The independent-reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1909-1955, 1912-07-18
Playing Chess;

whats In the box" asked the girl
in pink. The young man with the high
forehead smiled at her I'm going to
teach you chess" be announced. 81
brought over the men,"
why, how perfectly lovely!" cried
the girl In pink, Immediately pulling
of the cover. 81 know I'll be Just
crazy about 1t! Aren't they cunning
I'm glad you're pleased" said the
young man In a gratlfied tone. 81 was
afraid you wouldn't want to learn or
would be bored Few women care
about chess. It's really great
game,"
'"The idea OF not caring about it,"
exclaimed the girl in pink, spreading
out the board II know it's so differ.
ent. Why, the other girls will simply
die of envy when | tell them I can
play chess 1t sounds so inteliec
tuali"
Now, we'll set up the men," an
nounced the young man with the high
forehead.
"Oh, they're not all alike, are
they?" she continued In surprise
How funny l should think tina,
would mix you up dreadfully! DOM
you think 1t would be lots easier te
play II they were all alike? heard
OF man who could play six games
Of chess at once-let's try IT."
The young man coughed. Well,
have men for only one game" he said
Maybe It would be better just at frs,
not to try any morei"
"All right" agreed the girl in pink
cheerfuly. "Only think 1t would b.
loads of fun to have six games at the
same time. Then we could walk
around among them. get awfully
tired sitting still-do you? guess it's
because have nerves. My mother'i
sister"
Now I'll move this one" said the
young man. Then he explained the
moves to her and finally said: 'It'i
your turn"
Il think 1t is perfectly absurd moi
to let them all move alike!" she cried
1T Just mixes you up Is that really
the way you have to play or are yol
just trying to fool me?"
I'm not smart enough to make II
up" said the young man. Men more
brilliant than I invented the moves
hundreds and hundreds of years ago.
Well" said the girl in pink indig
nantly "if they've been playing It sc
long I should think they would hav,
Strengthened 1t out and simplified T.
before now. You move 'em all alike
when you play checkers and you know
what you are doing II this things
queen why isn't there a crown OF
something on 1t, and for these horses
mat turn corners-how perfectly
ridiculoust"
You'll understand 1t after you have
played 1t a WHILE" said the youns
man. I'D move that one to star
with II were you"
"All right" said the girl in pink
I'D rather shoot this one down the
black squares, though. It's so funny
to see II go crisscross instead o
straight ahead"
But you can't" said the young man
Your bishop can't move because tina,
pawn IS In the way"
Il don't think a little pawn ought t.
count when it's a bishop that want,
to get by" said the girl in pink. argu
mentatiYely.
Now I'll move this" said tn,
young man. firmly. you see, 1t threat
ems your queen
i don't see why that is so awful /
said the o'her. ooh you say the
queen Is the most valuable of all be I
cause 1t moves farther and In every
direction? OF. Arthur, I saw Marie
downtown today and what do you sup
pose she told me? You'll be surprised
You'd never guess"
you can't move that way" said tn,
young man. This isn't dominoes OF
checkers-the idea isn't to take al
your opponents mem"
We'll, what IS the idea?" demanded
the young woman. "In checkers 20,
Sy to take EN- and-oh, to checkmat,
the king, you say? Well, I'd like t.
know how I can get anywhere neal
your king when you've got him on tn,
back line with all those other things
stacked up in front of him-you ough
to move en- out What's that thing
A castle? How silly 1t doesn't lool
my more like a castle than | do, I
us a castle. why doesn't it look like
cne?"
I'm afraid" suggested the younf
man, that chess doesn't appeal t.
you! Perhaps we'd better stop play
Ing"
Why, I'm perfectly crazy about it,
insisted the girl In pink. 81 think f.
Is terribly interesting and I'm so glat
I've learned how! And don't see any
sning SO awfully hard about 1t either