The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1893-12-02
THE QUEEN CHESS PLAYER.
Mrs. j. w. ShovaIter, Wife of the
hampi of Americn.
F.. Ives. in New York Recorder

Alice f. Ives. in New York Recorder.
The greatest woman chess player in
America is here in New York, and is stop
ping for the present at 80 West Fourteenth
street.
She is a typical Kentucky woman from
Georgetown, the heart of the Blue Grass
region, where beautiful girls and highbred
horses do most abound. A woman who can
play a great game of chess is a rara avis.
This American queen of the chess players
Is the wife of Mr.. j. w. ~Showalter, the
champion. She is only twenty-five years of
abundant golden-brown hair, large full vio-
let blue eyes, and a charming peachblow
"a man who can play a great game
of chess can maneuver an army" it has
been said; If that is so. then here is a
over our amaZement at what a woman can
do in this last decade of the century, we
next great war.
Mrs. Showalter would make a very fetch
ing officer, since she can ride like a Cen
taur, anu handle a gun with the aim of a
Western scout.
At Kokomo, Ind, where the match was
played between Mr.. ~Showalter and Mr..
Emanuel Lasker not long ago, Mrs. Sho-
walter played with Mr., c. o.. Seckson, the
champion of Indiana. The first game lasted
between two and three hours, and resulted
in a draw. In the afternoon Mr.. Jackson
was anxious to play another game. In this
Mrs. Showalter checkmated him in twenty
moves. She won the third and fourth
games also from the Indiana champion.
How long have you been playing chess?'
was asked of the chess queen, as she sat
frollicking with a gray and white kitten in
her coy parlor.
"Oh, about six years. was the answer.
81 was married at sixteen. and as my hus-
asked him to teach me. He began by CIV
ing me the odds OF a queen, and as I
learned quite rapidly he played the game
with me a good DEAL"
Does he give you odds, now?"
"He can't give me the odds of a knight
and win the game, though with the odds
of a pawn and two moves 1 cannot beat
Now, really" added Mrs. showalter.
very modestly, II don't think / play a good
enough game TO have anything said about
me. 1 don't know how L do it. have very
few theories about openings and such
things, and 1 have never studied books on
Il played at the international tournament
held here at the Manhattan and Brooklyn
Clubs, and was matched against Mr.;
him. The game was drawn. A good many
people watched that game"
Docs it annoy you to have so many look
YES. it does. 1 have not played enough
publicly to get over a feeling Of nervous
ness when several are watching"
Il am playing now with Mr.. Lasker, who
is to be matched against Mr.. Steinitz here
in New York in Jantiary: for the champion
ship of the world. Air. Steinitz has had that
honor for a quarter of a century. but is now
getting to be an old man. Mr.. Laskar is
only about twenty-four, and comes from
Berlin, where he was the champion of Ger
many. He took the first prize In the inter
national tournament, and did not lose one
game.
Mr.. Laskar gives me the odds OF one
knight, and we have played four games. j
lost the first and fourth, and won the sec
ond and third. About four years ago |
played a game with Mr.. Lipshitz, he giving
me the odds of a rock. and ] won"
Are you ever taken unawares-that is,
do you ever lose a piece when you are
not expecting itg"
Every seldom. | did. though. in that first
game with Mr.. Laskar. L am very much
ashamed of il. ] suppose 1 was rather
nervous at playing with such n champion,
and lost my head n little. Early in the
game, about the fifth or sixth move. he
CAPTURED a knight in that way. so then 1
had lost my odds, and we were evenly
matched"
Have you any special openings OF which
you were found?'
None in particular. l have to take nv
cue from my opponent, and, as l generally
play with those who give me odds. they
have the opening move. j ike the knights
defense. though, when i can possibly play
1t. When / begin with the kings pawn /
generally bring the knights out in the
next moves"
(which can you use to best advantage,
knights or bishops?"
Il like my bishops best. especially when
can have them both. They sweep such
files, you see"
DO you bring your queen out early in
the gamer"
Never; though I like to have the other
pieces out where | can work with them
like a good open field. Ii l am hemmed
In | can DO nothing. Give me an open
game and the odds of a knight. and L can
but really you must not say / said that
l don't want 10 brag." and the pretty
cheeks grew a shade roster as the little
chess queen looked modestly down.
do you find many good chess players
among women"
"oh. no. indeed. I find very few wpmen