Le blog de la Batgirl

*     *     *     Please Note    *     *     *

This blog, like most of what I write, focuses on the historical and cultural aspects of chess - with a few rants thrown in for good measure.

I don't accept friend requests; I don't play chess here; and I don't generally respond to notes, but I will respond to messages if they seem to have a purpose other than meaningless chat.  I'm only mentioning this so everyone knows there's nothing personal in my lack of response to any of the above.


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Morphy in Philadelphia

Submitted by batgirl on Wed Jul 29, 2009 7:08pm.

I've always felt that Paul Morphy's brief visit to Philadelphia was a particularly fascinating event.  This item, describing that visit, came from an 1898 edition of the American Chess Magazine. The article doesn't come out and say it, but it s... Read more »

Blue Lick

Submitted by batgirl on Sun Jul 26, 2009 12:06pm.

Charles Henry Stanley was the first acknowledged U.S. men's chess champion. He also edited the first chess column in the U.S. (in the New York Spirit of the Times in 1845, and one of the first chess magazine in America, the short-lived American ... Read more »

Hugh Alexander Kennedy

Submitted by batgirl on Sat Jul 25, 2009 9:34am.

from the Chess Players Chronicle  November, 1878. THE LATE CAPTAIN KENNEDY. "On Tuesday, 22nd October, at his residence, Ailsa Lodge, Reading, aged 69, Hugh Alexander Kennedy, late Lieutenant, Madras Native Infantry, and Captain, Forfar and K... Read more »

Biographies

Submitted by batgirl on Thu Jul 23, 2009 5:16pm.

In my notes, a member had left this message, "Your articles are great. Could you put something more about life of great chess players, some unknown facts about who they realy were. Thanks."   As much as I appreciate any communiqué, this note h... Read more »

Ruskin

Submitted by batgirl on Tue Jul 21, 2009 7:34pm.

John Ruskin, the 19th century British Renaissance Man, was exceedingly fond of chess until near the end of his life when he gave up playing.     He lived from 1819 to 1900 and even in 1884 the newspapers had this to say:   New York Times... Read more »

Chess, the Swimsuit Issue?

Submitted by batgirl on Mon Jul 20, 2009 6:54pm.

     Sports Illustrated is, of course, the mainstay American sports magazine. I mentioned Swimsuit in the title to allude to the fact that SI is also a mainstay of this article (and as a lurid attempt to lure and tempt readers). Actually I'm ... Read more »

Content Summary

Submitted by batgirl on Sun Jul 19, 2009 6:15am.

 It's THAT time again! The last time I posted a content summary was 12/04/2008. It's time to update. Because of the quantity of links, I made the font tiny. Remember, if you want to zoom in, press ctrl +  (hold down the ctrl key while pressi... Read more »

Napoleon Marache

Submitted by batgirl on Sat Jul 18, 2009 11:04am.

Almost everone who recognizes the name of Napolean Marache does so in context with his participation in the First American Chess Congress (where he scored a respectable +5-5=2) and with his association with Paul Morphy (serving as Morphy's secre... Read more »

Denis Julien

Submitted by batgirl on Fri Jul 17, 2009 12:59pm.

DENIS JULIEN.      Denis Julien was born in the year 1806, in a small town called Les Beaumettes, lying in the south of France, about two miles from the celebrated fountain of Vancluse. His education was such as could be obtained at the vill... Read more »

James D. Seguin

Submitted by batgirl on Thu Jul 16, 2009 4:07pm.

            American Chess Editors.        from the American Chess Magazine, 1898 JAMES D. SEGU1N.      James D. Seguin was born in the city of New Orleans, September 11, 1853, a child, as it were, of the greatest of the... Read more »

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