Evening star., 1940-06-23

the official organ Of the once lusty
Western Chess Association.
We find the article to be Of such
merit that extracts are reproduced
here.
Before the days of Romolus and
Remus, before Moses was discov-
cred by Pharoah's daughter, before
Caesar conquered Gaul, the ancient
game Of chess was played. Its
ethics and origin have been ex-
pounded by the savants of every
age and as many nations as babbled
around the Tower Of Babel claim 1t
for their own and arrogate to them
selves the intricate art of this fas-
cinating game, which by its uni
versal language appeals to all ages
and has kept perennially young,
stimulating even the most satiated
and jaded taste.
Few changes have taken place in
the game, but it is known that
Tamerlane played on a board of ITO
squares, while the Hindoos had "a
squares on their board, as we have
today. Four persons took part in
this early game. each using an army
with king, bishop, knight, a rook
or castle and four pawns. The two
opposite players were partners. Its
very name, "Chaturanga," means
-four parts" and it is interesting to
learn that the knight and the rook
were moved as they are at the pres
ent time, their place having been
undisputed for 5000 years.
The element of chance in the
original game impaired a spirit of
gambling, according to the data
obtained from the Sanscript by DR..
Forbes, the great authority on its
antiquity and origin, who finds in
stances in the primeval annals of
India where princes sacrificed their
domains at the chessboard.
1t is said that the Brahmins gave
up the dice, as the element of gam
bling was against their notions of
decorum; and in later times the
bookshelves in the old monasteries
concealed chessboards in the form
of innocent looking volumes, for a
ban was on the game, so that the
holy men were put to it to hide so
valuable paStime, and the solemn
looking tombs held their secret we'll
One of the greatest players of the
Middle Ages was Ruy Lopez, Bishop
Of Toledo. Spain.
Chess likewise was forbidden to all
followers of Allah, as the chessmen
were made in the likeness of an
image. But the faithful were as
clever in chasing the devil from the
board as were their tonsured breth-
ren-the image form of chess was
changed to one without form.
Charlemagne was the recipient of
an elaborately carved set of chess
from the Empress Irene, who
reigned from 797-802. This queen
was evidently in advance of her
time. for feeling that "a queen was
equal to a king in all matters of
state, she had councillor Of the
early Asiatics changed to queen"
showing that women's rights began
at very early period in the worlds
history.
The wizards Of the game have
their names inscribed in the annals
Of fame and have taken their place
side by side with the generals of
genuine warfare. The great Eastern
sovereign Tamerlane was proficient
m both. and his fourth son was
named Shah-Rukh, as he was play
ing his favorite game when the birth
of this son was announced. He
carried his love for the game all
through his life, and his first in
quiry on gaining a battle was to
know If the vanquished excelled in
chess. If so, they were brought to
him and whether they lost or won,
were treated with royal munificence
and sent back to their city with
marks Of the sovereigns favor.
Another even more famous player
was Sassa, man of great learning.