The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1903-08-07
YOUTH MADE INSANE BY CHESS
j. HENRY SMYTHE, JR, HAD
JUST BEATEN A STATE CHAMPION.
Som OF n Philadelphia Clergyman Loses
HIS Mind Over the Gamo-Hhas AfSfc-
tlon Only Temporary, Doctor Says
Would issue Challenges to All.


HIS Mind Over the Game-HHfs AfFaic-
tlon Only Temporary, Doctor Says
Would Issue Challenges to All.
j. Henry Smythe, Jr., son OF the Rev.
j. Henry Smythe, president Of the Sunshine
Publishing Company OF Philadelphia, ana
a well-known missionary worker in the
prisons Of Pennsylvania. was taken Ill in
Syracuse last Saturday while playing IN a
chess tournament and was brought TO this
city by his father on Wednesday. He has
been pronounced temporarily insane by
DR.. Smith Ely Jellif. Of "a West Nfty-eighth
street, who now has him In charge.
Young Smythe, who is not quite 10 years
old, worked on chess problems. according
to his father, until he could think Of nothing
else and his mind gave way under the
strain. As soon as he is well enough he
will be taken to his home in Philadelphia.
to remain until he RECEIVERS his health,
Meanwhile DR.. Smythe and his wife are
at the Hotel Empire.
my son has simply gone crazy over
CHEFS" said DR.. Smythe last night. He
IL the only one Of our family who has any
interest in the game and he has achieved
considerable fame as a player. The re-
suit of his growing reputation has been to
make him apply himself too closely to the
game, and this breakdown was inevitable.
although we didn't expect the boy to 60 out
Of his mind.
"Ths boy began playing chess when he
was 10 years old. He was then pupil at
the Eastburn Academy in Philadelphia
and he was preparing for Princeton. He
Joined the Franklin and the Gambit Chess
clubs Of Philadelphia and has by his skill
attracted a great deal Of attention. Lost
year he was asked to go to Princeton to play
on a team that had challenged the university
team, and he won every game. After that he
applied himself more and more closely to
the game, playing at odd times with such
men as Pillsbury and making n remarkable
showing with them.
He went to Syracuse to play at the Citi-
zens' Club, an invitation having been sent
to him by the chess committee. He went
there last week and at the Sylvan Beach
Club played game with Schweitzer, the
champion of the State, who had just swept
everything before him. To the great
surprise of Schweitzer, the boy beat him.
This was on last Friday night. On Satur-
day night he won another match from
the champion and also bested some less
well-known players.
"On Saturday night his mother got a
| telegram from him in Philadelphia that
| was so incoherent that she made up her
mind that something was wrong. We
started at once for Syracuse, arriving there
| on Sunday afternoon. We found the boy
in very bad shape. He raved over chess and
the games that he had played. He wanted
! to issue challenges to all the great players
in the world.
"We decided to bring him here, and when
he was well enough we came on with him
and he is now in charge of DR.. Jelliffe. DIR
JellifIe says that the trouble is only tempo
rary and that in few days, perhaps on
Saturday. we will be able to take him to
Atlantic City. He hasn't been violent at all
since We got him here, but he keeps trying
to get messages to the newspapers telling
! Of his prowess as q chess player and chal'
| longing the worlds champions"
Young smythe has been working for his
father as superintendent Of agents for the
| Sunshine Publishing Company, which pub
fishes Sunday school books. DR.. Smythe
saws that he was good business man fol
one 30 young, until he got the chess craze
but that now he can think OF nothing but
| the game.