Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1910-06-17
The Cane Of War and
the Game Of Chess
BY SADIE MARSH
Copyright. 1910. hy American Press
Association

JAPANESE nNNN lAR ihlENtt NieEtlt"liailg
and numerically nation OF Europe.
ono Of The Japanese leaders OF the
instruction against the emperor OF
japan 10 1873 'yas Count Enlgo The
rorolt was failure. and toward the
cleso tine count was shut up IN his
foriross TIE enemy slowly but surely
mrruandlng It and cutting OF every
tvuauc Of Cscnpe AZ last Il WAS cyi
dcnt 10 no count that tho capture OF
/ mis- castle WAS but O question Of time.
and ho know that when that time camc
/ bis head would be stricken from his
/ body. Then tho leader retired TO the
LIVING rooms with party Of bis mos
/ inNmato associates and, calling for his
chessboard sat down for game
/ lie had played but a few minutes
Whom O messenger from one Of his
| licu,enunts came hurpying IN with the
news lhai the enemy bad captured an
Important outpost The count simpl
bowed his head 70 lndicase that he had
/ beard the message and t"derstood th'
/ situation: then he went ON with TIE
game
There were number Of lookers-oi
criticisiug the play rallying the play
ers when bad move was made. chat
ing one mother. laughing, gossipins
evidently unmindful that an enemy
was closing in upon them. and when
the castle was captured many If noi
all Of them would be put to the sword
] I'm
important battle going on outside
Count Salgos King was gradually be
4 ing driven into n corner.
Check" said his adversary.
| The count took one Of his advcr
sarys unimpouant pieces. thus delay
ing temporarily the final catastrophe.
Another messenger came in ana
said
"Thc enemy have captured the round
tower Of the west angle This puts
him On possession Of the angle. and he
Is now scaling the inner wall with
ladders"
Again the count nodded his head po
uely 10 indicate that he had hearc
and that the messenger might consider
himself disms ed Then. dropping his
eyes AGAIN upon the chessboard. he
said quietly:
Your move"
His adversary replied by taking ono
of Count Saigos castles.
So the game went on. In different
parts Of the room groups were anus
ing themselves. chatting. telling sto
ries. laughing No one entering the
apartment without knowledge of ia,
/ enemy's presence without would have
dreamed that those men were heinc
gradually closed i'm upon and that
within short time, the heads Of most
Of them would be rolling ON the
/ ground
The enemy have scaled the outer
walls on the east and are pouring
down into the moat They will soon
be on the inner wall. from which they
may drop into The court"
This was the report Of the third mes
senger The count gave him the same
imperturhable dismissal this time with
his hand ON his knight while studying
whether To make a move with IL.
"A check he said as he took up his
piece and put il down in another
square
"rhe enemy are dropping into the
court NJ the west angle" said another
messenger. "but our men are making
coed light there"
The counts opponent moved out of
check. leaving his adversary in worse
position than before. From this point
the counts king was being gradually
surrounded. and an expert at chess
could see sure defeat in given
number Of moves. The game interest.
cd the players and the lookers-on; but
Judging from appearances. that dread
ful game outside was OF no Importance
TO them And yet they knew that in
given number Of successive moves
sure to como they would be at the
mercy of their enemies, and for rebels
there was no mercy.
THE enemy are climbing the walls
In every direction cried the last mes
senger who was destined to carry
news OF the successes Of the emperor's
troops.
A checkmate for Count Saigo wa.
sure to occur within two moves. They
were made and the game was finished
Rising. the count said.
Gentlemen. now it is time"
Those about waited I'm Difference e
their leader, who said to one standing
5 beside him:
My sword bearer"
There was a pause in the converse
ton. The iests. the laughter every
sound within the room, ceased. With
ont the yells of the enemy, breaking
through opposing obstacles, were louC
and fierce. Not man inside moved
not a countenance displayed any agita
ton. All waited respectfully for thei
leader to take such action as he deem
ed proper.
Then the sword bearer appeared, an'
all understood what the counts actor
would he, In low tone he instructed
the sword bearer to do the work which
j.. unless done by his own order. woul,
i surely be done by that of the leader
Of the victorious troops. The coun
s kneeled. clasping his hands behind hi
q sack. Every one understood what wa
4 about to be done. but there was n
protest. no suggestion that such
course might be avoidable.
III