ON more than one board.
One very stormy night there happened
tn bc but q single chcss-playcr at the cafe.
He waited in vain for an and
annoyance of.a baked ch~css-playcr. The
only person in the cafe was the man who
had IRE. u ntel il TOR so many years. The
player. whose mania was
chess, was rich, persistent. choleric.
"fon must play a game OF chess with
n %s' have eS q game mot f's viii , ."' go re y %.'
Impossible" was the reply OF the
habitue.
"lmpossible. I can not understand
that. 1 will play yor for 3 francs, 10
francs, or 500 francs, IL You please"
'That would be mo object"
II pnnr IL la n 49,. u-.
Now, I am so crazy for an opponent that
will pay you tn play with me. Here; !
%nSs You !" m noo ,r.n sar,i Tor viii a I1ng,. game. l
impossible"
Permit me. ! have been very polite to
you So far, but, marblcu! you must play or
81 hen should prefer lighting. for do
not know how to play chess
imposing OF me-"
"Lis,cn to my statement. In I'VE not tire
first idea of chess. I do not know "a single
move. My mind has not the reInotest
conception of the principles of the game.
have the least mathematical head in the
but, sacrcblcu! Why have you been
coming here for fifteen years."
II will explai". i am of II quiet and rc-
there is noise and disturbance. This cafe
! happened tn enter a. great many years
ago, and it seemed TO present the exact
were all playing chess there was
never n whisper. The quiet slid
was very soothing To- my nerves. The cof-
fee and brandy were excellent and the
prices not c~xtravagant. 1 should he very
unhappy il 1 were driven away from here,
unless l should find n cafe frequcntcd 10y
the deaf aud dumb. ! am n man not
wanting of courage. and should you insist
ON challenging me 1 shall certainly try my
best to run you through. but should your
skill with the rapisr be greater than mine,
honor Of Informing you-I should still in
sist that ] know nothing about chess. save
that yoi play il with little things made
out of wood OF two color-, which you move
abort according to your fancy. i have no
doubt that some OF You are Interested in
the game. though / have never ceased
wondering why you should be. Now, sir,
l am entirely u votre dispositions"