The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-11-29
CHESS WITH CHING CHANG.
PEOPLE VINO DoN'T COMMIT SUI
eide AFTER THE CANE.

the automatic chess player of tho Eden Musee.
It was not the first time he had played with the
figure. The two were old frionds-or enemies.
They had played dozens Of games. all OF which
Ching Chang had won. It wasn't strange that
tho unsuccessful opponent committed suicide at
last.
As for Ching Chang. players come and players
20, but no never moves his colored wax muscles
and never blinkS his fine glass eyes. He keeps
right on doing business at the old stand. He is
never tempted to suicide. There is no reason
why he should DO. He has checkmated real
kings. lilo has a lively inner consciousness
composed Of wires and wheelsl which assures
him that no can keep right on heating and
c~heckmnting. There's nothing the matter with
his career. No; suicide doesn't tempt him..
or course, they shy up at tho Musee that Ching
Chang did not drive Mr.. b HIT to suicide. They
say that Mr.. Bullitt wanted to prove to his
friends that he was sane and reasonable, and
that therefore be played a few games of chess
before committing tho fatal act. Ability to play
chess is considered by some people TO be proof pos.
tive of sanity. However that may BIO, tho fact
remains that Ching Chang and Mr.. Bullitt had
played many a game OF chess and that Mr.. Bull.
lit always lost.
Ho was by no means tho only regular oppo-
ncnt Of Ching Chang. Tho automston has q
definite clientele. to say nothing OF the scores
Of people who play n casual game with him for
tho sake of the experience. The attendant, q
woman, In charge of tho figure says that many
people come three or four times a week. At
present Ching Ching is honorcd by tho visits of
a number of women who arc taking up chess as
q fad. A good many chess clubs have been
formed by women, and some Of the members 60
to Ching Chang by way Of practice between
times. Rainy. disagreeable days. when tho at
tendance at the Musee Is likely to be light. and
whom shopping and visiting are out Of the
question, arc tho favorite times for these fem
mime visits.
The greater number of tho regular players nro
apparently business men-mcrchants, brokers,
bankers-who seem to regard q game of chess
as a diversion. They drop in late In the after
noon on their way uptown. play a game or two
with Ching Chang, and, according to the at
tendant, go away refreshed and rested, though
beaten. This light and frivolous method Of
diverting ones mind is also popular with out
of-town merchants, who have put in a hard day
at bargaining with the Wholesale dealers. Thoy
break away late in the afternoon and eagerly
HE themselves to the feet Of Ching Chang. who
IL ready to give them all the diversion they
want.
Ching Chang plays checkers rs we'll as chess.
and there Is many a provincial champion who
has found his match in the a~utomaton, much to
the surprise of said champion. The attendant
AoNCo ~ y dh olu jill" " up In0 SJtte
drop in. Ho has beaten everybody up his way
and he's not sure that 1t isn't beneath his dig.
nifty to play with "a burned wax igger.' How
ever, he condescends. He sits down on the
worn office stool reserved for the visiting player
and looks up Mt the mahogany-colored coun-
tenanco of the They both smile.
The visitor smiles because ho is still q little
uncertain about the dignity of the performance.
Ching Chang smiles because-he Is built that
way.
Checkers o. says the attendant, who can
guess the game ninety.nine times out Of q
hundred.
"Un-huh."
The board is set and Ching Chang moves. In
about two minutes the old fellow is pulling his
chin whiskers and cooking his eye up at the
smiling, mahogany-colored face above him.
Five minutes later he is either beaten or is play
ing the game OF his life. only to be defeated in
the end. He tries 1t again. but tho burned
wax lgger" smiles and smiles. and is q winner
still. The attendant says that ono old fellow
played thirty-fvc games before he gave up. He
put In the afternoon and evening at It, only
going out tor his supper. Lately a good many
Chang, and the checker board has been in
pretty constant demand; Last week Judge Nc
tried his fortunes with Ching Chang. The best
he he gould do was to play Two drawn games; in
with the nutomaton. At present there are two
who go there two or three evenings out of the
Although Ching Chang is almost invariably
the winner. his, opponents rarely get angry with
and silent a gentiemanf Hes never makes a
mistake himself. and If his opponent makes one
solemniy and smilingly. When he announces a
check he doesn't utter that unwelcome word.
twice, and is ready for the next conner.
Whilo the reporter was asking tho attendant
y GriyinS o op6sep men men to G" suicide. a number Of PEG,
pie cnme into the room reserved for his automa-
ssSonghh ahdsO nhsf ke %ns q SoS aIsrt, p BIZ h 20 e%adrHTfRR s
young woman with him was evidently his wife.
and; Just as evidently; they We're from tbau out T6 OF
and the chess men were quickly set on the board.
The young man was eont Ghins Him. HIS sd smi,sdg
took one OF his pawnsl lightly between his thumb
The young man followed. and tho first few
moves went rapidly: At about the fifth move
the young man looked quizzically up into the
ruddy, smiling countennnce.
Hes a good one" he remarked.
placed his hat on his head. and big knots stood
slowly than most of Ching C6angE,,s. for players
There Is a time limit of thirty minutes on the
games, but it is not often reached. The game
nent Es"H losing Ing p one by one ne.' precisely the same
pieces, until finally the a%utoratop had king and
Ont pawn. WIlllt his OppOHollL - oiiiy lie hiuBs
and the work was done.
The wife looked very much surprised and eyed
Ching Chang with resentment. The husband
laughed and repeated:
oh, he's pretty good [! I've played with the
fellow that used to be inside Of the figure; a
little Frenchman about so high" indicating a
height of about three feet.
The attendant regarded him scornfully.
"You may see the inside OF the figure" and
she opened n door in Ching Changes back and
another in his breast and showed her hand
through.
oh, that's all right - exclaimed the young
man; but / tell you I've played with the man
that used to be inside. This Is a good one. but
III bet q dollar l can beat him. Do you allow
betting here T.
mo" said the attendant.
"Well. l could do II, / know T. and the young
man and his friends departed.
Its funny, remarked the attendant. "how
people guess ut the secret OF the igur". Lots o.
people come in here Just to try to find out about
1t. Men come with pencil and paper and make
all sorts OF measurements. They think they CAL
figure it out by mathematics calculations. Al
most everybody says: We'll. there arc brains
behind that game The only question Is, Wher,
a. A. lnIn a. G@n.. ~.l- lNaIr ~-.,-