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PAUL MORPHY: HIS
LATER LIFE
BY C. A. BUCK.
WILL. H. LYONS,
NEWPORT, KENTUCKY.
JANUARY, 1902.
PUBLISHERS
PREFACE
C.
A. Buck of Toronto, Kansas is the author of this interesting and comprehensive
biography of Paul Morphy.
Mr. Buck has gathered from authentic sources facts and data in the
later life of Morphy that have never been published, Several years were devoted
to securing information; a month was then spent in New Orleans verifying and
adding to his store of facts; Morphy's relatives and friends giving him great
assistance. The matter first appeared in a prominent Western newspaper. With Mr.
Buck's consent, I now offer it in its present form. I have added a portrait of
Mr. Morphy from a photograph taken immediately after his return from Europe,
also his autograph.
WILL H. LYONS.
PAUL MORPHY
 The
chronicles of Chess, amplified as it is by a literature richer than that of any
other game, offer to the student nothing to compare with the career of Paul
Morphy, the game's greatest master. A number of circumstances conspire to make
Paul Morphy an unique and monumental character in chess history. The two salient
factors of his fame were, of course, his wonderful chess play and of his extreme
youth during the period of his active chess career. Incidentally, the fact that
he was the only master of the first class that America had produced up to his
time augmented his prestige; and then, too, his personality, marked as it was by
many graces of the mind, added lustre to his fame. His later life, during which
he met with many disappointments and reverses, finally resulting in a mild form
of mania, adds a melancholy interest to his career. It was such a contrast to
what his youth gave promise of that it seems almost tragic in its aspects.
It is curious to note that
while the name of Paul Morphy is known wherever chess is played, and most every
practitioner of the game is familiar with his chess, yet there are few players
of to-day who know of his later life, dating from his return from Europe in
1859. A sketch of Morphy's later life, however brief and fragmentary, should
properly be prefaced by a review of his chess career, not only in the interest
of a harmonious whole, but that the reader may have a better understanding of
some phases of his character that developed with the maturity of years.
Paul Morphy was born in New Orleans, June 22, 1837. He learned
chess at the age of ten, graduated at Spring Hill college, near Mobile, Ala., in
1854, studied law and was admitted to the bar in April, 1857. He was gifted with
a wonderful mind, its precocious powers being revealed not only in chess but in
his studies as well. It should be noticed that before he was twenty years old he
had graduated at college and at a law school, his learning embracing fluency in
four languages and ability to recite from memory nearly the entire Civil Code of
Louisiana. Morphy's chess practice during his childhood was
mainly with his father and his uncle, Ernest Morphy. He gave evidence of a keen
aptitude for the game and was soon able to defeat them both, although his uncle
especially was a strong player. His natural capacity for chess was shown in his
seeming divination of the proper moves in the openings before he had ever
studied them.
Ernest Morphy wrote to Kieseritzky in October, 1849, that his nephew, then a
little over twelve years old, had never opened a chess treatise but that "in the
openings he plays the 'coups justes' as if by inspiration." As a matter
of fact, Morphy did not at any time have the benefit of chess books in the sense
of keeping a number of them at hand for study and reference. What few books he
made use of he went through quickly as possible, and after having mastered the
contents he gave them away. James McConnell, the elder, of New Orleans, has a
book of the tournament of 1851 which Morphy gave him when fifteen years old. The
book had been issued but a short time when Morphy secured this copy. He soon
played over all the games and then gave it to his friend. The volume is
especially interesting on account of numerous marginal notes in Morphy's own
handwriting by which he expressed his opinion of the games and certain moves. As
is well known, this book was edited by Staunton, and young Morphy, like a child
of genius, made a captious comment on Staunton's chess play by writing on the
title page to make the authorship read like this: "By H. Staunton, Esq., author
of the Hand-book of Chess, Chess-Player's Companion, etc. (and some devilish bad
games)."
Paul Morphy first showed the genius of a coming master in the three games he
played with Löwenthal, the distinguished Hungarian player, in May, 1850, when he
was not quite thirteen years old. Of these games he won two and drew the other.
