The Westminster Papers.

1st OCTOBER, 1878.

THE CHESS WORLD.

"The whisperings of our petty burgh."

CAPTAIN MACKENZIE, the American Chess champion, sailed for New York on the 18th instant, bearing with him the esteem and hearty good wishes of every Chess player with whom he has been associated during his visit to Europe. On the 14th instant he was entertained at dinner by Mr. H. F. Gastineau, who, with his accustomed hospitality, anticipated and also represented the desire of the Committee and the leading members of the City Chess Club to speed the parting guest in good old English fashion. A select number of the champion's friends were invited, and among those present on the occasion were the Rev. G A. Macdonnell, Drs. Ballard and Jackson, Messrs. Mason (of New York), Mossop, Potter, Duffy, Boden, Dick, Cubison, Gümpel, Manning, Murton, Clarke, Livermore, and H. E. Bird. The toast of "American Chess and its Representative "was proposed in suitable terms by the host, Mr. Gastineau, and received with enthusiasm-speedily developed into "musical honours "-Captain Mackenzie responding in a speech that was epigrammatic in directness and beauty, and soldierly in its manifest sincerity. There were other toasts and many-even manysided—“ sentiments," as the old writers expressed it, among the former being the WESTMINSTER PAPERS, proposed by Mr. Boden, who eulogised ourselves and our staff, giving special praise to the "Unequalled accuracy and despatch with which the games played in the Paris tourney were set before the public." (Praise from Sir Hubert, good sirs). One of the most interesting speeches of the evening was delivered by Mr. Cubison. It was notable alike for its matter and manner, and doubly so from the poetic tribute to the guest of the occasion which marked its peroration. We have the permission of Mr. Cubison to publish his verses, omitting two, in which the author, with Homeric facility, recited the names of all the competitors in the Paris tournament and some of their achievements. Our excuse for adopting this course is that the Paris tournament in general would now be a twice-told tale, tedious in the hearing. The following are Mr. Cubison's verses :

MACKENZIE We welcome, returned from the West,
The Stars and the Stripes, his Chess prowess attest;
And though many rivals by him were o'erthrown,
These rivals his skill and his courtesy own.
So gentle in peace, and so daring in war,
We hail him, descendant of young Lochinvar.

The contest began, but what need to recall
How some left the saddle, and some got the fall;
How Winawer long ran ahead in the race,
And some knew disaster, but none knew disgrace,
For each man fought fairly, and there is no sin,
Though sorrow there must be, in failing to win.
Throughout that long fight, our bold Scot held his own;
By weaker hands sometimes, alas! overthrown ;
But this his great merit will truly attest

With the best in the fight he succeeded the best,
And the two who chief prizes secured in that field,
Were forced to his vigorous onslaught to yield.
All hail to the victor well worthy the crown;
Kind thoughts-better fortune-for those stricken down.
Where all do their best in the struggle for fame,
We care not what country the victor may claim,
Yet hope that the laurel one day may be won
By our Guest, and may Scotland be proud of her son.
Comes a voice in reply from the Land of the Leal,
"These contests are better than steel meeting steel,"
And England responds, for we welcome this day

A son of the Heather-too brief is his stay-

And we'll all wish "God speed" on his path o'er the wave To our truehearted Scotchman, "MACKENZIE the brave."

The usual autumn general meeting of the City of London Chess Club took place on the 25th ult. at Mouflet's Hotel, and was very well attended. The president, Mr. R. Clarke, having opened the proceedings with a few appropriate remarks, Mr. H. F. Down moved the formation of a Handicap Tournament, the same to consist of sixty-four entries. He stated that, with the view of taking time by the forelock, he had already commenced receiving the names of intending entrants, and that thirty-three gentlemen had entered themselves, from which he augured that

he should be able to repeat the success of last year. The motion was seconded by Mr. H. J. Webber, and carried unanimously. The election of a handicapping committee was then proceeded with, and the following members were chosen to perform the somewhat delicate task of classifying the various combatants according to their strength, namely, Messrs. Beardsell, Bird, Bussy, Cutler, H. F. Down, Gastineau, W. A. Green, Heywood, Hoare, Potter, Staniforth and Webber. Other subjects were discussed, and the meeting terminated with a vote of thanks to Mr. Clarke for the able manner in which he had presided over the proceedings.

