Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1937-01-17
BY PAUL J. MILLER, JK.,
Americas Authority on Social Chess

- REATEST Intellectual Of
Colonial America"-that
is my personal opinion Of
the versatile and learned
Benjamin Franklin, one of the mental
marvels Of the riotous eighteenth CEN
fury, and January II Is his birthday
anniversary.
BY odd coincidence your columnist
celebrates January II as his birthday.
And the only thing Benjamin and
have in common is our mutual love for
chess.
Eight years ago-January II, 1893
Chi Eta Sigma. the Phi Beta Kappa"
honorary fraternity for chess players,
scholars and patrons Of the game. was
founded at Mississippi Agricultural
and Mechanical College (now Missis-
sippi state College,, the largest insti-
tuition Of higher learning In the State
of Mississippi. II the honor chess So
ciety has patron saint or godfather,
then the beloved Benjamin Franklin,
author of the delightful and entertain
ing brochure, Morals OF Chess" is
pre-eminent and he must share Olym-
pia with the fair danlsel, Caissa,
mythical goddess Of chess.
Morals Of Chess"
By DIR. BENJAMIN FRANKLIN.
AZ early at 1879. 1t is thought
that DR.. Franklin, who first
publicly tostered chess In the
United States, tCrote this unique
essay. 1t has been reprinted
many times. 1t has been trans
lated into countless languages.
Because OF its distinct value in
defining Uhdt cdu chess
courtesy" 1t k presented for
the perusdl OF chess lovers
eUery,Ghere.
PLAYING at chess is the most an
cient and most universal game
known among men; for its original Is
beyond the memory of history and it
has, for numberless ages. been the
amusement Of all the civilized nations
of Asia. the Persians. the Indians, and
the Chinese. Europe has had 1t
above thousand years; the Span
iards have spread it over their part
Of America. and it begins lately to
make its appearance in these States.
1t is so interesting in itself. as not
to need the view Of gain to induce
engaging in it; and thence it is never
played for money. Those, therefore,
who have leisure for such diversions,
cannot find one that is more innocent;
and the following piece, written with
a view to correct (among few young
| fr!ends) some little improprieties in
/ the practice Of it. shows. at the same
time, that it may. in its effects on
the mind, be not merely innocent, but
advantageous. to the vanquished as
we'll as the victor.
The game of chess il not merely an
idle amusement. Several very val
liable qualities Of the mind, useful in
the course Of human life. are to be
acquired or strengthened by it. so as
to become habits, ready on all occa-
slons. For life is a kind of chess, in
which We have often points to gain,
and competitors or adversaries TO con-
| NNHAN "A0AA' oAAA AL WAAAIll liICIC 10 n
vast variety OF good and i'll events.
that are, in some degree, the effects of
prudence or the want of it. BY play
ing at chess. then, we may learn,
Foresight, which looks a little into
futurity, and considers the conse-
quences that may attend an action:
for it is continually occurring to the
player, IF I move this piece what
| will be the advantage of my new
| situation? What use can my ad-
versary make Of 1t to annoy me :?
What other moves can make to sup
port it. and to defend myself from
his attacks?"
II.
Circumspection. which surveys the
whole chess board, or scene of action,
the relations Of the several pieces and
situations, the dangers they are re-
spectively exposed to. the several pos
sibilities Of their aiding each other,
the probabilities that the adversary
may make this or that move, and at