His encounters, about this time, with Eugene Rousseau, a native of France but
then a resident of New Orleans, further showed a surpassing mastery of chess for
a boy just entering his teens. Rousseau's rating as a chess player may be judged
by the games he played with Kieseritzky on even terms, of which there were more
than one hundred, the latter winning a bare majority. Morphy and Rousseau played
over fifty games during the years 1849 and 1850, and Morphy won nine-tenths of
them.
Regarding the games with Löwenthal, it is a curious circumstance that
five years after Morphy's death there appeared in the Chess Review of Havana an
apocryphal game wherein Morphy accepted the odds of pawn and move, the claim
being made that the game was the third one of the series played with Löwenthal
in 1850. The game had previously been submitted to no less a chess scholar than
Max Lange who pronounced it genuine. There were several things, so it was
claimed, that clothed this bogus game with verisimilitude, chiefly the fact that
of three games played the scores of only two were preserved. Fortunately,
however for Morphy's reputation, Charles A. Maurian, than whom no one is better
qualified to pass an opinion on anything pertaining to Morphy, has proved that
Morphy did not accept odds on that occasion. The claim, notwithstanding Max
Lange's support of it, has been utterly exploded.
From his thirteenth to his twentieth year Morphy was devoted to his
studies, but during his vacations, which were spent for the most part at home in
New Orleans, he played chess with the strong amateurs of the city and with such
players of force who were sojourning there. Hence, when the first American chess
congress convened in New York in October, 1857, his renown as a chess player had
preceded him and he was the cynosure of the chess enthusiasts. He won the first
prize in this event, and after the tournament he issued a challenge to play a
match with any New York player and yield the odds of pawn and move. This was
accepted by C. H. Stanley, who was one of the foremost players of his time,
having defeated Rousseau in a match by a score of 15 to 8. The proposed match
was for seven games up, but Stanley resigned after five games had been played,
Morphy winning four and Stanley one. This challenge at the odds of pawn and move
was also leveled at James Thompson, a player of some force, who participated in
the main tournament of the congress. Morphy and Thompson had played as many as
eight games together on even terms, including the games in the tournament, and
Morphy had won all of them, yet Thompson was not prepared to admit that the
disparity of pawn and move existed between them. As Thompson would not accept
the odds in casual play Morphy sought to tempt him with the odds in a match.
Referring to this matter in a letter home at the time Morphy observes that "he
seems to fancy that it is beneath his dignity to accept odds of a player who has
won every game contested with him. My impression is that I can give him the odds
and make even games." But Thompson did not accept the challenge. Attention is
called to the chess vanity that prevented Thompson from playing Morphy and take
the odds of pawn and move, because after Morphy's return from Europe eighteen
months later he defeated Thompson decisively at the odds of a knight ! Winning
this match at such odds against a player of Thompson's ability is regarded by
some as Morphy's greatest achievement.
Before leaving New York
Morphy amended his challenge to the New York players to embrace any player in
America. The effect of this was to offer the odds of pawn and move to Louis
Paulsen of Iowa, the second prize winner of the congress - a player who, like
Morphy, made his first appearance before the chess world at this congress, and
who, with Morphy eliminated, would have been the most conspicuous player there.
No result came of the challenge however.
Morphy went to England in
June, 1858, to play Staunton, the representative of English chess, but failed to
meet him in a match owing to default by Staunton. They did meet however, in
consultation play, Morphy's ally being Thomas Wilson Barnes and Staunton's
confrere being Rev. J. Owen ("Alter" in chess circles). Two games were played,
and Morphy and Barnes won both. Morphy played a match with Löwenthal, and won by
a score of nine games to three, with two draws; also a match with Rev. J. Owen,
at odds of pawn and move, winning five games and losing none, with two draws. In
France he played three matches, winning against Anderssen, 7 to 2, and two
draws; against Harrwitz 5 to 2, and one draw; Mongredien 7 to o. While in Europe
Morphy gave four séances in blindfold play, at Birmingham, at the London Chess
club, at the St. George's Chess club (London), and at Paris. In each contest he
played eight games, and made the unique record of losing only one game, although
several were drawn, six by agreement. His performance at Paris, considering the
strength of his adversaries, is held by some critics to be the crowning
achievement in blindfold play. Morphy never regarded this form of chess
seriously ; he remarked one time that "it proves nothing." He held to the
opinion that a player's strength was measured by his play against single
adversary across the board.
