Evening star., 1898-10-15

division as imperfect and inaccurate, but
it is our object to write for multitudes who
neither finished chess players nor meta
physicians.
Under the first head. then, we would say
that Mr.. Morphy's invention seems marvel
Gus. He is eminently an attacking player,
and his schemes for harassing his adver-
Sary are various as they are brilliant.
Chess players will understand us when
we say that his assaults remind of the
fiery onslaught of Mr.. Cochrane, but will
bear scrutiny better. And here we may
remark (though conscious that We are tres
passing on other divisions of our subtecD
that Mr.. Morphy's style of play is singular
ly fearleSS-mOre so. we must confess, than
any which we have yet seen opposed TO it,
He is ready. for instance, to give or accept
any of the most critical "gamb.ts,' instead
of confining himself to the safer openings
at present in fashion.
This adds greatly to the spectators pleas
ure. We remember how much disappbint-
ment was caused at the time of Mr. Staun-
tons conflict with NJ. ST. Amant by the
pertinacious refusal of the latter to answer
"k. p. 2'' with *. P. - The American
champion dislikes the anomaly of a "clOse
opening" And well he may; for. secondly,
his great power of analysis tells most in
involved and complicated positions. Aided
by a wonderful knowledge of chess books
and of the recorded games of the best play
ers. he aims (and generally with success
a looking farther forward than his antag
onist's coup d'Oeil can reach. confident that
none of the thousand intermediate varia-
tions has been overlooked. Play q dozen
back games with him, and you will fail to
show him any contingency which he had
not contemplated. Mr.. Morphys tempera-
meut, thirdly, is much in his favor. Look
al him as he plays. You are at first struck
principally by the roomy forehead. clear
eye and fine, well-placed ear; but when you
have observed him long frequently you
discover that he is never Hurried, never
nervous: that defeat does not discourage
nor victory elate him.
Young as he is. he is always calm and
self-possessed. whether in the quiet circle
of the St. Georges Club or in the nOisier
gallery of the Chess Divan, and is, conse-
quently, as sure any player we ever
saw to do his own powers justice under the
mental tension of long match and the
trials of temper which frequently attend
it. We must here record the pleasure with
which we have witnessed the kind friendly
reception given by the English players to
their formidable competitor. and also the
unassumng courtesy which invariably
marks Mr.. Morphy's demeanor.
Fourthfy-A few words under the head
of memory and we have done. Mr.. Nor
ply seems to forget nothing. from the
game which he himself played yesterday to
that which he read in the Chess Chronicle
a year ago. He has more than once puzzled
English players with "dodges'' of their
own invention which they had actually for
gotten. But perhaps his most wonderful
performances have been those in which
gether-we mean games played blindfolded
without sight of the board. Phiidor
played three such games at once success
fully against skillful antagonists. Harr-
witZ has more recently done the same. Mr.
Morphy has played seven simultaneously,
losing only one. and winning the other six.
This is indeed astonishing, but we trust
our ingenious visitor will be content with
having once done the feat As Dr. John
son said of young ladys masterpiece of
lingering the pianoforte. 1T is very
difficult; we wish il were impossible" Sure
we that not even Mr.. Morphy's brain
out injury. a less degree of the same effort
killed La Bourdonnais, and had nearly de-
stroyed Harrwitz. And even could it be
made with impunity, the spectacle is rather
curious than pleasing. We feel sure we
will be pardoned for these remarks They
arise from a sincere wish that he may long
live to practice the art of which he is so
distinguished a professor.