Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-06-17
Small Contributions, Large Resul
CHESS PLAYING,
Figures and Ideas About the Game
s.,. That Are Interesting.

r .... That Are Interesting.
From the Los Angeles Times =
Chess has the reputation of being an in
teilectual game, and played in moderation
II IS also real recreation. An authority
says or 1t that 1t recreates not so much by
way OF amusement. properly termed, 'as
ty taking possession of the mental facul-
ties and dtverting them from their accus-
TONED grooves. Anyone who knows what
1t Is to have mind worried by business or
harrassed by care of any description can
Understand the value of a pastime which
can do that J. Arnold Green protests
against the popular idea that it takes a
lifetime TO learn chess. AS he puts it, a
lifetime Is iii reality much too short to
learn the game perfectly, but, fortunately
perfection is not necessary for enjoyment
i'll any walk of life. The moves can be
easily grasped in half an hour, and after
weeks practice any intelligent learner
will be able to play game good enough to
afford him pleasure. He will by that time
also see something of the possibilities of
the game, and if he be ambitious, his play
Will improve by leaps and bounds. Count
less hours of the keenest enjoyment are
then in store for him. and happy indeed
is the man who can find his recreation in
the finest and most intellectual of games"
One unquestionable recommended ton of the
game is its infinite variety. 1t has been
computed that there are 31S, 979, 564 600 pos
sible ways of playing the first four moves
on each side. A calculation as to the num-
Der OF ways of playing the first ten moves
On either side, less than one-third of an
ordinary game, yields a modest total of
thirty figures, which would convey MOTH
ing but bewilderment to the average
mind. To further suggest their signif-
canoe, Mr.. Green says: Taking the pop
ulation of the world twenty years ago as
1,4S,OOOWO, more than 217, 0OO0O0.000 Of
years would be needed to go through them
H.. m al
on the face of the globe played without
cessation at the rate of ono set of ten
moves per minute. Further comment on
the inexhaustibilty of the game is super
huous.' great many international
matches are now played by cable. wire
connected with the cable is brought into
the room where the players seated.
Each player declares his move as he makes
1t on his board and this move Is forthwith
transmitted and made known to the OPP
posing player. who may be on the other
side of the world, on whose board cor
responding move is made. So rapid Is the
transmission OF the moves that on one oc-
casion during a late match between Ameri-
ca and England, Kotjmore than fifty-five
seconds were necessaryofOr cabling move
and its reply. For shorter distances the
telephone is favorite means Of transmit
ting moves. In a recent match between
the City of LondouiCi and the Yorkshire
Association, whose headquarters were at
Leeds telephone lire connection was made
with both club houses. Tossing for the
move caused much amusement. You
CALL" said London 9'1Ieads!' came the re-
ply from Leeds. But It was tails. Are
you quite sure?' said Leeds. Yes; your
umpire was looking" was the reply. AS
the evening wore on band began playing
in the vicinity of the Yorkshire club,
whereupon a prompt request went over
the wire from London TO have the music
players showed their appreciation of the
courtesy by winning the match.