The Iowa plain dealer. [volume] (New Oregon, Howard County, Iowa) 1867-1895, 1890-03-06
ON THE ChESS-BOARD.
That 10 Where the Great NapOleO
Planned All His Battles.

Planned All HIS battles.
Perhaps an incident which will tell
you may interest the lovers of chess
throughout the land. One night in tn.
winter of the year 1853 there was gath
cred around red-hot stove in the book
store of John S. bradford, in Springfield,
H., . coterie Of young men, all Of whom
in after years became more or less
famous. The subject of their converse
ton was the great series of chess games
then in progress between the English
and American champions. The party
was composed of s. NJ. Cnllom. then a
young attorney in Springfield. now
United States Senator; John S. Brad
ford, proprietor Of the store, afterward
appointed by Abraham Lincoln Commits
sary Sergeant for Illinois during the
rebellion: DIR. Merriman. who was then
and for years past had been the liking
bec' among those .schess players" of
the State; w. l.. Gookins, a young jew
eler, who is still in the same bust
ness and now living at Oak Park,
ILL.,, and the usual contingent Of
society ever to be found around .
cheerful fire in popular store. Merri-
man was talking, and the subject was
chess. With open mouth and itching
ear the crowd listened to the skiing
bees" exposition of the game. mentally
banking his money on the prophecies Of
Merriman as to the outcome of the in.
ternationa! contests. Suddenly the door
opened and in stepped man whose APP
pearance was remarkable. All present
had seen him on the streets of Spring
field, but none knew who he was. He
was six feet four inches tall, Straight as
an arrow with military bearing that
made his immense height appear even
greater, sabre-scars across the forehead,
cheek and neck, high cheek-bones, side
whiskers clipped close after the mill
tary fashion, surrounding his whole
bearing the appearance of great age not
| withstsnding his warlike form. and
| GROWING all nose-well, such nose
| as the world has not seen since the days
of that old Roman
who had a nose both strong and stout
With sense enough to push 1t out
His entrance but momentarily stopped
the speech of Merriman, who, by the
way, was fine player and deserved the
reputation he enjoyed. When Merri.
man finished the keen eyes OF the old
fellow twinkled, and, rising to his full
height, he stalked over to Merriman,
and raising his long arm toward the
ceiling he said: "Comrade. you do not
know the first principles of chess. TIC
prove what | say, if you will come over
| to the American House tomorrow night
and come to room II will teach you Z
few moves in the game of which yoI
never dreamed" Adding for MerrimaI
to bring his friends, he departed. The
boys chafed Merriman over the insult,
but finally prevailed upon him to g
over and meet the mysterious soldier
Accordingly the next night all repaired
to room II, and Merriman sat down t.
the game with blood in his eye. TIL.
old fellow, however, checkmated hin
before he had time to collect hi
thoughts. and in five consecutive game
never allowed him to make more thar
seven moves. Merriman acknowledged
his total defeat, and, rising to his feet
said: II would like to know whom
have the honor to address," The oil,
fellow quietly said: II am Teminoski
chief Of the body-guard to Napoleon
Every battle the great chief fought wa
planned on the chess-board and / wa
his chosen antagonist
learned these facts from an eye-wit
ness, and can further corroborate then
in that my grandfather, who knew thi
old warrior we'll and had entertaine
him at his house, says he was in Spring
field, ILL.,, in lS53.-Chicago Tribune.
The grizzly must 60: Old hunter
of the West estimate that not more tina
100 grizzly bears. large and small, ar
left alive In this country, and it is ev
dent that "Old Reuben" has to ste
, down and out before many moons hav
passed. Probably all will go in bunc
, next summer, when the store clerks {
Detroit get vacation. -Detroit Ere
. Press.
The orderly mother. with walkin
. baby in the house, has a place for ever
, fhinU--api the ha hv knows whera il Ii