The Westminster Papers.

1st MARCH, 1879.

THE CHESS WORLD.

"The whisperings of our petty burgh."

THE metropolitan Chess worldis still active, and many noticeable events either have taken place or are in progress. The City of London Handicap has reached its most interesting stage, and we find that the competitors for the first and second prizes are reduced to six, three being first class players, one a very skilful third-rate, and the other two remarkably strong Rooks. If a fifth-class player should win the first prize, it would be an unprecedented event in the City Club, and for aught we can remember to the contrary anywhere else either, so far as important tourneys are concerned. Such an event seems far from unlikely to happen in the present case, and we do not know that anyone ought to be sorry if it should, for it would be an encouragement to lower class players. Cavillers, especially those who consider that all good things belong of right to strong experts, may say that the gentlemen in question are too strong for their class, but what if they be? it only shows that the handicappers were generous, and generosity to the weak is a quality that should be displayed by all adjusters of odds.

The numerous local Clubs of London-there are nearly thirty of them-have been fighting among themselves vigorously, and particulars of their doings will be found in another page We think no one will deny us the credit of having supported these Associations to the utmost of our power. They deserved to be encouraged, because by that means the scattered units of Chess are gathered together, and a genuine disinterested attachment to the game is spread abroad. At present the common cause is served by them to a great extent unconsciously and, one might almost say, unwillingly. Their aims are altogether local, and their energies consequently run in a very narrow groove. They evince little sympathy with Chess events outside of their own circles. In fact they may be described as a collection of small vestries to whom parochial affairs are more interesting than parliamentary ones. This is very natural, for we are at present in the day of small things, nearly all of these clubs having been established since 1870, and many of them within the last three or four years. As time progresses sympathies will widen, and there will arise a spirit of enlightened curiosity as to what is taking place in the Chess World generally. For that advent we are quite willing to wait patiently, but nevertheless we shall now and then take the liberty of protesting against parochialism.

The members of the royal family have their work to do like other men, and each labours according to his own special vocation. The Heir Apparent undertakes many of the burdens of royalty, and is always to the fore when his presence is required for the encouragement of any charitable or useful purpose. One of his brothers is identified with the element which Britannia is supposed to rule, while another has prepared himself to act as one of England's defenders on land. There remains Her Majesty's youngest son Prince Leopold, and it is evident that he has devoted himself to aiding the progress of Art, Science, and Literature, to encouraging the spread of education and thought, than which no work could be more truly princely. To the community in general Prince Leopold is becoming an object of interest, as one who is undoubtedly both a thinker and a speaker, while in our own particular world he has long been known not only as a Chess-player, but as an amateur sincerely attached to the game. He is, or was, the President of the Oxford University Chess Club, and he is the Patron (a title, by the way, which we very much dislike) of the Lincolnshire Chess Association. It will be remembered that he gave a prize to be competed for at the last meeting of the Association which was held at Grantham. Within the last week or two the Prince has come prominently before the public. With the first occasion, when he made his now celebrated City speech, we have nothing to do, but the second of the two events does concern us a little. We allude to the fifty-fifth anniversary of the Birkbeck Literary and Scientific Institution, the celebration of which was attended by Prince Leopold, who had undertaken to give away the prizes gained by the students of that society. After a few words, in which the Royal visitor expressed his sense of having an agreeable duty to perform, the distribution commenced. There were about 160 prizeholders, and among these we counted twentytwo ladies who presented themselves to receive prizes—a fact which pleased us greatly, and there were, we believe, three or four others not in attendance. All these successful competitors, who were the élite of nearly four thousand students belonging to the Institute, were much applauded when they came to the table; but there were two who came in for specially enthusiastic ovations. One of these was a clever young man, who no doubt fully

