Even "California"
who greatly desired to improve and apparently cared little about
expense, and with his double or quits propensity in play would not
deign to notice a chess book. One said that this amateur possessed
all the requisites of a loser playing very fastly, very badly and
risking very rashly. One morning about twelve before chess hours
at the Cafe International, New York, whilst writing I was accosted
by a tall and fashionable looking American whom I had seen once
or twice before playing with Mackenzie or Mason, but had never
spoken to. "I see you are busy," said he. "It is not particularly
pressing for the moment," said I, placing my work aside. He
then commenced to interview me concerning Morphy, asking my
opinion and description of him in every conceivable manner;
Staunton, Buckle, Anderssen, Steinitz and Blackburne followed
in rapid succession. All things temporal have an end and a
welcome pause came in this case. Taking up a chess book lying
by my side which happened to be a gilt copy of Chess Masterpieces,
just out, he said, "How much might that book be?" "Oh! about
a dollar," said I. He replied, "I guess that's a pretty tall book,
but times are bad and I guess I cannot invest a dollar on that ere
book.
Pages:
267
268
269
270
271
272
273
274
275
276
277
278
279
280
281
282
283
284
285
286
287
288
289
290
291