Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1896-03-20
PROFESSIONAL CHESS PROFITS.


The Peeuniaxy Rewards Small In view Of
DsDands On the Iatelleet.
Professional chess players, consider
ing the labcrious nature Of their work,
the character Of mind, and the long pre-
parstory study required, are probably as
i'll paid rs any kind Of intellectual
workers. The professional chess player
who earns by bis play more than q de-
cent modest living is highly successful
man. An expert may be hired to run n
chess automaton and play with all
corners at a salary less than some type
writer's earn. There are in all the world
probably less than half hundred high
" skilled professional chess players.
The Hastings convention brought to-
gether 90, and the number was notable
A few professional chess players are
men of means, but for the most part the
passion for the game leads the profess
sional player to put aside material con-
siderations in order to follow his bent.
Some Of the best known players dress
STABILITY and live plainly. The ablest
and most successful usually exc out their
incomes made directly from the game
by writing On chess, discussing prob
lens, and the like. Books ON chess sue
coed one another rapidly, but none has
large sale. They are costly to produce.
and the stereotype plates are of small
value. The aggregate of considerable
prizes offered in chess contests through
out the world amounts in any one year
to only a few thousand dollars, and a
ctnt of I 0nn 80
who far outnumber the professionals,
provide the purses and meet the expenses
of the match games. St. Petersburg is an
important chess center, and there the
travelling expenses Of the professionals
are made up by the local clubs.
Professional chess players are rarely
men of liberal education and usually
men Of one idea Chess has been the di-
version of great and broad minded men,
devoted to one idea. The professional
chess player seems tireless in the pursuit
of the game. One whose duty it was tc
play six hours day with all Corners a,
place Of amusement was accustomed
to follow his day work with two hours
Of laborions study of special chess prob
lens. 1t was this spirit that made Pau
Morphy of New Orleans abandon q
promising career at the bar and cling to
the game until his physician warned
him that he must give it up or lose his
reason.
Famous as chess has long been, there
are comparatively few really skilled
amateurs. and it is impossible to main
tain anywhere very large chess club
One of the largest in the world is in thi.
city, yet it is not large club compared
with other successful clubs formed or
different lines. 1t is almost impossible
in this country to form a large ches.
club on any hut socially democratic
lines. Some of the best amateur ches!
players are mechanics who would fine
the atmosphere of the ordinary socia
club quite uncomfortable. There is /:
strong contingent of good chess player
in the German quarter. They frequen
a locally famous club, lodged III an Ole
house down Second avenue, but known
to chess experts the country over.
There ar, some oddly placed chess ex
perts in remote villages who come t,
New York perhaps once a year, as Il
the chess headquarters of the country
One such man is a bank officer and gen
eral factotum in small border stat
city. Although occupied with thea
sand business details he finds time {,
conduct games by correspondence witt
European experts, TO arrange chess tour
naments and to write upon chess. Whel
he comes to New York, he busies him
self among chess players to the neglec
of all his friends not equally devoted t,
the game.-New York Sun.