The Chess masters of To-day.

Te Aroha News, Volume IV, Issue 192, 19 February 1887, Page 2

The Chess masters of To-day.

A conspicuous figure in the English chess I world was Lowenthal. A Hungarian by birth, he emigrated after '48 Revolution to America, and settled in England after the> tournament in 1851. He contributed largely to the literature of chess, played several matches with success, but was beaten by Morphy, like everybody else* It is much to his honour that he speak* with such high appreciation of his opponent in " Morphy 's Games," which he published. There is no exhibition of paltryjealousy, but honest admiration and acknowledgment of superior power. He was appointed manager of the British Chesa Association, and seoretary of tha St. George's Club, and there had an opportunity o F fcakiog a prominent part in the, organisation of several tournaments, tho last one being in 1872, when Zukertorfc came over at his invitation. I met Lowenthal in 1867 in Paris, and. co anxiottsv was he both in outward appearance and manner to be taken for an Englishman that he would rather converse in broken French — I did not apeak English at the time — than have recourse to German, which of course he spoke fluently. His notion of an English gentleman, as far as the outer man was concerned, eon* stated in a clean shirt front and a sovereign in the waistcoat pocket. He edited for a long time the chess column in the " Era/* and when it waß discontinued be waß in quite a distressed state of mind. Meeting tk friend, he aaid, "My dear friend, I have lost my organ |H Thinking he alluded to voice— he had a bad cold at the time— hia friend consoled him, hoping he might soon recover it. "Oh, it is not my voice lam speaking of, but my chess column." Right up to his death— July, 1876— he tookk leading part in chess circles ; but owing to failing health he was assisted in his literary work by the late John Whisker, who was an intimate friend of his. — J. Aofler, in " Fortnightly Review."