Chess History and Reminiscences

Chess History and Reminiscences,
by H. E. Bird

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Title: Chess History and Reminiscences
Author: H. E. Bird
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one year ahead of schedule] [This file was first posted on March 23,
2002]
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*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, CHESS
HISTORY AND REMINISCENCES ***

This etext was produced by Stephen D. Leary

CHESS HISTORY AND REMINISCENCES
by H. E. Bird

======
To My Highly Esteemed Chess Opponent And Patron Of Nearly 40
Years W. J. EVELYN, Esq., Of Wotton, Surrey
======
CONTENTS
PREFACE PECULIAR AND DISTINGUISHING
CHARACTERISTIC OF CHESS WRITERS, LACK OF CHESS
HISTORY
RETROSPECT, AND HABITS, AND IDIOSYNCRACIES OF
CHESS PLAYERS: TEMPERAMENT, ATTITUDE AND
DEPORTMENT, STYLE, STAKES, LOSING, LOOKERS-ON,
ODDITIES, AND PATRONS

CONCERNING THE ORIGIN OF CHESS: PREVAILING
MISCONCEPTION ITS EVER GROWING POPULARITY
THEORIES AS TO ITS INVENTION TRADITIONS THE THREE
INDIAN TRADITIONS EARLY AND MIDDLE AGE
CONJECTURES PROGRESS OF CHESS INDIA CHINA EGYPT
THE ANCIENT GREEKS AND ROMANS SCANDINAVIA PERSIA
ARABIA, SPAIN, FRANCE: CHOSROES, AL WALID, HARUN,
PRINCESS IRENE, CHARLEMAGNE, OFFA, ALCUIN, EGBERT,
AL MAMUN
THE ROMAN EDICT OF 115 B.C.: SUPPOSED EUROPEAN FIRST
KNOWLEDGE: SCANDINAVIA. ITALY. IRELAND. WALES.
OPINIONS ON CHESS AND ITS ORIGIN: POPE'S LINES THE
TRACK OF CHESS (UNIQUE SPECIMEN)--THE INDIAN KING
TO SASSA THE KING OF HIND TO CHOSROES THE EARLY
EXAMPLES OF PRAISE AND CENSURE THE REMARKABLE
ADVANTAGES OF THE ASIATIC SOCIETIES, AND PHYSICANS
RECOMMENDATIONS. FOOD FOR THE MIND AS WELL AS
FOR THE BODY
MIDDLE AGES AND MODERN: CHAUCER TO LYDGATE
CAXTON, ELIZABETH'S REIGN VIDA PRATT SAUL AND
BARBIERE SALVIC CARRERA ENCYCLOPAEDIA AN
AMERICAN VIEW THE INDIAN PHILOSOPHER SOVEREIGNS
COMMEMORATED AS CHESS PLAYERS PHILIDOR'S
ASCENDENCY, POPULARITY & PATRONS
THE NINETEENTH CENTURY: SIMPSON'S 1828-1893-CHESS
CLUBS CHESS MASTERS OF THE DAY, MAGAZINE NOTIONS,
THE FORTNIGHTLY REVIEW, AND REPLY IN AN IMPARTIAL
ARTICLE from H. E. BIRD
NATIONAL CHESS OF 1892, THE BELFAST CONGRESS AND
NEWCASTLE SUPPORT. SPECIMENS OF PLAY
BLINDFOLD CHESS THE GAME OF CHESS, (SUMMARY OR

BIRD'S EYE VIEW) Dedicated to Belfast and Newcastle
FOUR STYLES OF CHESS, "THE LION," "THE EAGLE," "THE
SLOW WORM," AND THE LOCOMOTIVE A SKIT
VAN DER LINDE'S CONCLUSIONS CHESS LOSSES
SUPPLEMENTAL AND SEPARATE. REVIEW OF STEINITZ,
PART 1, (8 pages.)
NOTE. Postponed. "Times Reminiscences" (7 in number) "Ruskin's
letters" (28), "Bayley's Article" and "Fortnightly Review" controversy,
and "A few words with the German writer, and the works of 1872 and
1884."
NOTES AND REFERENCES-BECKETT, LUTHER, CRANMER,
WOLSEY, &c.

PREFACE
This little work is but a condensation and essence of a much larger one,
containing the result of what can be discovered concerning the origin
and history of chess, combined with some of my own reminiscences of
46 years past both of chess play and its exponents, dating back to the
year 1846, the 18th of Simpson's, 9 years after the death of A.
McDonnell, and 6 after that of L. de La Bourdonnais when chivalrous
and first class chess had come into the highest estimation, and
emulatory matches and tests of supremacy in chess skill were the order
of the day.
English chess was then in the ascendant, three years before Howard
Staunton had vanquished St. Amant of France, and was the recognized
world's chess champion, while H. T. Buckle the renowned author of the
History of Civilization was the foremost in skill among chess amateurs,
Mr. W. Lewis and Mr. George Walker the well known and prolific
writers on chess, were among the ten or twelve strongest players, but
were seldom seen in the public circle, Mr. Slous and Mr. Perigal were
other first rate amateurs of about equal strength. Mr. Daniels who

attended Simpson's had just departed. Captain Evans and Captain
Kennedy were familiar figures, and most popular alike distinguished
and esteemed for amiability and good nature, and were the best friends
and encouragers of the younger aspirants.
At this