The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-04-09
copyright. 1881

copyright. 1881
he origin OF draughts. or checkers. Is
certain. 1t is conjectured to have pre-
ed chess. OF which 1t is supposed to
the root or source. Upon the prin-
lie that "age is honorable" this rec
ton must be one Of no mean pre-
sions.
is certain that in Egypt, as appears
m the stone and monumental paint
|s, 1t was common under the phara-
1t was played then. as now. with
ces, all OF which on the same board
re alike in size and form. though on
Eerent boards they varied. some be-
small. others large, and rounded at
top or carved into human heads.
kind used by Rameses ii. about
b b. c.. who Is represented on the
lis Of his palace at Thebes playing
|ughts with the ladies of his court or
sehold, resembled small ninepins and
m TO have been about III inches high
circular base with a diameter Of
Z an inch. Some have been found
de Of ivory. ~ inches high and 1h
hes In diameter. with a small knob
the top.
he opposite sets Of pieces were dis
guished sometimes by their color and
Auently by their form. one set being
ck. the other white or red. or one set
ing round and the other fiat tops.
Is not known how the Egyptians
yed the game, though from the posi-
b OF some OF the pieces on the paint
IS II seems that they did not take
kward." as is done in the Polish
ne. The modern Egyptians. who use
ces similar to those in the possess
of their predecessors. play the
he generally as il is done in Europe
America.
y the Greeks the invention OF check
(also spelled chequers). as well as Of
chess and many. other things, was
tically ascribed to Palamedes. one Of
heroes of the Trojan war and the
years siege.
he game is always played on a
ckered board, the same as that for
he United States IL is almost invaria-
called checkers. Draughts Is the fa-
te English term. In France II is lie jeu
lanes c'the game of ladies'D, in It.
dana, and in Germany IL Is capital
into the proper noun Damen. 1t
undoubtedly been source OF recre-
n in Egypt for more than 1000 years.
Egyptian-Arabic name being dameh,
made its appearance in Europe be-
en- three and four centuries ago,
n there was much intercourse be-
EN- southern Europe and the Egyp-
and Syrian ports. In Polish the
lie has, in addition TO that OF DANA,
name OF arcaby. or warcaby, sup
I'd TO be also Of oriental origin.
panish the word ajedrez, applied to
chess and checkers, Is also OF east
derivation and appears to be nearly
valent to the present American
England the white squares are
ed upon. In Scotland and America
black squares are almost invariably
!. Polish draughts is a variety OF
game played not only in Poland, but
thef parts OF the continent OF Eu-
and occasionally in England and
rica. In which the pieces are moved
ard as in the English American
or the game, but In capturing their
nents they move like the k'ngs.
er forward or backward. The kings
he Polish game have the privilc se
assing over the several squares at
time and even over the whole length
he diagonal when no pieces inter
-oE obstruct the move. Polish
ghts is sometimes played with 10
IS on a board. divided into 100
res.
obably the first treatise on the
in Europe was that published in
by M. Mallet, a professor Of
lematlcs, In 1C6S. About a century
William Payne. also a teacher Of
lematics. issued his celebrated IN
iction to the Game OF Draughts"
don, 1867. The work by w. Painter.
led "A Companion For the Draught
er, appeared In 1867. In 1900
VA Sturges published his well
n and able volume. "The Guide to
'ame or Draughts." ]. Sinclair. In
gov. 1892. was the next to appear
the public in book form and was
rst OF the Scottish school OF writ
nd players who have done so much
ppularize a scientific study OF the
me. Then followed ]. Drummond's
edition (Falkirk. 1889 and the
OF w. Hay. in Stirling. the same
In 1Sis Andrew Anderson pub
at Lanark his first treatise, fol-
in 1852 by his celebrated second
pn. Of which later issues are re-
3. with recognized improvements
the unsound or weak plays elimi-
sckers. like chess. has certain
Iings," and their formations are as
IS:
st.-The Ayrshire Lassie."' count
ne play on both sides, is formed by
irst four moves-1i-I5. 24-20. Sill.
ond.-The Bristol is formed by
Est three moyes--11-16, 2i-20 1919.
$ so named In compliment to the
RS OF that city. In England, for
es rendered to Andrew Anderson.
ome. however. has been given by
authors 20 all games proceeding
Blacks first move. ll.fe.
d.--The Gross" IL formed by the
wo moves. ILLS and e3-is. IL In
med because tho second move is