A handicap tournament which has been for some time in progress at the College Chess Club, Little Queen Street, Holborn, has lately been brought to a conclusion by the victory of Mr. W. T. Hearn, who carried off the first honours. There were sixteen combatants, four of them being ladies. A contemporary insinuates, in somewhat of a carping spirit, that if these latter had taken part in the handicapping, perchance a different result might have ensued-a most ungallant innuendo, undoubtedly. Whoever were the handicappers, they had obviously no alternative but to put Mrs. Down in the first class; for, besides having occupied that rank in the previous tourney, when she carried off the first prize, she is undoubtedly one of the strongest players in the club. It appears that Mrs. Down was successful in the first draw, but was unable to give the adjudged odds to Mr. H. Hearn, of the third class, and that gentleman went on afterwards successfully until forced to succumb in the final fight to the superior prowess of Mr. W. T. Hearn, who was also one of the third class players. We are informed that an Even Tourney with twelve entries has now been started at the College Chess Club, and the following are the combatants: Mrs. Down, Misses Hobbs, F. Down, and H. Down; Messrs. Manning, Richardson, W. T. Hearn, H. Hearn, T. Watson, G. Watson, A. Butler, and G. Butler. On this occasion, at any rate, there will be a fair field and no favour, for all the competitors fight on equal terms, and each with every. Not all the ladies expect to carry off the highest honours. On the contrary, there is one of them who has been heard to express the gravest apprehensions lest she should find herself in possession of a "duck's egg." It is understood, however, that she has her eye upon a certain gentleman, to whom she thinks she shall be able to transfer the undesired calcareous trophy. If it should be so, we are somewhat fearful lest that spirit of cruelty which is one of the most marked characteristics of the feminine nature should result in the vanquished enemy being roasted as well as his egg.

The Chess class of the Birkbeck Literary Institution will commence for the season forthwith under the superintendence of its zealous honorary tutor, Mr. H. J. Webber, by whom it has been conducted for the last twelve years. We believe the Birkbeck Institution stands alone in the metropolis in providing the means of obtaining instruction in the game, and Mr. Webber deserves the greatest credit for his lengthened and disinterested labours as a Chess preceptor. It is with much pleasure that we signalize the very interesting fact of a young lady named Miss Rymer having been the winner of the late tourney of the Birkbeck Chess Class, a feat upon which she is the more to be congratulated, because, as we believe, the gentlemen members of the class are always in a large majority.

A meeting of delegates of the Metropolitan Chess Association took place lately at Mouflet's Hotel, but with what result has not transpired. Success has, so far, by no means attended the efforts of the promoters of this new body, for no more than six or seven out of the two dozen Chess Clubs of the metropolis have as yet given in their adhesion. This backwardness is attributed to the fact of a club, instead of an individual, subscription having been resolved upon. It is understood that in most of those clubs which have shewn an unwillingness to join corporately, there are members who would, in their own behalf, gladly support the aims of the Association. Under these circumstances it would seem advisable to revert to the original scheme, by which a small individual subscription was proposed. In any case there is no time to be lost, for the Chess season has now commenced, and the various clubs will soon be too much engrossed with tournaments and matches to be able to divert their attention to an inchoate project. We must say we think it regretable that the long period of leisure which the promoters of the Association have had at their disposal should have proved so barren of results. This could scarcely have been the case had greater energy been shewn by those who have had the matter in hand.

We have been requested to announce that a project is on foot for establishing a Chess Club in connection with the Royal Aquarium at Westminster, provided a sufficient number of gentlemen signify their intention of supporting the proposed association. Names will be received by the Secretary of the Aquarium, Broadway Chambers, Westminster. We venture to suggest to the Secretary of the Royal Aquarium that the degree of support the project will receive will greatly depend upon the constitution of the club, whether its rules and regulations will permit the practice of the game to be made the medium of petty gambling, whether indeed the "project" is devised for the advancement of Chess, or in the interest of a few Chess players.