After his sojourn in Paris,
Morphy returned to London and played many informal games with the strongest
English players, notably with S. S. Boden and Thomas Wilson Barnes. Morphy
regarded Mr. Boden as the strongest English player.
The consensus of opinion
seems to be that Morphy's chief claim to preeminence in chess rests upon his
victory over Anderssen, winner of the world's tournament in London in 1851, and
admittedly the best player in Europe. In addition to the match games, Morphy and
Anderssen played six informal games, of which the Prussian master scored only
one. The informal and match games made a total of seventeen games played by
these masters, of which Morphy won twelve, and Anderssen three, and two were
drawn. Such a result was so overwhelming as to cause consternation in European
chess circles, and the chess writers of the time sought to sustain the shattered
prestige of their master by explaining that Anderssen was in poor health and out
of practice at the time. As to the question of practice, Anderssen himself felt
that he could play good enough to win the match, and as to his health, he was
well enough to travel from Breslau to Paris in order to play. On the other hand,
Morphy had been ill in bed for several weeks before the match, was still
confined to his bed when Anderssen arrived, and was unable to sit up for several
days thereafter. His physician finally permitted him to play the match in the
hotel and thus avoid the fatigue incident to playing in public at the Café de la
Régence.
It was while in Paris, during the month of December, 1858, that Morphy's
so-called aversion to chess began to manifest itself, and his feelings in this
particular became so aggravated in later years as to create the general belief
that he grew to positively dislike the game. This is a mistake. His experience
in European chess circles was a revelation to him. It should be remembered that
he was a boy, inspired by the ardor, enthusiasm and high ideals of youth ; and
loving chess as he did, he was shocked and disgusted at the sordid
conventionalities of chess practice that was in vogue. The taint of
professionalism was repellant to him, and when he saw how the game was made a
business of, his disgust led him to forsake the haunts of chess. Morphy's idea
regarding the morals of chess is not suggested for the purpose of making any
invidious comparisons, but simply to establish the fact that it was not chess
that he grew to dislike, but the practice of it by those who would make a living
by it. As Morphy was fated to be in a way an involuntary victim of his fame as a
chess player, his ideas in this respect are important as explaining a peculiar
phase of his character.
Morphy returned to America in May, 1859, and was
greeted with all the enthusiasm due a conquering hero. In the presence of a vast
assembly in the chapel of the University of New York he was presented with a
testimonial in the shape of a magnificent set of gold and silver chess men, with
board to match, the most costly, perhaps, that were ever wrought. The
festivities of this occasion were unhappily marred by a dramatic episode that
showed Morphy's growing sensitiveness to the "profession of chess." Colonel
Charles D. Mead, president of the American Chess association, was chairman of
the reception committee which greeted Morphy, and in his address of welcome he
made an allusion to chess as a profession, and referred to Morphy as its most
brilliant exponent.
Morphy took
exception to being characterized as a professional player, even by implication,
and he resented it in such a way as to overwhelm Colonel Mead with confusion.
Such was his mortification at this untoward event that Colonel Mead withdrew
from farther participation in the Morphy demonstration. The Union Chess club of
New York presented Morphy with a superb sterling silver wreath as a token of
victory over all, In Boston, also, Morphy was given a banquet, at which
Longfellow, Holmes, Lowell, Agassiz and many others eminent citizens were
present to tender him their congratulations.
So great an interest did Morphy's achievements create in chess in
this country that Robert Bonner, the enterprising publisher of the New York
Ledger, started a chess column in his paper, and secured for it at once
widespread popularity by engaging Morphy as chess editor at a salary of $3,ooo a
year, paid in advance. The feature of the Ledger column was the
publication of about fifteen of the games between De La Bourdonnais and
MacDonnell, annotated by Morphy. Morphy intended to publish all the games
between these two masters, as he considered them the finest specimens of chess
on record.
