Draughts Items.

Otago Witness, Issue 2008, 18 August 1892, Page 36

Draughts Items.

The Oainaru Town and Country match bids fair to be an unqualilicd success. It is fixed to take place on September 1, at the clubrooms, Oaniaru. Wyllie v. Others.— lt is a common saying that " we can't have too much of a good thing," and admitting that for the present as a truth we are forced to confess that the "inkslinging" and bilingsgato indulged in over the World's championship is not a good thing, for we have had too much of it. This is a subject which we don't like ventilating always, because it requires too much si>,ice, and because it shows to what petty meanness even a good draughts player can descend. We give one or two samples briefly, however, to keep pace with the times. In the end of April or beginning of May Barker published liis "ultimatum." Ho will play Wyllie, but the match myst be played in Boston or Providence, on the giounds that lie has already played two matches in England, and they ought now to come to him. Wyllie, in a lettei dated May 23, replies, accepting the challenge for a certain amount, number of games, &c, the match to be played in Glasgow. Wyllie's letter concludes thus : — "I would fain ask what business I have with Mr Barker's playing two matches in tins country, and have to tell him that I am quite fcati«tled with my victories in America, having played seven matches in that country for st.ikes, out of which I won six ; tho other was drawn by himself. Notwithstanding I would always have been very happy to have pLiyod matches in America for any amount of stakes, but I am now compelled to decline playing any more matches in America for my own protection, for if I were to beat Mr Barker iti a match he might be for claiming the stake upon the wine principle that he claims the Championship of the World. — I am, &c, James Wyllie, Champion Draughts Player of the World." A toothsome little innuendo, ian't it ? This is a sample. But then Wyllie is full of years. In a long letter published in the Pitt&burg ChronicleTolegraph in thu beginning of June Barker appears to have his back hair down, as the girls say. lie is alluding to what Wyllie has said and written at times, and expresses himself in tho following dulcet tones : — ... " Wjllio is a man who allows prejudice to get the better of his judgment. This has alway.-j been 1m chief chaiacteristic in regard to checkers. Who ever heard from his lips any expression of praise for an opponent who has teen so unfortunate as to play him even or defeated him in a match ? Never to my recollection. In his declining years Mr Wyllie grows worse, if anything, in this respect, and doea not miss an opportunity to vent his spite 911 our American players. He is just as vicious to-day as any one of his disposition can possibly ha, e-jpccicilly toward those who dare put themselves on an equality with Mm. the Autocrat, who styles himself Champion, of the World, but in my opinion is not in it with the rising young champions of to day, as his recent defeats prove. To be candid an'l outspoken I must say what I think— that there a,c vt least file O" sf.i players to-d'iy who can d't-covnt him in a set match I would not have much honour in defeating "Wyllie, but.vs I do not care for that so much as I do for the money, nothing would please me bettor than to mecfc Wyllio for 1000 d..l a-side, as I would consider my chance of winning much easier than it would be a contest with some of the bright, intelligent players who have worked their way to the front in recent jiars. Checkers was never Wyllie's /one. It would have been hotter for him to have followed his calling of herder, or that of a pcdl.ir. Then he would hf.ve had time to collect his senses and know how to treat his fallow man. "Willies experience and travel should have inatle a gentleman of him, but alas it was not to be. Chalk's Il'.I I . Barker, Champion Checker Player of the World." We ilo not pretend to bay who is ri;:ht and who is wrong, but it is obvious that the pl.iyers aic not anxious to meet in a match.

Answers to Correspondents. W D., V> r c]liiit,Un - Thanks. Suggestion has been under snn^i'lei.ition several tirr.-jj ;

w.ll probably act on it now. Hurry your Lst problem h oiily a diuw by pi tyii.fc H7 -> atter yvn ].v t iiwa. Istiiuro unj m- ,t.iko .' 1{..5.,.51.ij-i)v:l-.— Mu-.Upr.l.vvNe ; en jr ,'>m^e 'hi-m ;h inrtnking jiiur pl:'y. Vim are rii'lit. W. l! , V.'u.£,r,aui. — Lsttvy vibh eno!i..-.'ire to h:>nd. "Will forwvt'l as t'.>."-i;c(l. Thnnkd for pio*i;i--u. f^ululion of Problem