The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1936-04-24
AGRICULTURE
CHESS CLUB
FORMED
BY J. EARLE MOSER

executing a Ruy Lopez opening, or
knowing just the proper moment
to "castle," has passed out Of
fashion with many employees Of the
Federal Government, q movement
to bring the ancient game of chess
back to its former popularity is
receiving strong emphasis at the
Department Of Agriculture.
Chess, said to be the Oldest game
in existence, with the possible ex.
ception Of the dice rolling in which
Roman soldiers are said to have
INDUCED before the era Of the
Caesars, once was a highly popu.
lar sport among Federal employees.
During the period from 1880 to
1910 many offices had representa-
tive teams or players who were
skilled in the difficult pastime.
Competition waned, however,
when the war period Speeded the
tempo of the times, and sitting for
hours on end over a chesSboard
became de trop.
Dallas s. Burch, Bureau Of Ami.
NAL Industry editor, is carrying on
q comeback" campaign among
Agriculture employees, however,
that was begun by the late John
Roberts, another Agricul ture
worker, who was well known in
the world of chess.
Supported by e. r. Sheppard
and A. E. Mcclure, Of the Bureau
of Public Roads, and Alex StCrgeS
and A. c. Hoffman, Of Agricul'
tural Economics, Mr.. Burch re.
Gently led his team Of "old-liners"
against q crew Of new agency
chess upstairs that included w.
A. James, Of the Farm Credit Ad'
miniStration, and G. r. Pascal,
George Hervey, E. J. Simmons
and MecislauS Chmielewski, Of
AAA. The old-liners won, 81,
with one game not yet reported.
A percentage tournament has
also been started that attracted
Is entrants from Agriculture and
its related emergency agencies,
and latest results revealed Pas
chal, Of AAA, leading, with Burch
in the runner-up position.
The Aggie chess enthusiasts,
however. would like to see some
activity from other Federal units,
and will be = glad to accept chal-
lenge from them, arrange inter.
office tournaments or act in any
capacity to increase interest in
the game which still has any
modern indoor pastime backed
out Of the picture for skill, men,
tai exercise and thrills as well.
Three years ago the Federal Chess
Club was formed by approximately
20 Federal workers, and thrived
for awhile, but some sort Of in.
ternal decay developed and it
finally dropped to pieces.
POeteSs
Laura I.aurene LeGear, pretty
Waco. Tex, girl, who was one of
the last MIRA workers to leave
the Blue Eagle agency, will have
several Of her poems included in
the forthcoming issue Of Who's
Who in American Poetry. Now
secretary Of the local Poet Lau.
reate League, she contributed
three of her works to the current
issue of Contemporary American
Women Poets. One of them,
Beauty the Beast" follows:
Beauty the Beast came with her calcined
And shook her silver snow upon my
breast;
That held me closer in her crystal jaws.
Who but the Beast Of Beauty put you
could not ferret you with hooded
But beauty shall mot catch me by the
Nor love shall shoe me for the bounded
o Beast. I too have grown q sIlken
Sure that I cannot feel her claws SO
Save me my flight-nOr beauty try her
My heart shall not be easier to fell.
Beware: .. high heart for Beauty is
And none.tOO-happy now. 1 know her
On the Air
Government employees who are
baseball minded will have the OPP
portunity to hear a play-by-play
account of the opening game of
the Government League between
the Bureau of Investigation and
the Police Department tomorrow
afternoon Bill Coyle, crack NBC
sports announcer, who has built
up a great following with his
Sports Parade feature, will "cover"
the game for WMAL. The broad.
cast will begin at 2:3O o'clock.
Town Hall TOnite