deserved his reception, and the other was Miss Louisa Rymer, the winner of the prize for Chess. Here we imagined our particular business at the meeting was at an end, but we were agreeably disappointed; for after the distribution was finished the Prince showed how highly he appreciated Chess by making it the text of perhaps the most felicitous part of a very interesting and thoughtful discourse. His words have been reported in the daily press, but will bear repeating. Having alluded to the subjects taught at the Institution, he went on to say "I notice that in what is called the miscellaneous department of your curriculum you provide instruction in the game of Chess. This is not the most obviously practical of your subjects, but it has struck me that even those, if any there be, who desire to limit their education to this branch alone, may learn some not unimportant lesson of life from the manner in which you teach it. Particular attention,' I see your programme says, 'is paid to the study of openings.' Now, is it not true that in life, as in Chess, it is often the opening, and the opening only, which is under our own control? (Hear.) Later in the game, the plans and wishes of others begin to conflict unpleasantly with our own. Sometimes it is as much as we can do to avoid being checkmated altogether; but for the first few moves we are free-we can deploy our pieces to the best advantage, we can settle on the line of action which best suits our powers, and we sometimes find that it will repay us to sacrifice a pawn or a piece so as to gain at once a position which may give us a decided advantage throughout the whole game. Does not this remind us of early life; must we not often be content to sacrifice some pawn of present pleasure or profit to gain a vantage ground which may help us to that success which self-indulgence would never win? I am sure that amongst the bright young faces I see around me there are many who have known what it is to labour against the grain, to begin a lesson when they would rather have gone to the theatre, to finish it when they would rather have gone to bed. I am sure that such efforts of self-denial and conscientiousness form at least one half of the real benefit of education; that it would do us little good to wake up and find our heads magically stocked with all manner of facts in comparison to the good which it does us to fight for knowledge, to suffer for her, and to make her at last our own." (Cheers.)

Mephisto has removed from the Royal Aquarium, and he now resides in a habitation of his own, the same being situated close to the Charing Cross Railway Station, and henceforth to be known as Mephisto's rooms, No. 9, Strand, W.C. There he has been playing every day from 2 to 10 p.m., and during those hours he will continue to receive his friends. We have paid him one or two visits ourselves, and are able to report that neither in skill nor in celerity of play has he suffered any change for the worse from the removal, while moreover he continues to be as agreeable as ever in his manners. The following particulars, with which the proprietor has favoured us, show that the friend of Faust is not so egotistical as to require the undivided attention of his visitors. Means are provided for general play, there is a good Chess library, and also the current literature of the game, together with other papers, daily, weekly, and monthly. Before every one is satisfied, and especially before the late members of the West End Chess Club can be expected to remain content, there must evidently be a general meeting to confirm the arrangements hereunder specified. This necessity is, we understand, fully recognized by the proprietor of Mephisto's rooms, and he purposes without delay to call the late members together. We subjoin the statement above alluded to :

The Committee of the late West End Chess Club, being convinced of the inutility of attempting the reestablishment of the Club, have disposed of the Club property to the proprietor of Mephisto's Chess Rooms, No. 9 Strand, with the following arrangements for the benefit of the members of the late Club:

1. The tournament of the Knight class, which was left unfinished at the end of September, 1877, will be played out in Mephisto's Rooms, for which purpose tickets of admission, with certain restrictions as to time, will be issued to the nineteen players, viz., Messrs. Archer, Botterill, Busse, Durnstein, Fleet, Girdlestone, Gümpel, Knight, Mackern, Manning, Meyer, Michell, Mills, Parry, Reid, Ryan, Thompson, Shanks, and Waddington, upon their application at No. 9 Strand, where the old scoring-paper will be found posted up.

2. An annual ticket for admission to Mephisto's Rooms, available until January 31st, 1880, will be issued to any one of the members of the late Club, at the price of one guinea-the charge to non-members being one and a half guineas. This virtually offers a continuation of the advantages of the Club.

3. The balance remaining after realising the assets and meeting all liabilities, amounting to about £15, instead of being in any way divided, the committee have decided on offering as a prize or prizes, to be played for by the late members of the club; each entrant to pay a fee of 5s., which sum will be added to the prizes to enlarge them either in amount or in number. So soon as the list of combatants is complete the handicapping committee will make the final arrangements for the contest, of which due notice will be given.

A balance-sheet of the assets and liabilities of the late club is being prepared, and when properly audited will be posted in the rooms.

The late members will find not only a comfortable Chess room, but also the advantages of a Chess library of about 80 volumes for reference, and a reading room provided with the principal newspapers and periodicals. Applications for tickets should be made at Mephisto's Chess Rooms, No. 9, Strand, Charing Cross.

