Morphy's First Game at the Regence.

Otago Witness, Issue 1989, 10 April 1890, Page 37

Morphy's First Game at the Regence.

The London New York Herald article on the Cafe de la Regenco, Paris, contains the following reference to Morphy : — With reason does the Regence honour Morphy, for It was there that he playd suoh games of ohess as Europe had never »een. T^ey tell an amusing story of his first appearance in the oafe. He strolled in there one afternoon, and dropping into a seat near Harrwitz, the then champion, watched the game with apparent indifference, Harrwitz having gained an easy victory, the young stranger modestly asked if he would like to play a game with him.

'• Gertainly/'answered Harrwitz, smiling. " What odds shall I give you ? " " I don't know, sir," said Morphy. " Suppose we play one game even, and then we can arrange the odds fairly," The other agreed to fchi", and the came commenced. Harrwitz began in a slapdash fashion, not thinking it neoessary for him to take pains ; but at the end of the eighth move he found, to his great astonishment, that lie was seriously embarrassed, and before he knew where he was the game was lost.

" H'm 1 " he exclaimed, " that's queer. I must have made some silly mistake."

" I guess you did, sir," replied Morphy. " Shall we try another?'' They did try another, and still another, and each time Morphy won. Harrwitz became very angry.

"Do you know who I am ? " he asked finally of his presumptuous opponent. " I am Harrwitz."

" I know you are." was the American's quiet answer. "Do you know who I am ? I am Morphy." They played several other games , Harrwitz now exerting himself to the utmost, but it was no use. Morphy never lost a game. It was at the Regence also that Morphy played some famous blindfold games, and an engraving tbere shows him, almost a boy, seated In the baok room, bis legs comfortably crossed, serenely directing eight simultaneous gamps sgninst eight of the finest players in Paris, defeating six and tying two in spite of the fact that h's eyes were tightly bound with a handkerchief, which indeed was hardly necessary, as the boards were placed in the front of the oafe.