A Point of Classic fiigunette.

Otago Witness, Issue 2456, 10 April 1901, Page 56

A Point of Classic fiigunette.

Poor Charousek was only 28. For years he had been in the grip of consumption, to which he succumbed. When competing in the great tournaments he used to walk about while his opponent was considering his move, and some rather resented this. Wmawer for one could not loe comfortable when playing against Charousek, and Wmawer was not alone m this sensitiveness. James Mason is another wanderer. "Why should I burst myself with thinking out combinations which may be nullified by my opponent's next move'?" was the query he once submitted to the writer, who had no valid reply. Once, in a great tourney, two players caused some little discussion on this very point; this delicate point, of caissic etiquette. Mason was playing Bird, and, having made a ceitain xnove, went away for a long, long time, not merely to visit the other games, but to air himself or otherwise to relax his intellect. Now everybody knows that Bird 13 the last man to keep anybody waiting for his move, and when he had made it he looked around for Mason, who was probably far away discussing political economy or the question of Biblical inspiration with a crowd of admirers hanging on his lips, oblivuras of Bird, of chess, of tourneys, of all but the subject under examination. The moments sped ; no Mason. Bird mentioned the thing to the stewards, perhaps suggesting a scrutiny of the surroundings or that an advertisement should be put in the daily papers. The officials replied that Mason's clock was ticking healthily. At last the lost Master sauntered in, calmly, leisurely, and went on with the game. Bird complained of the disrespect implied by the circumstaances, for Mason had to make goodness knows how many moves m a minute or two. Adding injury to insult, he wojl the game. And yet Mason is essentially a polite and considerate master. Bird once had a chance of getting level. We were there. The place was the British Chess Club, the occasion was the Five-Master Match of 1892. The Bird-Mason game was at its last gasp — was it a draw — was it a win? It was one of those queer positions m which the question of opposition and an advanced pawn made things, in appearance, a little uncertain. The umpires came on the seene — Sir George Newnes. donor of the prizes, among them. Bird had two hours in hand, saved up during the progress of the game: why should he not expend that time on analysis 9 Because play time was over, and to resume a game like that in the morning — well, the subject was delicate, and though everyone of course knew quite well that Mr Bird's chivalry would cause him to dismiss the game fiom his mind till the next afternoon, yet So the old player made his movethough he had two hours in hand, and Mason won m a few minutes. — Weekly Mercury.