Shortly after reaching New Orleans Morphy issued a final challenge,
offering to give the odds of pawn and move to any player in the world, and
receiving no response thereto he declared his career as a chess player finally
and definitely closed, a declaration to which he held with unbroken resolution
during the whole remainder of his life.
Morphy made arrangements to practice law soon after his return to
his native city, but his fame as a chess player was so over shadowing that it
seemed people were disinclined to regard him seriously in any other capacity.
His fellow citizens looked upon him simply as a marvelous chess player and
nothing more, and this so irritated him that he began to have an aversion to
playing the game even privately. In fact, he became so morbid on the effect of
chess on his career as a lawyer that, in spite of all the efforts of his friends
and relatives, he gave up the work of chess editor of the Ledger, and the
contract for which he had been engaged was completed by W. J. A. Fuller. Morphy
was associated with D. W. Fiske in the publication of the American Chess
Monthly, and although his name was carried on the publication as one of its
editors during the five years of its existence (1857-1861) it is known that he
did very little of the work.
An incident may here be related as showing how Morphy was often crucified
on the cross of his fame. He became enamored of a wealthy and handsome young
lady in New Orleans and informed a mutual friend of the fact, who broached the
subject to the lady, but she scorned the idea of marrying a "mere chess player,"
Small wonder that he became morbid and abjured the practice of chess.
During the year 1861 Morphy visited Richmond, Va., seeking to
obtain an appointment in the diplomatic service of the southern confederacy, but
he did not succeed and returned to New Orleans. He was there when the city was
captured by the federal forces. In October, 1862, he went to Havana in a Spanish
man-of-war, the Blasco de Garay, and after remaining there a few weeks he
sailed for Cadiz. From there he went to Paris by rail, where he remained until
the spring of 1865, when he returned to New Orleans. In 1867 he again went to
Paris and remained about eighteen months.
During the ten years following his return from Europe in 1859
Morphy's practice of chess was limited to casual games with intimate friends,
chiefly with Charles A. Marian of New Orleans and Arnous de Riviere of Paris. It
is thought the total number of games played during these ten years would not
exceed 75. The completeness of his abandonment of the game may be inferred from
the fact that although the great International Chess Tournament of 1867 was
going on in Paris during his third visit to that city he never once visited the
scene of its exciting and splendid contests. Morphy played absolutely no chess
with anybody after the year 1869.
The mental derangement which overwhelmed Morphy's brilliant mind and clouded his
later life is a curious chapter in his career, and has given rise to no little
wonder among chess players as to the cause and conditions of his mania. Without
going into the details of his mental troubles, two conclusions stand out very
clearly, namely, that chess in no way contributed to it, and that the reverses
he experienced in his material affairs did. The latter conclusion is borne out
by the fact that his mania took the form of a delusion that his brother-in-law,
Sybrandt by name, administrator of his father's estate, had defrauded him of his
legacy, So intensively did this delusion dominate him that his perverted mind
conjured up machinations on the part of Sybrandt to poison him in order to quiet
his proposed action at law to recover, Morphy was perpetually in fear of being
poisoned, and as a precaution would eat nothing except at the hands of his
mother or his unmarried sister, Helena, This proposed action against his
brother-in-law absorbed Morphy's attention for many years; being a lawyer
himself he busied himself with the details of his suit, and was much about the
law courts in consequence. It should be stated, however, that Mr. Sybrandt
discharged the obligations of the trust entirely to the satisfaction of the
court, which is a matter of record.
It is difficult to fix the time when Morphy's mind was noticeable
unbalanced, When the second American chess congress was held in Cleveland in
1871 strenuous efforts were made to secure Morphy's attendance, but he
persistently declined all invitations that were urged upon him. Rumors of his
malady were abroad then ; some people who were in a position to know aver that
his mania was perceptible even before that date. Morphy was never legally
declared insane; he was so harmless and reticent, and lived in such quite
retirement at his home, that there was no need of putting him under any
restraint. In June, 1882, his family did endeavor to place him in a sanitarium
in the hope that he would be benefited. The institution was called the Louisiana
Retreat, located near New Orleans, and under the patronage of the Catholic
church. Those in the party that accompanied Morphy were his mother his brother
Edward, and his intimate friend C. A. Maurian. When they reached the asylum
Morphy protested against his detention with such evident sanity, and discussed
his civil rights with such a learned knowledge of the law, that the Sisters in
charge were afraid to assume the responsibility, and he was taken back home.
