Chess History And Reminiscences
safely asserted that Dr. Zukertort's play in 1883, has never been
surpassed even by Morphy's and Anderssen's very best
performances, though Anderssen excelled both in fertility of invention.
The "fondness" of Dr. Zukertort, like that of his distinguished
Berlin townsman, Anderssen the renowned winner of 1851, 1862
and 1870), for Simpson's, and its Associations was very great, and
increased very much towards the latter part of his life, and the
place has always formed a strong bond of union between Foreign
and English players. Zukertort was engaged in conversation
with the writer and others, in his usual genial manner, and spent
some happy hours with us on the evening preceding his death.
Every true lover of chess must appreciate the chivalry and good
feelings always observable in chess play at Simpson's. There
only leading players for mutual pleasure and without stake, and
to the interest of spectators play many an emulatory game which
may bear comparison with the best of the few good ones to be
found in the most recent tedious chess matches played for amounts
not thought of in previous times, and sufficient to disconcert and
make timid both of the opponents. With our Foreign visitors,
Simpson's Divan is the first resort to meet old friends, to hear
chess news, to compare notes, and to discuss topics of interest.
It is a kind of landmark, or where the pilot comes aboard. When
they do not dine at Simpson's, which is regarded as "par
excellence," but retire to Darmstatters, the Floric or the Cheshire
Cheese for refreshment, the Divan is yet the Appetizer, or Sherry
and Bitter starting point, in fact, wherever the abodes of our
distinguished chess brethren may be, Simpson's is always the centre
and home of friendly attraction throughout their stay in this
country, and so long as harmony and good feeling prevails it is
ever likely to continue so.
For Clubs may come, and Clubs may go,
And make us ask what's next to see;
But Simpson's ever should remain,
The place for Chess in ecstacy.
The above article was run off for the late deeply lamented
Captain Mackenzie, the amiable and dignified United States
Chess Champion, on one of his visits here. I dedicate it to our
surviving foreign visitors.
CHESS OF THE NINETEENTH CENTURY
The following article from The British Chess Magazine
furnished by the writer has been regarded with much interest,
we are tempted to re-produce it.
THE CHESS MASTERS OF THE DAY, IMPARTIALLY
CONSIDERED BY AN OLD ENGLISH PLAYER.
An article appeared in The Fortnightly Review of December,
1886 bearing the signature of L. Hoffer, Secretary of the B.C.A.,
entitled "The Chess Masters of the Day." We are informed
that the British Masters, who have read it are unanimous in
condemning its tone and spirit; and a short letter of protest has been
inserted in the March number of the same magazine, from H. E.
Bird, specifying their principal objections to it! In a letter to
us, Mr. Bird, incidentally, mentions that the article bears the
semblance of having been prepared by more than one writer; and
he suggests that a confusion of ideas may account for the
discrepancies in it? He then proceeds to question Mr. Hoffer's
authority for adding B.C.A. after his name, presumably for the
purpose of giving weight to the article which it is contended does
not meet with the general approbation of members of the British
Chess Association, or other real lovers of chess and friends to its
cause and advancement. The remarks of Mr. Bird, which we
understand, are heartily concurred in by all the British Chess
Masters, we give precisely in his own words.
------
However entertaining and amusing the article which appears
in The Fortnightly Review, entitled "The Chess Masters of the
Day," bearing the signature of L. Hoffer, may prove to the
general reader, there are reasons why it is not likely to pass the
more observant chess friend and true lover of the game without
grave misgivings and deep regret; and it is probably not very
rash to predict that, notwithstanding, the smile that may be
evoked here and there at the expense of the unhappy lampooned
Chess Masters, the feeling most predominant at the close of
reading the article will be very near akin to extreme
disappointment?
It is but fair, at the outset, to observe that the writer does
not seem to claim that his article is a disquisition on the game
of chess; that it is not so may, at once, be granted; but, it is
unfortunate that even as a record of what it purports to be,
viz., "The Chess Masters of the Day," a few lines will suffice
to show that it is not sufficiently connected, reliable, or complete
to form a chapter in chess history, or to be of any lasting interest
from a descriptive Chess Master's point of view.
Having first generalised the main contents of the article, we
may then proceed to point out its shortcomings, as well as the
more serious objections to it.
Of the 13 pages and 533 lines to which the article extends,
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