STURGE'S GUIDE TO THE GAME OF DRAUGHTS.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 9365, 14 March 1896, Page 3

STURGE'S GUIDE TO THE GAME OF DRAUGHTS.

The able demon's editov of the Aberdeen TTecl-ly r,-:v Fre.,<. Mr James Ogg, the gifted " poet of the lirod," in reviewing the new edition says : —'* Joshua St urges is to the | gams of draughts something like Avhat ■ Shakespeare is to British literature. | Shakespeare, it is said took the plots of i severi! of his plays from older and eontem- ! porary dramatis;.-*, and made them his oAvn ! for ever. In the same Avay Sturges cmbcKiie.i the works of Payne in his oavii, and no doubt assimilate;! all that was best in the phiy of those, he came in contact with. The thoughts and pemusof .Shakespeare have t-o'oure '. to some extent, ail subsequent British literature, nod in the same way the genius of this old mast c r iias toned and coloured the works of all subsequent authors on the game. But few, Aye believe, Avho may casually look at a guide to draughts can even approximately realize the amount of AA'ork, and eA-en genius of a kind, that is required for its production. To the votaries of tlse game the penetrating foresight, the subtle move, the Avary defence, and the brilliant stroke are all veritable master-touches of genius. The critical positions and brilliant solutions of Sturges are to players a joy for ever, just as the master-thoughts of Shakespeare are to all lovers of Avisdom and poetry." We remember getting the loan of Walker's edition of "Sturges's Guide" from one of the old school of players about forty years ago, there Avere no draughts columns in Britain at that time, and Aye still have pleasant recollections of the keen interest Aye took, and the instruction Aye derived in trying our youthful skill in solving those beautiful problems, and playing over some of the grand old games from " Sturges's Guide "first published in 1800, and for many a year was the standard work in Briton, and no doubt did a great deal to develop the skill of Anderson, Wyllie, McKerrow, Drummond, Sinclair, Hay", Martins, Colthard and a host of other famous players. But like all other books on draughts it contained some unsound play. The present edition, edited by Mr J. A. Kear, senr., of Bristol, is a handsome octavo volume of nearly 300 pages, Avell printed on good paper :—" The editor's aim has been to excise such parts as have been superseded by modern improA-ements, and to add much play on modern lines, as well as to attribute all play to its firstknoAvti author or publisher." In the additional play and improvements we found on lifting the book and opening it by chance at pages 84-85 the following names :— Sturges, "A.D.P.," J. Lees, J. D. Janvier Drummond, J. Smith, A. H. Granger, R. Jordan, J. Wyllie, R. Martins, Macindoe, C. Adamson, J. Birkenshaw, A. Sinclair, J. A. Kear, .Tun., Payne, and last, though not least, Anderson.. In fact the book contains play by all the leading players in the Avorld. The original dedication of Payne's work (by Dr. S. Johnson) to the Earl of Rochford is giA-en, in Avhieh the Dr. says :—"Triflers may tind or make anything a trifle, but since it is the characteristic of a wise man to see events in their causes, to obA-iate consequences and ascertain contingencies, your Lordship will think nothing a trifle by AA'hich the mind is innured to caution, foresight, circumspection. '' The same skill, and often the same degree of skill, is exerted in great and little things, and your Lordship may sometimes exercise at a harmless game those abilities which you have so happily employed in the service of your country." The Dr. was right, the lessons to be learned by the disastrous results of Avrong moves with AA'ooden men, must prove useful to the politician who wishes to avoid the disastrous results of making Avrong moves with the living men whose movements he directs on the floor, or " Dambrod " of the house of representatives. A popular politician in ■ America recently, Avho is a good speaker; when canvassing recently preferred the dambrod to his tongue to show the electors his skill in directing the moA'-ements of men. "■ We have also an excellent and scholarly introduction on the origin and history of the game by Mr R. Addams Williams, M.A. Cantab. He says :—"The earliest records of draught, are found in Egypt, and for practical purposes commence about 1600 8.C., in the time of Queen Hatasu or Hat-Shepsus daughter of Thothmes 1., and herself for many years ruler of Egypt." Some of her draughts men and part of her board have been discovered and are described in The Times of June 22nd, 1887, and more fully in Mr Falkner's " Games Ancient and Modern." There is a great deal of interesting information for all classes of readers. Twenty-seven games, 1466 variations and upwards of 200 critical positions on diagrams. We heartily recommend it to all lovers of tho grand old game. * The publishers are G. Bell and Sons, York Street, Covent Garden, London, and the price 3s 6d.