During all these years of misfortune Morphy still loved
chess, and kept run of the current news of the game down to his death. But he
was annoyed, and at times even enraged, at the mention of it. This may seem
rather contradictory but it should be remembered that his experience and
environments were peculiar. It may be worth while to relate an episode that
discloses Morphy's feelings. regarding chess better than anything else. Under
the pretense of assisting him with his suit against his brother-in-law, a lawyer
of New Orleans examined the papers in the case and gave his opinion in Morphy's
favor. He gained confidence to such an extent that Morphy ate a piece of rock
candy, first seeing that the lawyer himself had eaten a piece. The lawyer then
suggested that he would like, at some convenient time, to play a game of chess
with him. Morphy seemed alarmed; made sure that no one was in hearing, and then
replied : "I dearly love chess, but not now, not now - when we win the case."
When Steinitz was in New Orleans in 1883 he persistently tried to
see Morphy, and Morphy persistently avoided him. After four failures to effect
an interview between these two celebrated chess players, friends of Morphy
finally secured the promise to meet Steinitz on condition that chess would not
even be alluded to. This condition was adhered to, and the interview lasted
about ten minuses, but was mutually embarrassing on account of the forbidden
subject, When Morphy was first approached by a friend in regard to meeting
Steinitz, the remark was made that "Steinitz is in the city," to see what effect
it would have on Morphy, He replied: "I know it," and after a pause he
continued. "His gambit is not good." There is a world of meaning in these words
to one who is familiar with all the particulars to which the words may apply.
Morphy was then asked if he kept a board and men at hand to play over games, and
he admitted he did, but he could not be induced to talk further On the subject
of chess.
It is said by those most qualified to speak that Morphy's mutual
derangement did not impair his chess powers in the least; that at any time
during his later years he could have played with all his pristine brilliancy and
accuracy.
When Dr. Zukertort was in New Orleans in 1882 he met Morphy on Canal
street and handed him his card. Morphy put the card in his pocket without
looking at it and then greeted the doctor by name speaking i n French. Zukertort
was amazed, and exclaimed: "Why, how is it you know my name without looking at
my card? And how did you know I speak French?" Morphy satisfied his curiosity by
remarking: "I met you in Paris in 1867, and you spoke French then."
Paul Morphy died suddenly at his home in New Orleans July 10, 1884.
He had indulged in a long walk during the heat of the day, and on his return
home went to the bath room to bathe. It is supposed the shock of the cold water
on his overheated body caused congestion of the brain, for he was found dead in
the bath tub shortly afterward,
After his death his trophies were sold at auction. The silver
service, consisting of a pitcher, four goblets and a salver, being the first
prize won at the chess congress, was bought for $400 by Mr. Samory at New
Orleans; the set of gold and silver chessmen was taken by Walter Denegre, acting
for the Manhattan Chess club of New York, price $1,500; and the silver wreath
sold for $250, also bought by Mr. Samory.
An engaging pastime of chess writers and critics of late years has
been that of comparing the latter-day masters with Morphy, but so far the most
flattering comparisons have never exceeded that of equality with the immortal
Morphy. None have claimed that he has been surpassed by his successors. It is
safe to venture the opinion, however, that a great majority of chess players
award Morphy the palm of superiority over players of all times. Certainly,
taking into consideration the fact that he was in no sense a chess student, that
he regarded the game solely as a pastime and himself as an amateur; not
forgetting his extreme youth when he achieved his wonderful victories, nor the
fact that his chess career covered a period of less than two years -remembering
all these facts in addition to his sublime chess play and then comparing him
with the seasoned veterans of the checkered field, who have devoted years to the
analysis and practice of the game, it would not seem beyond the bounds of
moderation and reason to regard Paul Morphy as the greatest chess player that
ever lived. return |
