Paul Morphy: The Pride and Sorrow of Chess

by David Lawson

  Samuel S. Boden, in the London Field of April 20, 1859, expressed English esteem for Morphy:

  Often the longest visits seem all too short, and envious Time appears to delight in hurrying on an unwished for parting. As we write, Paul Morphy is departing from amongst us, to set sail, in a few hours, for his native shores. May favoring waves and winds attend the gifted gallant youth! Most heartily do we wish him a prosperous voyage, an enthusiastic greeting among his countrymen, and a joyous reunion with his family.

  Truly, transatlantic brethren, you have conquered us at Chess; but let us not be surpassed in candor. We have not a Paul Morphy amongst us, but we acknowledge and admire every whit of his unrivaled powers in our favorite royal game. Your Champion carries with him the best wishes of every English chessplayer and friend, and right glad shall we be, next year, or as soon as he pleases, to welcome Morphy in our cities and homes again.

  Morphy had planned to leave Liverpool on the Niagara, but it was reported in the Lynn News of May 11, 1859, that he “had been seized upon forcibly by the Liverpool Chess Club, and compelled to remain their guest” until April 30, at which time he boarded the Persia, bound for New York, destined never to return to England.

  CHAPTER 16

  Testimonials and the Queen’s Knight

  The Persia arrived in New York on the morning of May 11, 1859, and Morphy, accompanied by John Sybrandt, was greeted at the pier by Daniel W. Fiske and others, who escorted him to the St. Nicholas Hotel, where quarters had been prepared for him.

  Waiting there to welcome him back to America were Colonel C. D. Mead, president of the New York Chess Club; Frederick Perrin, president of the Brooklyn Chess Club; W. J. A. Fuller; J. Lorimer Graham, Jr.; and many other distinguished friends and admirers.

  In the evening Morphy and a small party of friends dined at the Metropolitan Hotel, after which they adjourned to the elegant rooms of the New York Chess Club at New York University, into which the club had moved on the first of May. A large audience had gathered in anticipation of his presence there, and of course he was expected to perform.

  Once again, as in 1857, Frederick Perrin was the first to engage him, but now at Knight odds. Out of four games played that night, Morphy won three. Still, Perrin, one of the best New York players, did not believe that any player could give him Knight odds, and he challenged Morphy to a match, the victor to be the first to win five games.

  The following day, Morphy, in company with Sybrandt, Lichtenhein, Graham, and Dodge, visited the Morphy Chess Rooms, a recently opened chess divan on Broadway at Fourth Street. Later, Dr. Richardson, president of the Boston Chess Club, extended to him on behalf of that club an invitation to a public dinner planned for him, which invitation Morphy accepted. Two days earlier, Boston had received word that Morphy would be on the Niagara, landing there, instead of in New York. A delegation had been sent to meet him at Halifax and accompany him from there to Boston. But Morphy, on arrival at Liverpool, succumbed to the solicitations of the Liverpool Chess Club, it was reported, possibly in error, and left on the Persia a few days later.

  The evening of May 12, he again visited the New York Chess Club and took up Perrin’s challenge for a match at Knight odds. Morphy won the first game of the match. Then, as the New York Daily News of May 13, 1859, reported, “at the urgent solicitation of his friends there, he agreed to play no more blindfold games.” Nevertheless, six months later at Philadelphia, he was persuaded to play four such games.

  At the New York Club, the following notice was posted:

  A member of the New York Chess Club desirous of testing the actual strength of the New York players, offers a prize of $100 to any person connected with the Club, who shall win a majority of games in a match with Mr. Paul Morphy, at the odds of a pawn and move, or of the exchange. The match shall consist of not less than five games. Any one wishing to compete for the prize will please apply to the Secretary.

  No one applied to the secretary regarding the above notice. However, Morphy offered Knight odds to the club’s principal players and won all matches at those greater odds. Although he engaged in much chess activity in deference to this friends and admirers, Morphy was somewhat fatigued from his voyage. Yet he continued to receive a stream of callers at his hotel, and it was reported that “photographers and autograph hunters are not among the least assiduous and persistent of Mr. Morphy’s visitors.” He also received many telegraphic messages from all parts of the Union, requesting information concerning the route he would take on his return to New Orleans.

  It was at first expected, as reported in the following extract from an article in the New York Times of May 13, 1859, that Morphy’s stay in the city might “be prolonged to three or four weeks,” for plans had been in the making for some months for a suitable presentation of testimonials.

  The completed testimonial of the New-York Chess Club will be made on or about the 20th inst., after which Mr. Morphy visits Boston, where a public dinner has been tendered him by several distinguished gentlemen. His headquarters will be in this City until his departure for New Orleans. The testimonial is nearly complete; the chessmen have been ready for several weeks, and have probably never been equaled for costly elegance and perfection of workmanship. They are composed of gold and silver and precious stones. The board will be finished by Saturday, and has exhausted the resources of art and skill in its production. The splendid American watch, which forms a part of the testimonial, will be ready during the present week, and will form an unique and specially attractive element in the presentation.

