WHAT A GAME OF CHESS DID.

Waikato Times, Volume XXXIX, Issue 3193, 10 December 1892, Page 6 (Supplement)

WHAT A GAME OF CHESS DID.

According to an old Spanish tradition Columbus' discovery of America was mainly duo to a hard-fought game of chess. Ferdinand of Spain, the story goes, used to pass the closing hours of each day over the chess-board, his principal antagonist being an old grandee, whose skill put the monarch's play to a severe test. Columbus had long been dancing attendance at the 1 Court, in pursuance of the one object of his life—the grand expedition in search of a new world —and although he had hitherto failed in his aim, yet he had enlisted the sympathies of the good Queen Isabella. The day arrived when the great navigator was to receive his final answer. He wended his way towards the palace at nightfall, more with the intention of bid-

ding farewell to Isabella than with any hope of success. Isabella, however, had not resigned herself and Columbus to defeat; and upon being notified of her favouiite's arrival, she sought the king, who, Deing absorbed in a hard-fought game with the old grandee, was in no mood to be bothered by the importunate sailor. The queen's interruption had the effect of distracting his attention, musing him to lose his principal piece —a loss which was followed by a volley of imprecations on sailors in general, and Columbus in particular. The game grew worse and worse, and defeat stared Ferdinand in the face, while the old grandee chuckled as loudly as he dared. Now Isabella, without ever having played had picked up considerable knowledge of the game by watching her husband and the nobles, and when Ferdinand told her that her protege should be successful or otherwise according as the game resulted, she immediately bent all her energies on the board. The contest had been unusually long, and the courtiers clustered around the table, much amused at the excitement of the king and the smug satisfaction of the old grandee. And so the game went on, which was to decide the discovery of a new world, until Isabella leaned towards her husband's ear, and exclaimed: "You can checkmate him in four moves ! " In the utmost astonishment the king reexamined the game, and found that his wife's assertion was correct. In a few minutes checkmate was declared and the game won, and the king arose and announced that Columbus should depart on his voyage of discovery, with the title of " Admiral of the Fleet." So says the old Spanish tradition.