New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1898-01-30
oRNS OF MANHAT-

arms OF MANliAT- VIII e' ,..,.,
TAN CHESS CLUB what the Ma"i'>
has become Nevertheless games are oeine
fought in them each afternoon and evening
Tbcse Chess Club rooms are among the most
charming 70 be found In New York. and surely
tho most picturesque There are four OF them'
and they are built around an oblong centre OF
core. on which a story above. completely smut
off and reached by an artistic iron stairway
the club kitchen is placed Opening from 'ns
hallway are the chess rooms. one lot sepelA
nlaving and sociable non-scientihc gaihes INC
other the quiet ROOM" where smoking Is not
allowed and where the famous players, visitors
and cracks congregate Beyond Is the dihihg-
room which is also used for meeting piace
for the directors and for consultations, ana the
library whose bookshelves bear one OF the M
est if not the finest. working chess libraries III
the world
The Manhattan stands unique among chess
clubs and in these rooms has the finest OK all
chess quarters Nor does Manhattanite poas'
wildly when he says that his club in the last
dozen wears has set the chess pace for this
country and that it's only peer is the Irltsh
Chess Club Yet not even the latter organiza-
ton has such fine quarters as these The CLUB
in its career has proceeded along different lines
from other chess clubs. 1t has not attempted 70
become a club purely Of celebrated players; IL
hoe ctretcbcd ont its arms for chess enthusiasts
overvvhere even # they played but Indifferent
games In consequence on its rolls to-day 'here
are many sorts Of men rich and poor. ola ana
young-the ages Of its members running from
sixteen to ninety-men who are world-famed at
this game and men OF affairs who can hardly
play chess at all. but like to take an occasional
hand at the board
Men Of no thought except chess. poorly on IN
this worlds goods sit over the tables in perfect
community Of interest and on the best OF terms
with ey1uis.tes and men Of substance. Ii is just
because Of these diverse elements, all working
to a common end, that the Manhattan has at
tanned its present success and is now on the top
wave If prosperity. The great players hold up
the technical end. while behind them those OF
lesser ability to whom the game is merely a
pleasant daily incident. make possible the fine
rooms and big contests which occur every win
ter.
Seventeen different nations are represented
among the mcmbers-America. England. Ire
land Germany. France. Austria. Scotland in
Spence. Spain in Martinez. Hungary in Lip
schultz Bohemia in Steinitz. Russia in Brodsky.
Poland in JasnogrOdsky, Holland in Van Golden.
Denmark in Gedalia. Norway in Dahl. Canada
L.. Ascher and India in the Iarsec, Bcramji.
These players Of foreign nationality the
keenost enthusiasts and seldom miss evening
afternoon.
The late afternoon is the time when the casual
players gather in the clubrcoms-Inen II bus
ness many II them white-haired and portly. who
get away from their Offices early just for this
purpose and beardess young fellows. None OF
these play much OF a game chess goes at the
Manhattan In fact they aughingly call them
selves the buffers" and hang with admiration
when their games finished around a board
nanked by two mmovable figures. moving only
after careful thought-men who masters of
the game.
ON the whole the finest players Of America
in this club Showalter. Steinitz. Dclmar
BeramjI and Lipschutz are perhaps the most
notable S;enitz. the master. needs no intro
duction to the public. Demar who for twenty
five years has been one Of Americas leading
players, plays bold and aggressive game brill
liant and based on classic lines. Showalter
stands for the modern masters school, the chess
virtuoso Of the day. a man Of curious openings
ard tricks. Bcramji is not covered by books;
his style Of play is original and unique based on
10 system at all 1t is game more like the
Persian and Indian chess ard is curious TO
watch Lipschttz perhaps the deepest man Of
the club. has cautious game that is strong and
solid IL IS the clubs best analyst
The playing rooms themselves have walls OF
bottle er, N. waxed. which gives to the eye a
lustrci,s, finish Ea n Of these rooms is lit by
great skylight. The walls are broken iecora- !
lively bl a ficzc Of brilliant tiuts md gold. and
above The color Is terra Gotta Just over the |
frieze. q. ind each room. cxterds brass bar
that carries scores Of electric bulbs In the !