  On Saturday evening, May 14, Morphy visited the Union Chess Club and won two games each from Messrs. Isidor and Bennecke at Knight odds. Earlier in the day he had played Dr. James W. Stone of Boston at the St. Nicholas Hotel, winning all five games at the same odds.

  The following day, Sunday, he visited Hoboken and dined with General Cook and friends. It seemed that every day brought new activities, and Morphy was unable to shake off the fatigue from his voyage. The presentation of testimonials therefore was deferred some days. On Monday evening, May 16, he continued his match with Mr. Perrin, winning the first game, a Sicilian, in three and one half hours; the second game of the evening ended in a draw. That same day, the New York Courier des États-Unis mentioned in an article on Morphy that J. E. Saintin was painting a miniature of him. The miniature was shown at the Thirty-Fifth Annual Exhibition of the National Academy of Design in 1860.

  May 17, Morphy may have remained at the hotel, for he played two games at Knight odds with Dr. Horace Richardson, winning both.

  While little is known of the women in Morphy’s life, he seems to have had some attraction for them. Articles in New York papers by women asked why they should not share more of his time and the New York Evening Post of May 31 had this item:

  The Mysterious Chess Player.—In a notice of Morphy, the great chess player, 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. Morphy 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 the first move. Half a dozen moves 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 be found in 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.

  Although it is true that women at that time were quite active in chess, their activity was for the most part restricted to correspondence chess and problems rather than to play in men’s clubs. A Mrs. Gilbert, called the “female Morphy,” in 1879 announced checkmate against G. H. D. Gossip in thirty-five moves.

  On the nineteenth of May, James Thompson met Morphy in a Knight-odds game. Surprised when he lost, Thompson challenged Morphy to a nine-game match at those odds, which the latter had to extend himself to win.

  The next day, the New York Commercial Advertiser carried a display advertisement of Edge’s book, The Exploits and Triumphs in Europe of Paul Morphy, published by Appleton, and mentioned that Lowenthal’s book A New and Thorough Treatise on Chess was in press. Lowenthal’s first thought had been to issue a pamphlet on Morphy’s games and on the Morphy–Staunton affair for, as he said, he could relate the matter more freely in pamphlet form than in his chess column. Later he decided to issue the above-mentioned Treatise, including a discussion of Philidor and others, as well as Morphy. Ultimately, however, he decided to confine himself solely to Morphy and his games.

  Morphy resumed match play with Perrin on Saturday, May 21, winning three games and the match within two hours, the final score being Morphy five, Perrin zero, and one game drawn. The following Monday, Morphy played the first match game with Thompson, which the latter won.

  The day for the presentation of testimonials had been fixed for Wednesday evening, May 25, at eight o’clock, in the large chapel of New York University. Long before that hour, as the New York Herald of May 26, 1859, reported, “every nook and corner of the building was occupied, and even ladies were compelled to stand in the passages so great was the desire to be present on the eventful occasion.”

  The following series of extracts is taken from an article in the New York Times of May 26, 1859, which reported the testimonial proceedings.

  Promptly at the hour a solitary policeman edged his way through the crowd in the right-hand aisle and cleared a passage for Mr. Morphy and his escort. Immediately thereafter some twenty or thirty gentlemen, among whom were Charles O’Connor, Esq., Judge J. R. Whiting, Baron de Trobriand (and others). Mr. Morphy, leaning upon the arm of Col. Mead, President of the Chess Club, brought up the rear. His appearance was greeted with overwhelming and long continued applause. Gracefully acknowledging it, Mr. Morphy took his seat and Col. Mead arose and spoke as follows:—

  Ladies and Gentlemen: The Testimonial Committee has conferred upon me the honor of presiding upon this interesting occasion. You are aware that the object of our assembling to-night is for the purpose of presenting testimonials to our distinguished young countryman, Paul Morphy. He has lately returned from a visit to the Old World, where, as in the New, he has proven himself to be the master of the checkered field. He has not only acquired for himself undying renown, but has reflected honor and credit upon the land that gave him birth. He had not only been successful in winning in every contest in which he had been engaged, but he has also succeeded in winning the hearts of all who have come in contact with him.

  It is not my purpose to refer to the moral and intellectual influences of the science and art of chess. It is sufficient to point to one who may be well considered a living embodiment of its morality and intellectuality.

  In view of these considerations, a few of the crowd of his admirers and friends have been desirous of making to him some acknowledgment of his unrivaled powers, as well as a testimonial of their personal regard. For that purpose they have procured the chessmen and board now before you, which they desire to have presented to-night. After this has been done, the members of the Testimonial Committee also intend to present him with an additional token of their esteem.

  The presentation of the chessmen and board will now be made. The Hon. John Van Buren has kindly consented to discharge, on behalf of the Committee, that agreeable duty.

  After Col. Mead had concluded, John Van Buren came forward. Taking Mr. Morphy by the hand, he introduced him to the audience amid hearty cheers. Silence having been restored, Mr. Van Buren delivered the following address to Mr. Morphy and the audience, Mr. Morphy remaining standing meanwhile.