The Annual General Meeting of the members of the City of London Club took place at Mouflet's Hotel, Newgate Street, on the 21st ult., the going-out President, Mr. R. Clarke, in the chair. A report of the year's

doings having been presented on behalf of the Committee, was read by the Secretary and adopted, after which the members proceeded to elect their officers for the forthcoming year. Messrs. Adamson and Lord were chosen as scrutineers of the ballotting, and their return showed the following result:-President, Mr. A. J. Day; Committeemen, Messrs. Atkinson, Block, Earl, Gastineau, W. A. Green, Heywood, Manning, Pizzi, Potter, and Webber. Mr. W. G. Howard was re-elected in his office as Treasurer, and Mr. H. F. Down, with much acclamation, as Secretary, while Mr. R. Clarke was chosen for Vice-President, all which three posts it is the custom at the Club to fill up by open voting. Last year's honorary members were re-elected, and an accession was made to their number in the person of Mr. Mason, who we may remark, en passant, begins to show that the very high opinion formed of him by his American friends previous to the Paris Tourney-an opinion which his show there did not seem altogether to confirm-was not in any way exaggerated, for in a little contest with Mr. Blackburne for a prize recently offered by an amateur, at Simpson's Divan, Mr. Mason won two out of the three games played. A vote of thanks was most enthusiastically accorded to Mr. Adamson for his valuable services during the two years in which he had acted as Librarian, a post from which he now retires amidst general expressions of regret. There was no chance of finding another member who would undertake such hard work, and therefore a Library Committee was formed, consisting of Messrs. Green, Earl, and Potter, each of whom has undertaken the charge of the library on one of the three club nights each week.

We are happy to state that the scheme of the Committee of the City Club for the appropriation of the grant of thirty guineas made to them out of the Lowenthal Fund, has received the cordial approval of Mr. Medley, and we are therefore now in a position to furnish the details, which are as follows:- (1) For the augmentation of the Club library, ten guineas; (2) a special memorial of Mr. Lowenthal, five guineas; (3) consultation games between first-class players, five guineas; (4) similar contests between third-class players, four guineas; (5) three guineas to the fourth-class for an even tourney; (6) the like amount to the fifth-class for a similar tournament. We understand that the books to be procured for the Chess library of the Club under the above arrangement will all bear an appropriate inscription, showing that they were purchased out of the Lowenthal Fund, in which way the double object of perpetuating the memory of the deceased and at the same time of advancing the causes of Chess will be most effectually attained. A good Club library serves the latter purpose in various ways; for, by making use of it, the members will acquire a knowledge of the game both historically and technically, the lives and doings of Chess celebrities will be brouht to their notice, and games played in past and present times by skilled experts will be placed at their disposal for the purposes of examination. We hear that the special memorial of the deceased is to take the shape of a bust. This will obviously be a most fitting memento of him; and there is this further advantage, that copies at an exceedingly cheap rate can be afterwards multiplied. These copies would be very acceptable tourney prizes, not only in the City of London Club, but elsewhere; and we understand that the committee of that Society will have no objection to place this advantage at the disposal of other Clubs. It need scarcely be mentioned that no idea of making a profit out of these copies is entertained; they would be supplied at cost price. The other objects contemplated in the scheme thus set forth speak for themselves. It has always been the policy of the City of London Club officials to attend no less to the interests of its lower than of its higher classes, and the management has unfailingly been directed from that point of view, a fact which no doubt has contributed largely to the success and popularity of the City Club. We are also able to state that the two even tournies contemplated by the above-mentioned programme have been started, and no doubt a sufficient number of entries will soon be obtained; that Messrs. Bird, Blackburne, MacDonnell, and Potter have already consented to take part in the first class consultation games, and it is hoped that Messrs. Mason, Boden, Horwitz, and Hircshfeld will also play in them. Names have also been received for the third class consultation games, but some of the members of that class have intimated their preference for an even tourney instead. The wishes of the majority will, doubtless, guide the Committee in this matter. As to the grant for the library, the newly-formed Committee of three are to prepare forthwith a list of the books which it is desirable to obtain, such list, when completed, to be submitted to the General Committee of the Club.