A correspondent, assuming the nom de plume of “Readable Chess," suggests that published games should be illustrated by diagrams of the positions arising every three or four moves during the progress of the game. Mr. Long, of Dublin, advocated this change in the method of recording games some years ago in this journal, but the question is purely one of cost. Pohlman's edition of Philidor (1819) records the great Frenchman's games in the way proposed, and the book, in consequence, extends to 449 pages. Such a book, even in these days, could not be published without a long list of subscribers, and at a higher price than the general Chess public would be disposed

to pay for any Chess work, unless personally solicited by the unfortunate "author," "compiler," or whatever title the euphemism of the period considers a fit appellation for the individual who might be disposed to devote himself to "Readable Chess." Pohlman's" Chess rendered familiar by tabular demonstrations, &c. " is a very rare work now, but we saw a copy of it on a bookstall in the Market of Newcastle-on-Tyne during a visit to the "Canny toun" in October, 1877. Side by side with it was the 5th volume of the "Transactions of the Royal Irish Academy (1795)," which contained an "Essay in the origin of Chess," by Eyles Irwin, addressed to the Earl of Charlemont. The latter was "Treasure Trove" and-preserved. The former has probably found its way to Mr. Ormond's library by this time.

The "Albion" correspondence Chess Club tourney will be commenced on the 12th November next, and intending competitors should address the Secretary, Mr. J. W. Snelgrove, Chancel End, Heytesbury, Wiltshire. The subscription to this club is four shillings per annum, which, with an entrance fee of one shilling, is payable in advance. The following are the rules of the Association:-Members will be paired by the Manager, who shall be guided by their strength of play. Each Member is requested to make his move and forward it to his opponent within 24 hours. A Competition Tourney shall be held every year, in which only Members of the Club can join. Each player in the Tourney is requested to keep a list of his own and opponent's moves. On the completion of a Tourney game, the winner must communicate immediately with the Manager and forward him a copy of the

moves.

La Stratégie comes this month with a mixture of sweet and bitter, that, if unusual, is by no means unpleasant. Our Paris contemporary, representing the Committee of the late Congress, is disposed to reproach the management of the WESTMINSTER PAPERS for a want of "Delicacy" in publishing more than twenty games per month of those played in the late tournament. Will La Stratégie oblige us by mentioning the person or persons or personages to whom this ascribed want of Delicacy was displayed? Surely not to the public interested in the progress of the tourney and its results, or to the subscribers to the tourney funds, entitled as they were to the earliest information, not alone of the results, but of details, even to the most ridiculous blunders of the most incompetent competitor in the tourney. To whom then has the ascribed want of Delicacy been shown? Does La Stratégie mean to suggest that Chess journalism should be a sort of Commune, and that we are bound to consider and respect the fatuity of contemporaries who desire to "pad" their pages for months to come with games and "intelligence"-bless the mark !-known to everyone interested in the subject of Chess for many months past? _Who, let us ask the Committee of the tourney, will feel the slightest possible interest in the games of the Paris Tournament-per se-eight months hence? When that time comes M. Morel will find that the interest, if any exists at all, will be excited by the reputation or the opinions of the annotators, for the best games must have been filtered through the weekly and monthly Chess press, even at twenty games a month, before he has had an opportunity of addressing a solitary reader. We presented our readers with a flood of news, and leave the filtering process to their leisure.

We are willing also to leave this Delicate question to the decision of the Chess public, and here again arises the question of our time, which is to be considered the object of a Chess writer, the advancement of Chess or the interest of a few Chess players ?

We differ from La Stratégie on this question, but we desire that the difference should be all in honour. We heartily recognise the devotion to Chess, which is and always has been the characteristic of our Paris contemporary, and only ask of him that he will extend to us the consideration that our motives are are pure as his own.

The current number of La Stratégie contains the original of the Essay by M. Delannoy, to which was awarded the first prize in the tournament organised by the Hartford Times, and we note also that La Stratégie proposes a simliar competition and that there is every probability of the suggestion bearing fruit.

From Canada we have intelligence of the progress of the Dominion Chess Asociation Tournament down to the beginning of the past month. Thirteen competitors have entered the lists, each being required to play one game with each of the others, and drawn games to be scored half a point to each side.

