MELBOURNE TOWN v. COUNTRY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2325, 22 September 1898, Page 48

MELBOURNE TOWN v. COUNTRY.

The Melbourne "Weekly Times of the 10th inst gives a full report of the big contest, from which we niako a few extracts. There is no mention made of Mr Jordan's presence, so we take it for granted that he did not arrive in time. This would be a great disappointment to the Victorians. The seventh annual draughts tournament between town and country players was held in the supper room of the Town Hall, Melbourne, on Saturday, September 3. There were 91 players on either side, and the various games were watched with interest by a large number of spectators. The Mayor of Melbourne (Cr M'Eacham in opening the tournament, said that it afforded him very great pleasure to be amongst the players, for the game, while not imposing too great a strain on the mental faculties, was one thai could, and did, lead to the best of good fellowship. It -was a pleasant means of keeping people at home at their own firesides, and he knew no better means of achieving that object than by interesting youngsters of both sexes in the pleasaixt and elevating pastime, and it would, moreover, tend in the direction of keeping them from falling into vices to which the young were prone. In his innocenco he had thought that the game had originated in Scotland ; it should have done, if it had not. — (Laughter.) To many of them the story would be familiar of the old Scotch lady who when in London sought to buy a check dress. She explained to the shopman that sho desired to obtain a " dambrod " pattern, but the man in his ignorance, being English, told her that something ho had shown her was the broadest pattern they had in stock. — (Renewed laughter.) Of course what she wanted was a checker board pattern. The game was known in the time of Ramases, and their was in existence a picture of that potentate engaged in playing draughts. The game was mentioned in Homer's Odyssey, and it was recorded in the books that when Minerva was going to visit Ithaca, the game was played. Chess, too was a very well-known game to the ancients. He might quote : " There in the portal placed, the Heaven-born maid; Enormous riot and misrule conveyed; On hides of beeves before the palace gate (Sad spoils of luxury) the suitors sate. With rival art and ardour in their mieu, At chess they are, to captivate the Queen, Divining of their lives." la these lines the game referred to was chess, and he was glad to think it was, as he was a great chess player, and frequently played some interesting games with his old friend, Mr Jamoi Service. He would be very glad to have a game of draughts that afternoon if they could find their worst player. — (Laughter.) There could not be a nicer game than draughts, and hi had very vreat pleasure in granting them tRe use of the room, and would be glad to be of assistance to the Victorian Draughts Association in any way. — (Applause.) The Rev. Mr Marshall thought it was a shame to interpose speeches before the games, as he could see that the players all had the light of battle in their eyes. (Laughter.) He had sincere and solid pleasure in being present amongst them, ' although it 'was against all his canons to leare his study on a Saturday. His "Worship the Mayor was a Scotchman to the backbone, as his good Scottish name betokened, though it was only properly pronounced by Scottish lips. — (Laughter). It was told of a countryman of his who, on passing by the mayor's office, saw on the door plate " M'llwraith, M'Eacharn, and Co." Putting hi 3 finger on the latter name, he unhesitatingly said, " That is the gentleman I want to see ; is he in?'" — (Laughter.) However, he (the speaker) must protest against the mayor,as a Scotchman, trying to prove that the game of draughts had its origin anywhere else than in Scotland ; he did not care a button for chronology. — (Laughter.) As a Scotch parson he could say that it wjs essentially a Scotch game, and it was the long-headedness of the Scotch that enabled them to so easily vanquish their opponents. It w.<s a very good game, and he thought very highly of it. After the mayor had done with their worst player he would have no objection in the world to engaging the mayor in a game. — (LDiujhter.) Chess was a game that took too much cut of one— particularly if there was not much to take. — (Loud laughter.) He used at one time to play chess till 5 o'clock in the morning, and then go fishing to get the games out of his head. — (Renewed laughter.) He had gone to the Scotch College sports a little while ago, where some of his boy 3 were engaged in the athletics. He could not help being impressed by the fact that those who won by their heels earned more applause than those who achieved success through their brains. He had been brought \ip in the coxmtry, and it was there he had learned to play draughts, which was an excellent game to develop and strengthen the mind, although their experience here had been that the town men had always beaten the country playors. The explanation was perhaps to be found in the fact that many of those in the covntry required rest after the labours of the day, while those in the town found in draughts a pleasant means of recreation. Other speakers followed. The result of the play, compared with previous years, is shown in the following figures. "We have usually had to compile the figures ourselves; this year the Times gives them: —

The following games were played in tha match: — Played on Board 1, between Mr F. Brownj, Melbourne, and Mr G. Zilles, Ballarat. Game 2717-— " Single Corner."

Boards. Games. L 894 ... ]05 694 895 ... 84 484 iB«6 ... 81 474 LR97 ... 62 364 1898 ... 9> 529 Town. < "Wins. 280 233 234 173 232 Uountry. Wins. Drawn, 212 112 118 93 149 91 119 72 205 92