The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1910-06-17
The Game Of War and
the Game Of Chess
BY SADIE MARSH
Copyright. 1910, by American Press
Association.

and numerically nation OF Europe.
One Of the Japanese leaders OF the
insurrection against the emperor Of
Japan In 1873 was Count Saigo. The
revolt was failure, and toward the
close the count was shut up In his
fortress, the enemy slowly but surely
surrounding 1t and cutting Off every
avenue of escape At last 1t was evt-
dent to the count that the capture OF
his castle was but question of time,
and he knew that when that time came
his head would be stricken from his
body Then the leader retired to the
living rooms with party Of his most
intimate associates and. calling for his
chessboard, sat down for game.
He had played but few minutes
when a messenger from one Of his
lieutenants came hurrying in with the
news that the enemy had captured an
important outpost. The count simply
bowed his head to indicate that he had
heard the message and understood the
situation; then he went on with the
game.
There were a number Of lookers-on
criticising the play. rallying the play
ers when bad move was made, chaff
ing one another. laughing, gossiping
evidently unmindful that an enemy
was closing In upon them, and when
the castle was captured many II not
all OF them would be put to the sword.
As If the game stood for that more
important battle going on outside,
Count Saigo's king was gradually be-
ing driven into a corner.
Check" said his adversary
The count took one Of his adver.
sary's unimportant pieces. thus delay.
ing temporarily the final catastrophe.
Another messenger came In and
said:
1.-THE enemy have captured the round
tower of the west angle, This puts
him in possession Of the angle. and he
is now scaling the inner wall with
ladders"
Again the count nodded his head pc.
litely to indicate that he had heard
and that the messenger might consider
himself dismissed. Then, dropping bis
eyes again upon the chessboard. he
said quietly:
your move"
His adversary replied by taking one
Of Cafut Saiuniu paptIae
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 the
enemy's presence without would have
dreamed that these men were being
gradually closed in upon and that
within a 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
imperturbable dismissal this time with
his hand on his knight while studying
whether to make a move with 1t.
"A checkw he said as he took up his
piece and put 1t down In another
square.
"The enemy are dropping into the
court at the west ANGLE said another
messenger. but our men are making
good fight there"
The counts opponent moved out OF
check. leaving his adversary In a worse
position than before. From this point
the counts klag was being gradually
surrounded, and an expert at chess
could see a sure defeat In q given
number of moves. The game interest
ed the players and the lookers-on; but.
judging from appearances, that dread
full game outside was OF no Importance
to them. And yet they knew that IN
q given number of successive moves
sure to come they would be at the
mercy of their enemies. and for rebels
there was no mercy,
"The enemy are climbing the walls
In every directions" cried the last mes
senger who was destined TO carry
news of the successes of the emperor's
troops.
A checkmate for Count Saigo was
sure to occur within two moves. They
We're made and the game was flushed.
Rising. the count said:
Gentlemen, now 1t Is time"
Those about waited In Difference to
their leader, who said to one standing
beside him:
my sword bearer"
There was pause In the CONVERSE
ton. The jests. the laughter. every
sound within the room. ceased. With
out the yells Of the enemy, breaking
through opposing obstacles. were loud
and fierce Not u man Inside moved.
not countenance displayed any agita-
ton. All waited respectfully for their
leader to take such action as he deem
ed proper.
Then the sword bearer appeared, and
all understood what the counts action
would be. In low tone he instructed
the sword bearer to do the work which,
unless done by his own order. would
surely be done by that of the leaders