Chess Items.

Otago Witness, Issue 2402, 15 March 1900, Page 52

Chess Items.

The British Chess Company are distributing copies of the wall sheet " Laws for the Regiilation of Games played over the Board," being Part II of the British Chess Code (revised edition) These are intended for use in chess clubs, reading rooms, chess resorts, etc. Should any desire 'this wall sheet they are requested to send the address of club or room in which chess is played to the British Chess Company, Stroud, Glos., and a copy will be sent without charge. The above announcement is accompanied by a revised price list of the company, being a pamphlet containing a varied assortment of chess requisites calculated to suib all po'ekets. Someone tells the • following good story of Pillsbury's absolute coolness and self-posses-sion in his blindfold exhibitions: "Pillsbury's only oversight during the entire session was the loss of a piece, which he thought was protected by one of his pawns. When the

player gathered it in, Harry was a bit taken i aback. ' Are you sure the position is correct ?' ) he asked of the teller. ' Yes,' replied the latter, and added: 'It's a clear piece.' Hariy pulled himself together, then studied intently for a, minute, and rctoited calmly: '-It will bo , ft jdeae piece when lie gets it.' Bu£§ gJiftUK.li

in a couple of more moves he had a piece in return for the one he had lost. Though he diopped a pawn in the transaction, he .finally pulled out a winner."

It has been decided to abandon the proposed international women's chess tournament, which it was intended to hold in America during the spring, owing to a lack of sufficient support. The Brooklyn Chess Club has been requested to appoint a committee to audit the books of the managers with a view to returning the money to subscribers.

Men with properly constituted minds choose for their recreation such pleasures as contain in themselves some element of mental profit. The best pastimes are those -which not only amuse during hours of leisure, but also leave behind commemorative mental legacies. One of the characteristics of the game of chess is that while it entertains leisure, it also excites interest. There is no game which is to the same degree both a pleasant pastime and a mental stimulus. It exercises imagination, reason, ingenuity; and it calls into play all the beet powers with which the human mind is endowed. — Rossendale Free Press, Saturday, January 20.