Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1899-02-09
POET CAMPBELL WRITES.
He Is One Of Washington's Leading
Chess Players.

hustle to hold his laurels as chess
player. The letter says;
WASHINGTON, D. c., Jan. 2S.-
This being a bright, warm day, my
mind wanders back to the, sometime,
beautiful Kansas cline. Indeed, my
mind Is there very much where !
spent all but twenty.one years OF my
life. The friends | made, the sur
rouudings which held me so long are
existences and memories which will
never pass out Of my life.
| have avoided writing other than
business letters to people in your To-
cality, thinking the sooner to become
weaued from my very dear western
friends. A mans life is measured by
the lapse Of years and should be as
pure as they are silent when fled.
How many endearing names | could
mention connected with Abilene! But
| will turn from them in mention OF
the beauties OF Washington. As the
village Of MedIield, Mass in which a
portion of my young life was passed.
is among the most charming Of places
to be found, so Washington is the
queen city of the world, for ldeallstlc
realities. In summer, the parks,
ladies and children make it as Fairy
Land. In winter gather here states
men, diplomats, persons from all
parts Of the world.
You may be sure | am seeking I'M
provement, mentally, socially, pro-
gressively, from my surroundings
Nv law office is now in the McGlll
building on G street, 90S, N. W., one
Of the finest and best equipped build
ings in the city. My health has not
been rood. Can recover it, have
every prospect Of becoming estab-
llished in fine law business. have
tried some cases in the highest courts
Of the District, losing none.
As to chess; | have had some o
its honors here, As you will see b.
clipping enclosed, my associates hel'
NV standing as man and chess
player good enough to have recent
elected me vice president OF tn
Washington Chess club. Twenty
eight of us are in an annual ches
tournament for the championship
the club. The paper shows ten game
: won and ten lost 10 my credit. A
this writing have added two NOR
wins to my score. 1t now stand
twelve won and ten lost. When tn
tourney began | was quite unwel
, very much out Of condition OF PLAY
The first five games Of my play
this contest were all losses; sine
that have been giving my opponen'
J some trouble in the score.
The honor Of having been electe
vice president of so old, so strong an
so prominent chess club with :
Young membership thereto (som
thing like one and half years. is
9 mark of which one may speak. "A
torney General Griggs, senators, re-
resentatives may be seen in the room
4 any weekday evening The su
4 roundings are fine, the members ge
tlemen, the game the noblest everliI
vented,
We are to have Mr.. Pillsbury hel
again before long. ! have been IS
= lected as some of the players, worth
: Of board against him."
| believe there are no members
3 the club whom | have not defeat'
h in individual games. Even the ge
y tleman in the lead so far was co
J quered by myself in our former tour
ament game after five and one-h'
}. hours Of play. Still, there are playe
here whom | cannot defeat as yet
hard long play. My health is dra
hack of which ! must be cautious.
With me chess. issa secondary mi
- ter. Books-delight in utterances
!. the great names Of the ages-th'
y fascinate me.
,e Regards to my Abilene friends,
Il JOHN PRESTON CAMPBELL.