Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-08-08
CHECKER ITEMS OF INTEREST.


The 7brf, up to its close, has published
1892 games and many of the games had sew
eral variations and its problems reached the
wonderful number of LILO. Few OF the
checker columns of to-day have reached
that number, If any, under the management
OF one man.
j. T. Denvir, in reply to THE DISPATCH on
the Scottish champions position in the
world as -player: The great Northwest
wonder says there are six superior to Ferrte.
We suppose that there are three OF these 81
In Chicago, and Johnny himself is one OF
them. When Ferrie beat Reed to In six
games, where would the balance in Chicago
be? James Wyllie says that Ferrie and
Freeman are the two next to himself, and he
fears Ferrie the more.
The Sailor on Shore is the title OF an ex-
cellent article In Good Words of May last,
from which we extract the following: "On
my first visit to what may fairly be called
the Sailors Home (sfnce It is the parent OF
all others), peeped into the reading room
lofty, spacious, warm, well-venttlated,
comfortably furnished, brilliantly lighted
chamber; On the mental fare provided for
ing like one.' The low-bent heads, the NOV
ing lips and the stubby forefngers stify
planted on the pages like the outstretched
foreleg of grazing horse, irresistibly sug-
gest the quotation. In the recreation room
down below dimly seen through a mellow
haze of tobacco smoke Smoking only pro-
h1bited in those parts of the building In
which 1t would cause discomfort or danger)
uraught players were studying the next
move as II their life depended upon it; brows
Knitted, eyes 1ntently staring, lips pursed
ana ch1ns resting on arms SO widely
sprawled upon the tables that the upper
portions of the players persons were like
hinge crabs peering above their folded claws.
There were sets Of chessmen also for those
able and disposed to use them; but chess, l
believe, does not find much favor with
Jack. Its various and far-reaching moves
bother him. He calls them wild Steering
whereas the simple slants from square to
square at draughts he considers in accord
ance with the fitness of things. as reminding
him of larboard and starboard tacks.
"DRAUGHTs BOARD"
At headquarters, Home Hotel there have
been several very interesting encounters
with the genial proprietor and one some
thing over six feet, known by his laugh. 1t
is one Of those laughs that is rarely heard
outside of a circus, and only heard to its
fullest extent when his opponent has made
a blunder. The laughing gentleman has an
in the last few encounters he has been sadly
left, scarcely being able to get king with
the proprietor.
R. s. Hynde, writing in Morntrg Rays on
the amusements in East Africa, says:
"They have game which may be said to be
like the game Of draughts. They have q
board with four rows of holes and stones
for the men. If there is no board they SIM
ply make holes in the ground. There are
two players, and the game consists (like
draughts) in one clearing off his enemy's
men by clever moving about. At this they
sit and play for hours" But Mr.. Hynde
need not have gone SO far as Delagoa Bay to
see SO primitive an amusement; it is play ed
every day in Liverpool on the Georges piep-
head.-Mercuvy.
We have a gentleman in Pittsburg who
spoke to us the other day who was along
resident in Liverpool, and who is an excel
lent checker player, said he owed much of
his playing abilities to that same pierhead
and its primitive methods.