In Division A of the City of London Handicap, Messrs. Bird and Potter have already defeated their opponents of the fourth round, and now await a fresh drawing, while the matches of MacDonnell Lord and Heppel, v Sandifer, have yet to be determined. These are the only six combatants left to compete for the first and second prizes. In Division B, to which the third and fourth prizes are confined, Messrs. Earl, Staniforth, and Pizzi have all been victorious over their enemies, but there is a long-winded contest going on between Messrs. Daniels and Beardsell, the survivor of which has to play Mr. Hunnex.

On Thursday, the 13th ult., Mr. Blackburne played blindfold against eight members of the Troicoupian Chess Club. This Association, hitherto unknown to fame, though three or four years in existence, is held at the Three Cups, Sandland Street, Bedford Row. The members, though they seem to have held aloof from the general whirl of metropolitan Chess, can scarcely be wanting in zeal amongst themselves, if we may judge by the fact that during their short term of existence prizes to the value of £30 have been competed for by them. Mr. Blackburne's opponents were Messrs. M. Smith, S. Payne, F. Roques, A. Ledger, R. Purves, A. Evans, J. Payne, and McMechin. Mr. Roques excited the surprise, and perhaps envy, of his fellow Troicoupians by defeating his formidable opponent; all the others lost. We may mention, for the benefit of whom it may concern, that the

secretary of this club is Mr. W. R. Mumford. It appears also that the proprietor of the house, Mr. Thomas Rushton, is himself a lover of Chess-a fact which augurs well for the prosperity of the Club. Chess societies are very dependent on the character of the landlord. If he is a good fellow, though knowing nothing of Chess, it is well; but if besides realising the ideal of a host he can be looked upon by the members as one of "Ours," they then start with many points in their favour.

Mr. A. Marriott writes us to say that it was his brother, Mr. T. Marriott, and not himself, who took part in the match of New Basford v. Hull Church Institute. Our correspondent also informs us that he has been unduly credited with the fact of having won the second class prize at the Counties Chess Association last year, whereas it was Mr. T. Marriott to whom that honour was due. We can well understand that this ascription, however gratifying, as Mr. A. Marriott observes, to himself, was scarcely appreciated by his brother. We have also received communications from Messrs. Freeborough, Johnson, and Crake, respecting the New Basford games. The former confirms Mr. Potter's supposition that he only took part in the Allgaier-Thorold, and he maintains that 17 to B Q 3 would not enable New Basford to draw, while Mr. Johnson is equally firm in his opinion that a draw would have been the result of that move. Mr. Crake takes the demerits of the game published by us last month upon his own head, which is generous of him, but surely his allies ought to have supported him better.

On the diagram of the Chess Puzzle given with Mr. Pearson's letter last month, a Black Pawn was printed by mistake at Q B 5. It should have been a White Pawn.

At the annual meeting of the Bristol and Clifton Chess Association, held in September last, the Rev. J. Greene, President, offered a silver challenge cup, to be competed for by the members resident in Clifton and Bristol, on the following conditions:-The players to be paired by lot, and the losers to go out. The winners to be paired again, until only one was left, who would have to play a match with Mr. Berry, Vice-President, who was first in the handicap played last year. The winner to hold the cup for a year, and to be regarded as "champion" for that time. In the preliminary rounds the scorer of the first five, and in the final round of the first eleven games, to be the victor. The subjoined table shows the result up to the present time (February 13th), the names in the first column being the winners :

The return match between the Northampton (St. Giles') Chess Club, and the Rugby Chess Club, took place at the Masonic Hall, Northampton, on the 20th inst. Play commenced at 3.30 p.m. At 5.30 p.m. both teams sat down to an excellent tea provided by the Northampton Club, at which the players were favoured with the presence of several ladies, and the vicar and the curate of St. Giles' parish. After tea, Mr. Pitts, in eulogistic terms proposed "The health of the Rugby players," on behalf of whom Mr. Vecqueray responded in a humorous and amusing speech. Play was then resumed, and continued until 9.30 p.m., with the following result :—

