Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-05-30
THE CLOSE OF wYLLIE's TOUR.


On March %, Mr.. wyllie paid visit to the
Collingwood Draughts Club where he played
nine games, of which he won seven. The
other two were drawn. On the Tuesday,
Wednesday and Thursday he gave exhibit
tions al the Fitzroy Town Hail. all of which
were well attended. His score was % wins
and one draw, out of total. of 20 games
played. On the Saturday evening Mr.. Wyllie
attended, by invitation, at the clubrOom of
the Melbourne Draughts Club, where several
of the leading draughts players of tho city
were present to meet him. In the absence
of Mr.. Marshall, the president of the club,
Mr.. Harlin said that he had been requested
by the committee to present Mr.. Wyllie with
a small souvenir of his visit to Australia. He
arrived in Melbourne close on four years ago,
coming from Scotland in response to an mvi-
tation from the Melbourne Draughts Club.
1t had been anticipated that his coming
to Australia would have great effect in
stimulating the practice of the game OF
draughts. That anticipation had been fully
realized. He had played over II, 900 games,
and the results were to be seen both in the
improved play of those who had faced him
across the board and in the establishment of
several new draughts columns, most of
which have probably come to stay. 1t was
fitting then, that the club which had in
vited Mr.. Wyllie to visit Australia should
purchased from the club funds, and which,
though intrinsically of no great value would
serve to remind him in years to come both
of the friends whom he had made in Aus
colonies had done all that had been antici-
pated for the encouragement of the game of
draughts. The souvenir was gold cross,
bearing suitable inscription, and intended
to be attached to Mr.. Wyllie's watchcbain.
Mr.. Harlin expressed the hope that MI
Wyllie might live to wear it for many years,
and that good fortune might attend him in
the event of his visiting America to defend
his right to the title of draughts champion
of the world.
In his speech in reply, Mr.. Wyllie said he
f3ad 80 l-r,0x t1foG 1f
those who had invited him to come to Aus
tralia had been realized. 1t was now his in
tention to go to London, after staying in
Adelaide for q few weeks: and to hold HIM
self in readiness to proceed to America as
soon as definite arrangements had been
made for the several matches that had been
so much talked about. He looked forward
to having to fight very hard battles indeed
in order to defend his title. AT the same
time he was reasonably hopeful as to the re-
suit, because he knew that he had improved
in his knowledge of the game of draughts
during his stay in Australia, and felt that he
was now able to play better than he mad
ever before done in his life. His visit to
Australia had been O great financial success,
and he was looking forward to coming back
to the colonies in the course of a few years,
when, in the event of his bringing the cham
pionship title with him, some Australian
player would have the chance of depriving
him of it. Meanwhile, he was glad to know
that he had made many friends N Austria
liz; and he would always value the gift that
had been presented TO nlln as an evidence Oh
the kindly feelings that were entertained
toward him by the Melbourne Draughts
Club.
Mr.. Houston, late of New Zealand, now of
Victoria, then said that he believed that he
was on more intimate terms Within Wyllie
than anyone else south of the Line. He had
especial opportunities therefore for knowing
exactly how Mr.. Wyllie felt: and he could
assure the gentlemen present that Mr.. Wyllie
valued the friendship of the draughts-
players of Melbourne more than anything
else in Australia. On Mr.. Wyllie's behalf, he
rendered to Mr. james Paterson, Mr.. F.
Brown, Mr.. j. NJ. Ferguson, MIR. w. Mather,
and to the other members of the Melbourne
Draughts Club sincere thanks for the kind
nesses he had received at their hands. MI.
D. r. Hay claimed for New Zealand that the
draughts-players of that colony had shown
most desire to take full advantage of oppor-
tunities for meeting Mr.. Wyllie across the
board, and had done most to contribute to
the financial success which Mr.. Wyllie had
mentioned. Mr.. Locke, of Tasmania, briefly
expressed his regret that, though there had
been some idea of inducing Mr.. Wyllie to
visit the island, the idea had been abandoned;
and Mr.. Brown and Mr.. Paterson both added
a few words in reference to the improvements
in play that had resulted in every draughts
circle which Mr.. Wyllie had been invited to
visit The proceedings then terminated
AHSt1-1LQSidTl.