1859

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February 03, 1859

• Daily Leader Davenport, Iowa Thursday, February 03, 1859 - Page 1 “The Chess Monthly” for February has been received at Adams' Book Rooms. It should be in the hands of every chess player. This is an excellent chess periodical, and in high favor with lovers of chess—Paul Morphy is one of its editors. Everything appertaining to the game, except brains, can be found at Mr. Adams' book store. Read More

February 08, 1859

• Lancaster Intelligencer Lancaster, Pennsylvania Tuesday, February 08, 1859 - Page 2 — The Recent Chess Contest In Paris, Paris, Jan. 5, 1859 — Europe has struck her colors to the young hero of the West, and the “stars and stripes” now wave over the realms of Caissa in undisputed sovereignty. Anderssen, the recognized champion of the Old World—he who carried off the palm of victory from the greatest European players in the International Tournament of 1851, and who vanquished Staunton in the proportion of four to one—has measured swords with Paul Morphy, and “bit the dust”.
  Such a career as that of your gallant countryman is almost unparalleled in history. Unknown eighteen months since, except in his native city, the idea of his putting himself on an equality with the great masters of European chess was laughed at as an absurdity. We were told “Paul Morphy is a promising player, but his antagonists in American have been merely second and third raters;” “he lacks experience.” Even his own countrymen disbelieved, and prophesied certain defeat from such men as Lowenthal and Harrwitz. What has been the result? Lowenthal succumbed in a match, winning but three games, when Morphy is in such bodily suffering as to be obliged to ride to the scene of action, but is subsequently unable to wrest a single victory from his youthful antagonist and resigns the match, anticipating the inevitable result; Boden wins one game against Morphy's five; Staunton lacks the courage to face his opponent, and has not dared to show his face in any chess circles since his unmanly backing down.— Last of all comes the brilliant Anderssen—the last and greatest of them all.
  Herr Anderssen, Professor of Mathematics in the Gymnasium of Breslau, arrived in Paris on the 12th of December. Next morning he called on Mr. Morphy, and found him ill in bed, suffering from severe inflammation, the effects of a European winter. Since his match with Harrwitz, Paul Morphy had forsaken chess almost entirely, finding no pleasure in beating men who were incapable of defending themselves; but Anderssen's appearance roused the sleeping lion; and gave him what he termed “a perfect chess fever.” He told his medical adviser that the Prussian's stay in Paris was limited, and that he was, therefore, desirous of commencing the match on the following Monday (20th inst.) The doctor gave his consent, presuming that Paul Morphy would otherwise play without it, and the patient got out of bed—for the first time during nearly a fortnight—so weak that he had to be assisted into his chair. Had your countryman been in ordinary health the match would necessarily have come off at the Cafe de la Regence. As it was, the contest took place in Mr. Morphy's apartments in the Hotel Breteuil, before a select number of spectators, the moves being forwarded every half hour to the cafe above mentioned, where crowds daily watched the struggle. Among the spectators at the Hotel Breteuil I may mention the American Minister, Judge Mason, M. St. Amant, Messrs Dr. Reviere, Journoud, Lequesne, Crandboulogne, Signors Preti and Carlini, Hon. Captain Bingham, Counts Casabianca and Bastorot, and others. Numerous American gentlemen sent up their cards, and were of course admitted.
