MORPHY’S LAST GAME.

Temuka Leader, Issue 919, 18 February 1882, Page 3

MORPHY’S LAST GAME.

Morphy’s unfortunate mental condition is well understood by the chess world, and there is not a player who does not regret it and sympathise with him in his 1 great affliction- There are two phases, among others, to his harmless halluoina-

tjoll3 a honor of chess,'and a continually recurring belief that unless he could obtain a loan of 200 dollars immediately he will Ibe financially ruined. This latter is well j understood by his many friends in New Orleans. Mr Morphy is constantly requesting loans of that amount, is never refused, and he never takes the money, however urgent the need of it, as explained by him when asking for the loan. He is entirely satisfied and all his anxiety as soon as the friend to whom he has applied responds, “ Certainly,” Mr Morphy, will you take the money now 1” To this his invariable response is that he “ will not take it now, but will call again for it" —which he never does. On a recent occasion Mr Morphy hastily entered the office of a well-known resident of New Orleans, and made known his need of 200 dollars to save himself from impending disaster, and requested a loan of that amount. His friend resolved on an experiment which would test the relative strength of the hold on Morphy’s mind of this delusion, and the other—his aversion to chess, and assuming a serious tone, he said —“ You want this money very much it seems." “ Yes,” said Morphy, “ I must have it—it is-absolutely necessary." “ Well,” replied the other, “I’ll tell you what I will do ; if you will play a game of chess with me, I will make it 250 dollars.” Morphy’s countenance betrayed the internal struggle between the conflicting emotions aroused by this offer. He paused in thought for some moments, and then, in a tone expressive of his sense of the hardship inflicted upon him by the condition, and also of a quiet exultation over the anticipated success of a plan he had formed, he accepted the terms ; chessboard and men were produced in the inner office, and Morphy played his latest *game of chess. With a disdainful curl of the lip and a manifest repugnance, Morphy moved in such a way that his friend mated h m in a very few moves, whereupon Morphy exclaimed, “ There I have done what you require ; but the next time 1 play chess with you I will give you the queen 1” aud already oblivious of his pecuniary necessities, lie was going away, when his friend reminded him of his reward. “ I will come for it to-mor-rew,” was his reply as he left the apartment. This incident., which is undoubtedly true, shows the “ holy fire,” is not extinct iu Morphy’s breast, and that he still has pride in his chess strength, and a consciousness that he yet retains it. -Turf, Field and Farm.