Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-12-16
THE GAME OF CHESS
By FREDERIC J. HASKIN.

chess player. invented by Baron Wolf
gang kempel and first exhibited in vi
emma in 1863. This automaton was a half
century wonder. 1t played chess and de-
feated some Of the greatest experts of the
day in nearly every country of Europe.
The figure was made to represent a tur-
baned Turk Learned men wrote thought
full books. in which they tried to solve
the mystery and curious crowds flocked
to see 1t i'll every capital where it was on
display. Frederick the Great became Sc
interested in it that he finally bought il
IN 1883 for 10000 francs. in order to learn
the secret of its operations, which was
that strong chess player was concealed
INSIDE the figure. AS soon as the German
ruled learned the secret he threw the con-
trivance in the attic of his Potsdam cas-
tie. where it remained until Napoleon
came to Berlin in 1906 Then an expert
nechanic refitted it and the emperor OF
ne French was defeated by it.
After this the automaton was taken on
tour of all the European cities for a
*cond time and was brought to the
lifted States in 1926. Here it created a
rore only equaled by that which it
oused when it was first invented. In
ew YORK, Philadelphia and Boston peo-
almost fought to see the mysterious
mixing thing of iron. Newspapers de-
o.ed columns of space to alleged ex-
osures and denials of how it was
forked. The figure was finally destroyed
Dy fire in 1854
Paul Morphy. an American, born in
New Orleans in 1887, is generally re-
sarded as the greatest chess genius
the greatest masters of America, and
then made triumphal tour of all the
chess centerS of Europe. Other great
names in chess history are Philidor.
who Is responsible for the recording of
games, thus leaving to posterity the
wonderful schemes of the greatest
chess minds; Ruy Lopez, the player
who introduced into the game the
"castling the king" feature; DR.. Eman-
uel Lasker, the present worlds cham
pion, and Steinitz, who argued that the
moves made by players are their prop
erty, and that they should not be given
out to the newspapers, but should be
sold at the option of the contestants.
* *
Many intensely interesting and illu-
minating anecdotes have sprung up
around the game which
Chess and is so intimately associ-
Co1umhus ated with the pastimes
of the rulers Of all
ages. The one of greatest interest to
Americans is bit of authentic history
related by fernando del Pulgar, chron-
1cler attached to the court of Ferdi-
nand and Isabella, monarchs of Aragon
and CASTLE. fernando writes from the
celebrated camp before Granada, under
date of February. 1892, saying: eff
Cristovol Colon discovers a new world.
as 1 trust he may. it will come from
the pushing Of pawn at the proper
liIhe. Hernando's story Is substantially
as follows:
Columbus had impressed the queen
with the possibility of his scheme of
discovering new way to India and of
the FEASIBILITY of his theory that the
world was round. But in his offer to
the court of Aragon and CASTLE he had
specified that he would carry the Span
ISM nag into the unknown seas only on
condition that he be made an admiral
and viceroy over the countries which
he might discover. This proposition
to bestow such honors upon a mad
Genoese" was contemptuously dismiss
ed by the king, and Columbus left the
land.
Shortly after his departure Ferdinand
was engaged in a game Of chess with
Fonseca, one of his daily victims AS
usual. Ferdinand quickly gained the
advantage. Then a discussion of Co
!umbus proposition arose. and Queen
Isabella advanced the argument that
no harm could come of promising the
title of admiral and viceroy to Column
bus, for il his venture proved as foolish
as 1t seemed there would be no land
over which the Genoese could be vice.
roy. Ferdinand's attention was taken
from the game mOmentarily, and Fon-
SEGA took advantage of the royal alb
straction to gain the ascendant The
king, upon realizing his dilemma, was
much nettled. Hernandez, who was
watching the game. suddenly realized
that the kings position was not as
desperate as appeared on the surface
He whispered to the queen: IF his
highness play correctly he wins, and
Fonseca cannot outlive four moves"
Isabella leaned over the kings shoul-
der and arrested his arm. saying: DO
you not win, my lord?" Ferdinand
again studied the board, and a smile
daWned on his face. He saw the new
line of attack. Fonseca was check
mated, and the king was now in a
hilarious mood. 1t was the psyche
logical moment. and the queen asked:
Think you, my lord. there can be
wrong in granting this title to the
Genoese?"
after all, little harm can come from
appointing him admiral of the new
seas to be navigated." was the reply.
Hardly had the words been uttered
when a messenger was riding madly
toward the Spanish border with a let
ter for the footSore wanderer. This
letter created Christopher Columbus
admiral of the ocean-sea." And thus
a game of chess had turned the tide,
and America was discovered.
TOmOrrOw-MUSIC TEACHERS, ASSO.