  Paul Morphy had the first move, and dashed off with the Evans gambit. None other than he would have had the courage to do so against such an adversary as Anderssen. But long confinement to his bed and abstinence from food during so many days, had made him nervous and feverish, and his antagonist won, after a struggle which lasted upwards of seven hours. Next day Anderssen played the Ruy Lopez opening. Those of your readers who are unacquainted with the mysteries of chess, must be told that this has been more thoroughly analyzed than any other, and shown to be an almost certain victory for the first player. Nevertheless, Paul Morphy forced a draw game. The following day the young Louisianian showed what he could do with the Ruy Lopez, and Anderssen resigned on the twenty-first move, after an hour's play — The fourth game was immediately commenced, and Anderssen again lowered his flag. The fifth, sixth and seventh games the latter also lost—Morphy thus scoring five consecutively. The eighth was a draw. The ninth was won by your countryman with eagle like rapidity. He permitted Anderssen to capture a bishop, left his queen, two knights and a bishop simultaneously en prise during several moves, and forced his antagonist to resign on the seventeenth move. The following game Anderssen scored; it lasted seventy-seven moves, and Anderssen remarked to your correspondent afterwards “I win my games in seventy moves, but Mr. Morphy in twenty; but that is only natural.” The eleventh and last game Paul Morphy won in thirty-five moves, thus gaining the match, the score standing finally as follows:—Morphy 7, Anderssen 2, drawn 2.
  Herr Anderssen is a brave and courtly adversary, and his opinion of his young conqueror was expressed in a straightforward manner to the Cafe le Regence. he said “It is impossible for anybody to play stronger than Mr. Morphy; he does not merely play le coup just (the proper move,) but le coup le plus juste, (the most proper move.) If we play the move only approximately good we are certain to lose. All other players make mistakes; Mr. Morphy never does.” And in answer to the question as to which was the stronger player, Labourdonnais or Morphy, he replied that if any difference existed it was in favor of the latter. St. Amant, the contemporary of Labourdonnais, and whose name is a “household word” in chess, expresses a similar opinion. “If Morphy and Labourdonnais could play together the former might lose the first few games, but he would eventually be the victor.” St. Amant believes that he can give pawn and move to any living player, and desires to see such a contest commence forthwith with Harrwitz, but that gentleman has not the courage to accept.—However,
  To this complexion will it come at last,
  For Paul Morphy has declared that he will play no more matches with any one, unless accepting pawn and move from him.
  Englishmen, Frenchmen, Germans, and the old world, in fine, now recognize their master in “the great American,” as the papers call him. But a solitary exception exists—an exception so funny that I must mention it. Herr Harrwitz, laboring under the impression that Paul Morphy's eight blindfold games were easy of execution, announced his intention of performing the same feat, and the affair came off in a private manner in some rooms over the Cafe de la Regence, five frances admittance being charged for each person. The eight antagonists selected by Harrwitz were what the French call mazettes; three of them would receive the odds of knights from a good player, the other would have hard work to win even when accepting the enormous odds of rook and knight. So ridiculous was the entire affair that Herr Harrwitz has very judiciously not permitted the games to become public, although editing the chess department of highly a influential weekly newspaper.
  Frenchmen could not permit so laughable an occurrence to pass without making a joke upon it. Some remarkably clever squibs were got off, showing the public opinion of the frogs attempting to emulate the ox—as for instance the following:—
  Tu veux singer Morphy, joueur phenomenal,
  Jeune presompsueux, tu forces ta nature!
  En vain tu veux poser comme un original,
  Tu n'es qu'une caricature.
  Mr. Morphy may shortly pay a flying visit to Berlin for the purpose of playing a few games with Lange, Dufresne and Mayet.— Anderssen particularly requested him so to do, to close the mouths of Berliners. Just before leaving Paris he said to Paul Morphy, “They won't be pleased with me at Berlin, but I shall tell them Mr. Morphy will come here himself.” Your countryman has nothing to gain from such a visit, for the victory over Anderssen has made him “monarch of all he surveys,” and he will only go there for the ceremony of coronation. Read More

