Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-09-02

Was absolutely lHpOSSlDiC- WCuty
chess masters from the world at large,
gathered in Boston for the annual champ
- ships, unanimously declared it imposs
and unanirnity on any given point is
unusual mental condition for chess masters.
one would concede for instant that it was Wi
the range of human achievement. Some grew re
the face as they argued it, others smiled loftily
were silent, still others dismissed the matter
word as wholly absurd
A casual remark by the distinguished scie
and logician, Professor Augustus S. F. X. Van DIT
provoked the discussion. He had in the
caused bitter disputes by some chance remark
fact, had been once sort of controversial cent?
the sciences. 1t had been due to his modest
nouncement of startling and unorthodox hypc
sis that he had been invited to vacate the cha
philosophy in great university; later that uni
sity had been honored when he accepted its de
of LII. D.
For a score of years educational and scier
institutions of the world had amused themselve
crowding degrees upon him. He had initials
stood for things he couldn't pronounce; deg
from England, Russia, Germany, Italy, Sweden,
Spain These were expressed recognition of
fact that his was the foremost brain in the
sciences. The imprint of his grabbed person.
atty lay heavily on half dozen of its branches.
Finally there came time when argument was
respectfully silent in the face of one of his
conclusions
The remark which had arrayed the chess
masters of the world into so formidable and
unanimous a dissent made by Professor
Van Dusen in the presence of three other men
of standing One of these, DR.. Charles Ebert,
happened to be chess enthusiast.
Chess is a shameless perversion of the
functions of the BRAIN" was Professor Van
Dusens declaration in his perpetualy irritated
voice. Z" 1t is sheer waste of effort, greater
because it is possibly the most difficult of all
fixed abstract problems. Of course logic will
solve it. Logic will solve any problem; not
most of them, but any problem. A thorough
understanding of its rules would enable any
one to defeat your greatest chess players. 1t
would be inevitable, just as inevitable that
two and two make four; not sometimes, but
always. l don't know chess, because l never
do useless things, but l could take few hours
of competent instruction and defeat man who
has devoted his life to it. His mind is cramped;
bound down to the logic of chess. Mine is
not; mine employs logic in its widest scope"
Dr. Ebert shook his head vigorously. 1T
is impossible he asserted.
Nothing is impossible!" snapped the
scientist The human mind can do anything.
1t is all we have to lift us above the brute
creation. For Heavens sake, leave that!"
The aggressive tone, the uncompromising
egotism brought a flush to DR.. Elbert's face.
Professor Van Dusen affected many persons
that way particularly those fellow-savants
who, themselves men of distinction, had ideas
of their own. do you know the purposes of
chess? its countless combinations" asked
Dr. Ebert.
NO" was the grabbed reply; Il know
nothing whatever of the game beyond the
general purpose, which, | understand, is to
certain pieces in certain directions to
stop an opponent from moving his king. Is
that correct?"
Yes" said DR.. Ebert slowly; but l never
heard it stated just that way before"
Then if that is correct | maintain that the