The following table shows the score of the competitors, and the number of games yet to be played before the tourney is brought to a conclusion :

The annual dinner of the Dominion Association was held at the Carlton, Montreal, on the 19th ult. Besides friends, there were present of the members of the Club:-Dr. H. A. Howe, the President; Professor Hicks, Vice-President; Messrs. H. Von Bokum, J. Henderson, J. G. Ascher, W. Bond, J. W. Shaw, all of Montreal; and J. White, Quebec. The repast was served up in excellent style by mine host, Martin, and was done full justice to. Then followed the usual loyal and patriotic toasts, Mr. Bond responding to that of the "Governor-General," the patron of the Club, and Mr. White to that of "Our Quebec Friends." Mr. Shaw gracefully referred to the gathering of Scotia's sons that day in manly exercises, in which they so largely excelled amongst other things, and asked Mr. Henderson, as a representative of that nationality, to sing a song of his own composition, which he sang on a similar occasion to the present. Mr. Henderson complied, and sang as follows:—

Brave knights of old, with spurs of gold,
On battle horse in panoply,

In tourney round, or battle ground,
Oft" bit the dust" most gallantly;
So do we yield on Checkered field,
Or proudly our success relate--
The foe was brave, but could not save
His king from final check and mate.

Our royal game, who call it tame,

They do not know its beauties rare;
For in the fight move king and knight

With queens that are both dark and fair,

THE ROYAL GAME.

And where's the man who e'er would ban
The rapture-tongue can ne'er relate-
The joy who'd miss, 'tis almost bliss,
When we announce the smothered mate.

Yet some do hate this pretty mate,
And choose instead a stupid stale;
But none you'll find who hate the kind
That Adam chose in Eden's vale.

Then while we toast and while we boast
Our masters in our sport most rare,
Hold with your checks, here's to the sex-
The best of mates-the lovely fair.

The toasts of "The Ladies," and the health of Professor Hicks, the Vice-president of the Association having been duly honoured, Mr. J. W. Shaw very gracefully proposed the health of the press, coupling with it the Chess department of the New Dominion Monthly. He knew the editor in the person of his courteous, kind hearted, and talented friend Mr. J. G. Ascher, and could not but pay a high compliment to that gentleman for his efforts to extend a knowledge of Chess in this Dominion. His was a department deserving of the highest credit, opening up as it did new problems and miscellaneous matter in general, and so original and so much appreciated were its articles that he had from time to time seen extracts from it quoted in the English papers. One of these articles, entitled "The Chess Tyro" abounded with genuine touches of humour. Mr. Ascher, in reply, while admitting the vast work accomplished by the press, contended that not the least important subject which it handled was the right royal pastime of "Caissa." Indeed Chess players of the present day appreciate the deep interest taken in the game by journalists throughout the world, an interest which bears golden fruit in making the fascinating study of the game popular, and in awakening a desire among the masses generally to become acquainted with a sport which is such an inveterate enemy to the spirit of gambling, and such a true friend to the higher development of the mental faculties. As an instance of the support which the press affords the Royal game he might mention the fact that the late International Tourney at Paris, where less than a dozen men met to measure their Chess skill-certainly they were masters and representative players of the several countries to which they belong-yet the circumstance was thought worthy of cable messages being despatched to all parts of the world wherever the Chess standard is raised. He hoped that these battles-symbolized in this Canadian tournament—where rivalry of skill and laudable ambition are knit with the bonds of friendship, might be the only wars of man against man. Certainly Chess players can claim to being parties-aiders and abettorsto that millennium, to that perfect state of happiness and good will to which, he trusted, the world was fast attaining. In conclusion he asked leave to propose the health of Mr. Shaw, the Chess editor of the Canadian Illustrated News, a position he regretted to learn Mr. Shaw was about to resign in consequence of pressure on his time. Mr. Shaw replied, and referred to his labours in conducting the Chess correspondence department of the Association, relating several interesting and amusing anecdotes in connection therewith.

Many of our elder amateurs of Chess in England will regret to hear of the death of Mr. T. H. Worrall, who a quarter of a century ago was so well known in London Chess circles as "the Mexican Amateur." The following tribute to the deceased gentleman's memory is from the Turf, Field, and Farm :

"Mr. T. H. Worrall, the well-known amateur whose genial countenance has been of late years so familiar to the habitués of our metropolitan Chess resorts, died in this city on Saturday last, at the age of 71 years. Mr. Worrall, many years ago, while residing in Mexico, as British Commissioner for the adjustment of Mexican claims, achieved an enviable reputation for his skill as a Chess-player, being acknowledged the champion player in that country. On removing his residence to New York he at once took a high place in the ranks of our very strongest amateurs-a position which he retained to the last. He was always an enthusiastic Chess-player, never weary of the game; frequently during the last year of his life playing for ten hours at a single sitting. He was a warm friend, a most pleasant and enjoyable companion, with great conversational powers and an inexhaustible

fund of anecdote always at command. In common with all who knew him in his other walks in life, Chess-players will mourn their loss occasioned by his death, and Captain Mackenzie, at his welcome home, will sadly miss one of his warmest and staunchest friends."