February 24, 1859

• Illinois State Chronicle Decatur, Illinois Thursday, February 24, 1859 - Page 12 “Morphy In Paris” — (Correspondence of the New York Express.) The young American chess champion Paul Morphy, continues his victorious career in Paris. He has ceased playing even-handed games with the French players, having beaten them all, over and over again; and still vanquishes all comers at the odds of pawns and moves. Of course he only gives this advantage to the first professors of the game, being able to offer a knight, and frequently a castle to his minor adversaries. At the odds of a pawn and move, Mr. Morphy has fully established his superiority over Laroche esteemed the ablest of the French players; Devinck, another old master of the game who thirty years ago played with Ladourdonnais; Budsinzky, a Polish player of some distinction, and others, all of whom have been discomfited.— Since his match with Harrwitz however, “Little Paul” has not had an opportunity of again check-mating the Prussian that worthy, prudently finding numberless excuses and subterfuges to avoid meeting an antagonist, who had already despoiled him of so many laurels. Harrwitz has been repeatedly urged by his own friends to play a few friendly games with the young American, if only to prove himself capable of withstanding the assault; but, upon one pretext or another, he has managed to shun the issue. He has it seems hit upon another plan to re-establish himself in public favor, by a prejected attempt to intimate Morphy's celebrated eight blindfolded games, which created so great excitement here a few weeks ago.
  I saw this morning, posted up conspicuously in the Cafe de la Regence, a notice to the effect that on Saturday next, Harrwitz will play against any eight adversaries who may be selected, that number of games without seeing the board, and all to be conducted simultaneously. This is the feat which Morphy so splendidly accomplished, and which at once made him the lion of the day. Whether or not, Mr. Harrwitz will be equally successful remains to be seen. I shall report the result to you. In any event, whether he be successful or not, Harrwitz will have a still more difficult feat to imitate young Morphy, having promised in that event to play ten or twelve blind-folded games. In the meantime, Mr. Morphy to day informed me that he had just received a telegraphic message from Anderssen the celebrated German player, announcing his arrival in Paris, on or about the 15th of the present month. The match between the two champions will be played immediately after, and its result will decide whether Morphy is or is not the greatest living chess player. Although Anderssen is considered the most brilliant European professor of the noble game, but one opinion seems to be entertained relative to the approaching conflict—that he will be beaten, and poor Morphy obliged to return to America, like another Alexander, (who went back to Macedonia, and not to America, if you please,) because there will not be any more chess players to conquer. However, Anderssen enjoys a deservedly high reputation, and we must not be too confident. All our colony here hope for Young America's triumph, and anxiously awaits the day of final trial. Paul Morphy will remain all winter in Paris.” Read More

May 20, 1859

• Reading Times Reading, Pennsylvania Friday, May 20, 1859 - Page 3 “Chess - Paul Morphy in New York” — Paul Morphy, as most of our readers are aware, is now in New York. Since his return on Wednesday, the 11th inst., he has encountered the chess players of New York, with his usual success. Last week, we understand, he was presented with a velvet and silver crown, by some of his admirers, and we presume crowned Chess King. This honor was once paid to Anderssen but he is dethroned. Mr. Morphy will remain in New York about a month. Read More

June 16, 1859

• Belmont Chronicle Saint Clairsville, Ohio Thursday, June 16, 1859 - Page 1 “Chess - Paul Morphy, the Chess Champion” — Paul Morphy, the chess champion, arrived in the Persia, and is staying in this city for few days. He has been very warmly received by the amateurs and admirers of his beautiful art, and various presentations are in a state of forwardness, of which he is soon to be recipient. For the last three evenings he has visited the chess rooms of the New-York Club, and participated in the hospitalities of private citizens. At the Club rooms be played three games with Mr. Perrin, giving him the odds of the knight, and winning of course. The splendid set of gold and silver chess men, manufactured, by Tiffany, of which we have heretofore given some account is to be presented soon. In addition to this the Chess Clubs of the city have cause to be manufactured a beautiful American watch, made by the Waltham Company. It is characteristically-ornamented, the dial having, instead of the usual numerals, the pieces of the chessboard in different colors. The Union Chess-Club, at No. 274 Grand street, will be visited by Mr. Morphy this evening. Here also testimonial has been prepared, consisting of a silver laurel wreath finely executed by Ball, Black & Co. It will be presented to Mr. Morphy on the 19th instant, on which occasion an entertainment will be given by the members of the Club. Dr. S. Waterman will make the presentation. Mr. Morphy's modest and quiet reception, being altogether free from the clap-trap of public affairs of the kind, is a fitting exemplification of the axiom that “peace hath its victories no less renowned than war.” -N.Y. Tribune. Read More