  Mr. Morphy: A number of your friends and admirers have deemed it appropriate to signalize your return to the United States by this reception, and by the presentation to you of a testimonial of their admiration and regard. I am happy to be enrolled among their number, and feel honored at having been selected to convey to you their sentiments, and to offer for your acceptance this beautiful specimen of taste and skill of those to whom its execution was confided. . . . For more than a thousand years [chess] has been played in Europe. ‘Like a universal alphabet’ as a clever writer has said ‘the chessboard is known to all nations. . . .’

  Ladies and gentlemen, I ask you to unite with me in welcoming with all the honors, PAUL MORPHY, the Chess Champion of the World.

  At one point, Van Buren interrupted his address to read the following letter from Prof. Samuel F. B. Morse:

  Poughkeepsie, May 24, 1859

  Sir: I have this moment received your polite invitation and ticket, as Chairman of the Testimonial Committee, to witness the “presentation testimonials” to our distinguished countryman, Paul Morphy, Esq., and assigning me a seat on the platform on the occasion. While I regret exceedingly that my engagements will prevent my being present, I would yet take this opportunity to offer through you my humble tribute of admiration not merely to the man of unequaled skill in the time honored game of chess (the most valuable for certain kinds of mental discipline, of all existing games), but to the man of modesty, who can receive such demonstrations of enthusiasm as have been showered upon him without any show of vanity or conceited inflation. I was so fortunate as to be present at Paris, at the Café de Régence, at the marvelous contest of Mr. Morphy with the most skillful European players, when he engaged with them in eight different games at the same time, and without seeing their boards, unaided but by his most extraordinary memory, and unrivaled skill. I witnessed not only his marvelous triumph, but his modest and unassuming bearing in the moment of victory and not the least gratifying part of the scene was the spontaneous outburst of generous and magnanimous applause from his French antagonists that filled the air with shouts as they conducted him in triumph to his carriage. It was a beautiful proof to me that the flame of a high souled chivalry still burned in the hearts of Frenchmen.

  In asking that my personal gratulations to Mr. Morphy may be allowed to mingle with yours on this occasion, I remain, Sir, with respect, your most obedient servant.

  Samuel F. B. Morse

  To S. D. Bradford, Esq., Chairman of the Testimonial Committee.

  Mr. Van Buren’s address was frequently interrupted by applause. When he concluded his remarks, Mr. Morphy replied:

  Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen: Twelve months have elapsed since bidding adieu to my Western home. I sought beyond the blue waters the foreign skies of another hemisphere; and again have I returned to the land of my birth and affections. Another year has glided by and once more do I find myself surrounded by the friends whose good wishes and approbation cheered my wandering course. I thank them—I most sincerely thank them for the more than cordial welcome which has greeted my return to the Empire City. Well may they say that they have made their City the verdant spot in my sandy path—the green and ever-blooming oasis of repose where, like the way-worn traveler, I forget the fatigue and exposure of the journey, and gather renewed life and energy for its completion. Not satisfied, however, with showering innumerable attentions upon me, they this night cap the climax of their favors by presenting me, in conjunction with a large number of the citizens of New York, this beautiful piece of workmanship as a superb testimonial of their regard and sympath
y. How thankfully received—how dearly prized—mere words cannot portray. I shall proudly take it to my Southern home and preserve it as a precious memento of my friends in New York.

  I fear, ladies and gentlemen, that lengthy comments upon the game of chess might prove uninteresting to a large portion of the highly intellectual audience before me. Of my European tour I will only say that it has been pleasant in almost every respect. Of the adversaries encountered in the peaceful jousts of the chequered field, I retain a lively and agreeable recollection. I found them gallant, chivalrous and gentlemanly, as well became true votaries of the kingly pastime.

  A word now on the game itself. Chess never has been and never can be aught but a recreation. It should not be indulged in to the detriment of other and more serious avocations—should not absorb the mind or engross the thoughts of those who worship at its shrine; but should be kept in the background and restrained within its proper province. As a mere game, a relaxation from the severer pursuits of life, it is deserving of high commendation. It is not only the most delightful and scientific, but the most moral of amusements. Unlike other games in which lucre is the end and aim of the contestants, it recommends itself to the wise by the fact that its mimic battles are fought for no prize but honor. It is eminently and emphatically the philosopher’s game. Let the chess board supercede the card-table, and a great improvement will be visible in the morals of the community. [Great Applause] But, ladies and gentlemen, I need not expiate on the field so ably traversed by the eloquent gentleman who has just addressed you. I thank you from my heart for the very flattering manner in which you have been pleased to receive his too complimentary remarks, and for the numerous attentions received at your hands. I shall leave New York with melancholy sorrow, for I part from friends than whom none truer can be found. Let them rest assured that along with the memory of the chess board I possess the memory of the heart. And now, with a renewal of my sincere thanks for the splendid token of your regard with which you have presented me tonight, and the assurance that I shall cherish in unfading memory the remembrance of my sojourn here, I bid you, ladies and gentlemen, a farewell, which I fondly hope will not prove the last.