The daily morning journal and courier., 1906-07-07

masters whoh ave been unfortunate in
 this way, but the contributory causes have been overlooked.
 Tt would be violation of club pri-
 vacy to tell the names of our regular
 players, but the list would include more
 than one man distinguished for mental
 powers. The late John R. Fellows
 was an active member, and District
 Attorney Jerome, before his election,
 played daily at the club"
 The chess clubs of Second avenue are
 readily accessible to any visitor who is
 seeking a game. AS is said of certain
 poker rooms In the West, they are open games. The reasons i9 that chess players from all parts of the country
 on their visits to the metropolis al
 ways plan a visit to the information re- sorts and look forward to 1t as perhaps t1a most enjoyable incident of first
 trip to New York.
 The resident members are proud of
 their games and ready at all hours to
 give battle to a stranger, for fun or for
 money. The professional will not play
 except on wager, but this is not the only game in which sucr rule exists.
 At one cafe, over coffee and German cakes, the peighbor addressed entered into a spluttering and vigorous denial of the insanity suggestion. He capped the eulogy of the mental expertness of the present day players by a reference
 to some famous amateurs of the past.
 It is not enough that Napoleon had always a chessboard with him on the great campaign?" this speaker asked. Was not the game his solace at St. Helena? Your philosopher Franklin was one of the greates chess amateurs of his time. He was written that chess was an aid to him in the study of lang uages in this way: The stake with a friend was always that the loser should eXpound and explain lesson in what ever language they were then studying together, the relaxation being pleas ant aid to their linguistic advance ment."
 Buckle, the historian of civilization, was a master of chess. Travelling in Italy and Greece, 1t was his pleasure to mingle with the natives at the wine shops and to take on matches for small stakes with the most expert players. After the overcoming of local cham pion, the professor would pocket the gains with much glee.
 The sons of those sunny climes who gather in the gaudily decorated con fectionery shops near Grand and Bax- +ar z+rao+e ,,ot,, ,,Iov da,r,inoec in ,orafar- ence to chess; but Buckle, could he re- turn from the shades to pay a sportive visit to Second avenue, could get action, as the sporting phrase goes, very quick ly in a chess match for money. Should he leave a winner tradition of the chess colony would be shattered,
 Among the reputable chess clubs and cafes of Second avenue are several in which the open games are not such as a stranger would be wise In joining. In one dingy place there are long haired and shabbily clad masters who will play for stakes of a nickel, and, should the game by any chance go against them, cheat in the most glaring way to gain the small sum that to them may mean a meal.
 There are establishments, too of the 1 ornate in fittings, where chess is play | ed at the two or three tables nearest to | the entrance, in full view of a passer- | by The players are keen faced and dispuay much jewelry but matches | themselves are of perfunv- tory sort.
 They have always watchful eye on the door and the longers at the other | tables, who become very intent on | their papers when 8 stranger enters, | suggest the cappers of a brace faro ! bank. Their occupation is, indeed, a similar one.
 The sightseer, manifestly, may not | walk in boldly and announce that he l wants a match at chess, Instead he will | take a seat and order something, while | taking first look.
 Now the quiet man, who bids him | goodday in the foreign manner, or who | passes the newspaper is readily accept i ed as a table acquaintance. Very soon | chess becomes the topic, and, if conf- dent of his strength to one of the mast | CTS at front table, but If he Is modest | pr admits an inferior game, To! by a 1 fortunate chance the table acquaintance { Is a player of exactly the same class and little side match is very soon ar ranged.
 Whether a bold or modest amateur, | there is but one ending to the matches; the stranger has been welcomed and | they take him in. At the better sort l of clubs the games are fair and the | will meet with brilliant and de- ighful opponents.
 The rocks of the avenue are far from ] being of unsound mind, but in the | greed for gain one may not say as ] much for their moral sense. The habit | of playing for money, however, is as | well established at the best clubs as in | he shoddy cafes. This aspect is treated | In a matter of course way.
 q have had busy day, announced l caller as he greeted his friends at one 1f the best clubs. "Got over to Brooklyn at noon, sold $20000 worth of goods be- lore ? o'clock and won S1O from Billy l Pawn before o'clock at the Brooklyn Chess Club"
 There are chess rooms at the New York Athletic Club and the Republican Club, and probably there are chess players in every city club, although to keep a board and set of pieces is ample ,nought provision for their needs.
 The roaming of non-player among he city haunts of chess players does lot gather any testimony in support of he notion that the game tends toward