June 18, 1859

• Weekly Western Argus Wyandotte, Kansas Saturday, June 18, 1859 - Page 1 — Mr. Morphy's Game With An Unknown Lady. — The New York correspondent of the Philadelphia Mercury in a notice of Morphy, the great chess player, says a queer incident occurred to him soon after his arrival in New York. A carriage drove to the St. Nicholas in which was seated a splendidly dressed lady. She sent up a card and requested an interview with the chess champion. The interview was granted, when the fair visitor demanded the privilege of playing a game with Mr. Morphy. Mr. M. looked at the magnificent eyes of the stranger and said, “Yes, certainly.” The chess table was brought to the window, and Mr. Morphy placed the men. The lady, of course, was permitted to have the first move. Half a dozen moves had been made on either side and Morphy found himself interested — his visitor promised to prove the most formidable antagonist he had had for a long time. Being absorbed in the game, Morphy directed the servant to admit no one else until it was completed. The game lasted two hours and was drawn. — The lady was then satisfied and blushingly took her leave, Morphy himself accompanying her to her carriage. The moment she had gone Morphy and his friends set at work to ascertain the identity of the beautiful visitor, not doubting that the name upon her card could not be found upon the directory. This, however, proved to be a mistake, and though every endeavor was made to ascertain precisely who was the visitor, the gentlemen are as much in the dark as ever. Whoever she may be, she played the best game in which Morphy was ever a contestant, and she probably adopted these means of matching herself with Morphy in order to assure herself of her own skill. ★ Read More

June 24, 1859

• The Tennessean Nashville, Tennessee Friday, June 24, 1859 - Page 2 “The Exploits and Triumphs In Europe of Paul Morphy”, The Chess Champion, Including An Historical Account Of Clubs — Biographical Sketches or Famous Players, and various information and anecdotes relating to the noble game of Chess. By Paul Morphy's Late Secretary, 1 volume. 12mo. Cloth. Extract from the Work. Chess may be a game, a pastime, a relaxation, but Chess has, at times, absorbed the faculties of the most intellectual of every clime. It numbers among its amateurs the greatest names of battle fields and thrones — tells of warriors, poets, painters, sculptors, statesmen, and divines; it possesses a language and a literature of its own; and it has its temples on the ocean, in the fortress, and by the fireside. Paul Morphy has vanquished the Paladins of the New and Old Worlds, and vaulted into the very throne of Labourdonnais and Philidor. As long as Chess shall last his name will be a household word, and his deeds be held in lasting memory.
  Contents
  Morphy's First Games, The First American Chess Congress, Morphy Prepared To Start For Europe, Chess In England, Morphy In England, The Staunton Affair, Morphy In France, The Cafe De La Regence, The Match Between Morphy And Harrwitz, Morphy's Greatest Blindfold Feat, Continuation Of The Match With Harrwitz, Morphy In Society, Morphy And The French Amateurs, Morphy Gets Beaten, Morphy And Anderssen, Morphy And Mongredien, Trophies, Valedictory.
  From the London Times.
  ‘Mr. Morphy, The Chess Player. — This gentleman arrived in London a few days ago from Paris, en route for his native city, New Orleans, via Liverpool. On Tuesday week he played at the London Club, Cornhill; and in the evening at Herr Lowenthal's new chess club, St. James's Hall. A match was hastily made up for Wednesday, and came off at the London Club Morphy contending blindfold, against eight members of the club, eight games simultaneously. This remarkable feat of genius he had before accomplished twice in Europe, but the two eights of Birmingham and Paris were both very inferior to the eight of the London Club who played against Morphy on the present occasion, and his task was proportionately increased in difficulty. Morphy, in a separate room, began his solitary task by proclaiming, through Herr Lowenthal, that he opened with king's pawn two in each game. A crowd of anxious spectators and chess celebrities were present. Lowenthal proclaimed the players' moves aloud, as made, and Morphy instantly called out his reply. To every two boards was appointed a Secretary to take down the moves. After six hours play, Mr. Alfred Jones and Mr. Maude were defeated; while of the remaining six, two at least had forced drawn games. At past midnight the play was still proceeding on three or four boards, and then, by consent, these last games were dismissed as drawn the contest having lasted over seven hours. The match concluded by Morphy being declared to have won two games and drawn six. Mr Morphy considers this the toughest match he ever played of this description. Through out this long sitting he never made one mistake, never proclaimed an impassible move, and never forgot the situation of the humblest pawn. It may be safely pronounced thst no greater mental feat was ever accomplished by man.
  W. T. Berry & Co., June 23-tf Public Square. Read More