OUR PORTRAIT GALLERY.

GEORGE HENRY MACKENZIE.

The American Chess champion, is a scion of an ancient Scottish family, and was born near Aberdeen, on the 24th March, 1837. When about twenty years of age he was gazetted to a commission in the 60th Rifles, and, after serving some years with the colours in India, made his first appearance in the Chess arena in that paradise of the soldier, the gay and festive city of Dublin. At that time (1860) the Dublin Chess Club numbered among its members amateurs whose Chess force was second to none in the provinces. Sir John Blunden and the Rev. Mr. Salmon had not then retired from the practice of the game, and the Rev. Mr. Macdonnell was rapidly developing the qualities which have since placed him amongst the foremost players of our time. Even against competitors such as these the young Lieutenant displayed remarkable Chess power, and the London Tournament of 1862 afforded him an opportunity of pitting himself against the greatest master of the art then in the field, Herr Anderssen. He entered the handicap tourney, receiving from the Prussian champion the odds of pawn and move, and from Messrs. Medley and Deacon the odds of the move only. He won both games of Anderssen, won two and lost one with Mr. Medley, and won two and drew two with Mr. Deacon. Of the fourteen games he played in this tourney he won ten, drew two, and lost two, a score that, it is hardly necessary to say, secured the first prize. In the course of the year 1862 he had played a series of short matches with the Rev. Mr. Macdonnell, the gross score in which showed a majority in favour of the latter. Seven games to four, we believe; but in a match arranged between them, and commenced in the December of that year, Mackenzie carried the victory with a score of six games to three and two draws.

Such of our readers as have attained to the dignity of middle age will recollect that in the Spring and early Summer of 1863, all England watched with bated breath, the struggle between the Northern and Southern States of America, a struggle which, however sorrowful in its course, resulted in conferring the blessing of freedom upon millions of slaves. Whatever may have been the feeling or conduct of the politicians of the period, it was clearly shown at the time that the great heart of the people of England was enlisted on the side of the North, and many a youthful enthusiast from these Islands bore witness to the faith that was in him by yeoman's service in the ranks of the Northern army. Among these was Captain Mackenzie, so that from July 1863, when he left England for America, until the conclusion of the war, he was out of the little world of Chess, and his experience of effigiem belli were merged in the stern reality. In the year 1865 he settled in New York, and becoming a member of the Chess Club in that city, met over the Chess board the best players in the States. From that year his career is an uninterrupted series of victories, presenting such a record indeed, as no player save Morphy can claim to have surpassed. Mr. Mackenzie's victories in America were as follows:

1. Won the first prize in each of the Annual tournaments of the New York Chess club during the years 1865, 1866, 1867, and 1868.

2. Won five games to one draw in a match against Mr. Reichelm of Philadelphia in 1866.

3. Won seven games to two draws in a match against Mr. Reichelm of Philadelphia in 1867.

4. Won the first prize in two tournaments held in the Café Europa, New York, in the years 1868 and 1869.

5. Won the first prize in the Brooklyn Chess Club tournament in the year 1869.

6. Won the first prize in the Second American Chess Congress (Mr. Morphy was the winner in the first), held at Cleveland in December, 1871.

7. Won the first prize in the Third American Chess Congress, held at Chicago in the year 1874.

8. Won the first prize in the Café International Tournament, held in New York in the year 1876, the other prize-winners being second, Mr. Alberoni; third and fourth, a tie between Mr. H. E. Bird and Mr. Mason.

Captain Mackenzie's successes in Paris have been so recently chronicled in these pages, that it is unnecessary to recite them here. Suffice it to say that he defeated the two principal prize bearers, and when, through his ccidental sort of draw with Herr Pitschel, his score was tied with that of Mr. H. E. Bird, he won the two deciding games, and carried off the fourth prize.