34 CHESS. 



Charles XII., of Sweden (of whose characteristic style of play it is 

 recorded, " qu'il faisait toujoiirs marcher sonroi") occupied hhnself 

 with this while awaiting the Russian attack at Bender. And lastly, 

 with these mimic conflicts did the restless spirit of Napoleon beguile 

 the wearisome inaction of his " sullen isle." 



But ** let bygones be bygones" — let us turn from the Chess players 

 of other days, and see what benefit we can draw for ourselves, for our 

 friends, and our firesides, from this most intellectual recreation. We 

 must (to use old ^ sop's beautiful illustration) unbend the bow some- 

 times ; and for myself, I confess I am acquainted with no sedentaiy 

 amusement comparable to Chess. It exercises at once the inventive 

 faculty, the powers of calculation, the judgment, and the temper* 

 For a fuller investigation of these its effects, I would refer my hearei*s 

 to an ingenious paper on the ** Morals of Chess," written by the gi*eat 

 Dr. Franklin, and deemed worthy of publication by the " Society for 

 promoting Christian Knowledge." On one particular social advan- 

 tage of Chess, however, I must for a short time dwell, and the more 

 because on this point many persons are under a strange misconception. 

 I allude to the total freedom of this game from any gambling ten- 

 dency. Under this head, billiards, cards, and even backgammon, are 

 all objectionable; at Chess alone is the intellectual struggle sufficiently 

 exciting to need no stake. Indeed, were any one so far infected by 

 the distemper of play as to be desirous of gambling at Chess, the 

 very nature of the game would stand in his way to bet against the 

 stronger player being mere madness. But in truth, no one for a 

 century past has gambled or dreamed of gambling at Chess — and in 

 the hundred clubs of Great Britain no stake is allowed beyond a six- 

 pence, for the benefit of the general fund, imposed here and there as 

 a sort of fine on the loser. 



1 have never heard but one objection to Chess which carried any 

 resemblance of weight. I refer to the large outlay of time which it 

 frequently occasions. To argue, however, from the abuse against the 

 use of anything, is generally a logical fallacy. There is no amuse- 

 ment which may not be pursued to excess ; and the very word excess 

 implies evil. Those who are averse to grave occupation will always 

 find excuses for neglecting it ; and the man who wastes his time with 

 Chess would probably have been equally idle without it. — (I remem- 

 ber a man who was considered a martyr to the billiard-room. On one 