One of the Rugby players remarks, "we sincerely hope that these meetings will become annual events, for not only do they produce greater interest in Chess, but they tend also to the development of that brotherly feeling and unity which it is so desirable should exist between the various Chess Clubs." In the previous match the Rugby players were victorious with 14 games to 11. The Rugby Chess Club, which commenced about two

years ago, has recently removed from the Rugby Institute to a more commodious room at the George Hotel, where the members meet twice a week for practice. A handicap tournament, in which 17 members are playing, has just been organised, chiefly through the exertions of Mr. C. H. Hands. The entrance fee is limited to sixpence, and the winner will receive a prize of the value of the entrance fees, and £1 from the Club funds; each player to play two games with every other player. The Rugby Club numbers upwards of 40 members, is in a flourishing condition, and a credit to the town, considering its small population.

The tenth match between the Hull Church Institute Chess Club, and the Hull Chess Club, took place at the Station Hotel, on February 3rd, 11 players each side. The Institute played its strongest team, but was defeated by 14 games to 7, the "old" Club being very strong at present. The Institute scorers were J. Parker, two games; W. W. Bean, J. Crake, J. H. Harris, R. H. Philip, and G. Ward, one game each. We have not the names of the other players.

The "

Allgaier Double Tourney," at the Hull Church Institute, is drawing to a conclusion, the remaining players being J. Crake, G. W. Farrow, J. H. Harris, and H. Stonehouse. Mr. Crake has a double chance.

A Match was played at the Trinity Church Insitute on the 31st January, between the Derby Midland Railway Institute, and the Burton Trinity Church Institute, in which the former were successful, by a majority of eight games. The following are the players' names with their scores :—

On the 31st January Herr Zukertort played twelve simultaneous blindfold games at the the City and County of Dublin Chess Club, his opponents being Lord Randolph Churchill, Major Creagh, Hon. H. C. Plunkett, Sir John Blunden, Bart., Captain Wallace, Captain Malhado, and Messrs. Cairns, Pim, C. Lewis, Goodbody, Woolett, and Suthill. The Lord Lieutenant and the Duchess of Marlborough were among the spectators. Play commenced at three o'clock, and continued, saving an interval of an hour and-a-half, until twelve o'clock, when six games remained unfinished, and these were adjourned. Upon the resumption of the contest next day two of the players failed to appear, and their games were of course forfeited. The result of the two days' play was that Herr Zukertort won eight games, lost one, and drew three.

Captain Mackenzie brought his Canadian visit to an end on the 14th of January by playing simultaneously at the Montreal Chess Club against the following fifteen amateurs : viz., Professor Hicks, Drs. Howe and Loverin and Messrs. Henderson, Ascher, Cox, J. Barry, P. Barry, Bethune, Saunders, Skaife, Baker, Farrell, Louson, and McEvers. The captain won 14 games, lost 4, and drew 1. The fortunate victors were Dr. Howe and Messrs. Ascher, J. Barry, and Baker, while Mr. Saunders secured the draw. We learn from the Montreal Daily Witness that Captain Mackenzie played altogether 95 games during his stay at Montreal, whereof he won 78, lost 10, and drew 7.

The Turf Field and Farm speaking of the Chess Association of New York, says that the rooms of the leading Chess Clubs are just now centres of attraction for the Metropolitan players. The Tourneys going on in the Manhattan and New York Clubs are becoming very exciting, especially that in the former club, which is rapidly approaching a close, in which Messrs. Möhle, Graham, Baird, Bloch, and Gedalia, are having a hot race for first honours. The room of this Club presents a most animated scene each afternoon, and the discussion over the pending tourney and matches is very lively; at times too much so for the comfort of those who, having perhaps taken a prominent part themselves in the arguments, have left them to engage in play. The accommodation of this club has long been felt to be too meagre for the proper comfort of its members, and our contemporary is glad to learn that the enterprising proprietor of the Café Logeling, sensible of this, has already perfected his plans for an enlargement of the club-room by the erection of an additional building on the rear of his lot, especially for the club. In marked contrast to this, is the narrow policy of the proprietor of the Café Cosmopolitan, where the New York Chess Club have long been quartered. This club, which has of late been rapidly lengthening its roll of members, has for a good while submitted to the selfish doings of the café proprietor, who,