• The Exploits and Triumphs, in Europe, of Paul Morphy, the Chess Champion: Including an Historical Account of Clubs, Biographical Sketches of Famous Players, and Various Information and Anecdotes Relating to the Noble Game of Chess, Frederick Milnes Edge, D. Appleton, 1859

July 08, 1859

• The Bossier Banner Bellevue, Louisiana Friday, July 08, 1859 - Page 2 — Paul Morphy the great American chess player who has beaten every opponent in this and the old World and who returns to his native city New Orleans crowned with the highest honors has much lowered himself in public estimation by excepting an offer as chess editor of the New York Ledger by that prince of humbugs Bonner. If Mr. Everett lost caste among his fellow-citizens for accepting a similar offer unquestionable, so has Mr. Morphy: The reasoning for the dislike expressed toward Robert Bonner of the New York Ledger is somewhat unclear, but this account is given in Sunshine and Shadow in New York: By Matthew Hale Smith, 1810-1879: “His mode of advertising was new, and it excited both astonishment and ridicule. His ruin was predicted (over and over again. But as he paid as he went along he alone would be the sufferer. He was assailed in various ways. Men sneered at his writers, as well as at the method in which he made them known. He had no competition. Just then it was announced that the Harpers were to put a first-class Weekly into the field. The announcement was hailed with delight by many classes. Men who had been predicting Bonner's ruin from the start were anxious to see it accomplished.” Read More

August 11, 1859

• The Pacific Commercial Advertiser Honolulu, Hawaii Thursday, August 11, 1859 - Page 4 — Presentation To Paul Morphy. — The testimonial from the chess club and citizens of New York, to Paul Morphy, the distinguished chess player, was presented on the 25th at the chapel of the University, in the presence of a large audience of both sexes. The presentation speech was made by John Van Buren, who traced to some extent the history of chess playing, alluding to its universality and noticing some of its leading champions, all of whose feats, he stated, Mr. Morphy has excelled. After a defense of the game and recounting the circumstances of Mr. M.'s career in Europe, complimenting him for his success and many excellent qualities, he delivered the testimonial.
  This consists of gold and silver chess figures and a board of rosewood, the squares being ebony and mother of pearl. A slightly raised edge, ornamented by a single delicate line of inlaid silver, surrounds the board. Three inches from the edge, four tournament lances, in silver, encloses the chequered field—a square of twenty inches. In each exterior angle formed by the overlapping of the lances, circled by a laurel wreath of gold, exquisitely inlaid, are the letters P.M., in decorated cipher. Midway of the border, from which Mr. Morphy is supposed to play, an inlaid oval plate of silver, surrounded by a trophy composed of the standards of those nations whose subjects have been obliged to recognize the sovereignty of a Republican champion, bears the subjoined inscription:
  To Paul Morphy, a recognition of his genius and a token of regard from his friends and admirers in New York and Brooklyn, New York, 1859. Read More

September 13, 1859

• Detroit Free Press Detroit, Michigan Tuesday, September 13, 1859 - Page 2 “Chess - Paul Morphy” — Paul Morphy has been playing, within a few days, several games of chess at the rooms of the New York Chess Club, with Mr. A.B. Meek, a leading player of the South, giving him the odds of a knight; also, with Mr. W.D.A. Fuller, of New York city, giving him the odds of a castle. Mr. Morphy won every game. Read More

October 23, 1859

• The Era London, Greater London, England Sunday, October 23, 1859 - Page 14 “Chess Edited by Herr Loewenthal — Paul Morphy's Chess Column”