Chess is a scientific game and its literature ought to be placed on the basis of the strictest truthfulness, which is the foundation of all scientific research. W._Steinitz

The Rosenthal-Zukertort Match,
London 1880
Researched by Nick Pope

Complimentary Dinner

    The complimentary dinner of the St. Georges Chess Club in honour of MM. Morel and Rosenthal, came off, in accordance with our previous announcement, on Thursday last, at the Criterion Restaurant. The Earl of Dartrey presided. After the repast the noble chairman, in proposing the loyal toasts, expressed his gratification, amidst loud cheers, at the club having the honour of counting a member of the royal family (H. R. H. Prince Leopold) amongst its members. The noble lord next proposed the health of M. Grévy, the President of the French Republic, who, before and since his elevation to his exalted office, had given his warmest support to the cultivation of the game in France. The next toast proposed by the noble lord was the health of M. Morel, one of the guests of the evening, who was received with warmest applause when returning thanks in French. Mr Lindsay, in proposing the health of M. Rosenthal, said that the members of the club felt the highest satisfaction at the election of M. Rosenthal as an honorary member. The French master numbered amongst his pupils some of the highest personages of all parties in France, and had also during his stay amongst us gained a great many friends through his personal qualities. M. Rosenthal was chivalrously fighting against one of the finest players in the world, and he (Mr Lindsay) hoped that both parties would be able to develope their best abilities, feeling sure that the members of the club only wished the success of superior skill, quite apart from the least personal considerations. (Loud cheers.)
    M. Rosenthal, who returned thanks in French, said that he felt deeply grateful for the honour accorded to him, and, no matter what might be the result of the contest in which he was engaged, he would always entertain a vivid recollection of the hospitality bestowed upon him by the members of the St. Georges Chess Club. He had been treated with perfect fairness in reference to the match, and with great kindness and consideration in his private capacity, and he felt proud of belonging to a body of devotees to the game who were so evidently inspired by sentiments of honour and justice.
    Lord Randolph Churchill, M. P., next proposed the health of the hon. members, coupled with the name of Herr Zukertort. The noble lord, amidst loud cheers, expressed his deep regret at the loss which the club had sustained by the death of Professor Anderssen, but he was happy to see that the other luminaries of chess who were on the list of honorary members were still living, though not all present. His Excellency Baron Heydebrandt von der Lasa had, with his great analytical works, raised the noble game to a real science, and Paul Morphy, probably the greatest chess genius who ever lived, had left an indelible mark on the history of our pastime. The noble lord then alluded in handsome terms to the hon. members present, Messrs Rosenthal, Steinitz, and Zukertort, and especially bestowed high praise on the latters anaytical labours in the Chess Monthly.
    Herr Zukertort briefly returned thanks.
    Mr F. H. Lewis, in a humorous and complimentary speech, proposed the health of the chess-masters, coupled with the name of Herr Steinitz, and, in the course of some clever-observations in reference to the game, he wished an answer to the question, what were the necessary mental qualifications for forming a chess master?
    Herr Steinitz, who warmly returned thanks, said that he could not answer the question from a scientific point of view, but he felt sure that chess was a school for strict honesty and truthfulness. The game was free from trickery and deception, and he had always observed that the strongest players were those who merely tried to arrive at true conclusions, without speculating in the least on the opponents weakness. The illustrious President of the French Republic, who some time ago wrote in the album of a French lady the true words “Life is a game of chess,” and he expressed the hope that people would come to the conclusion that deception does not play in the long run, any more in life than in chess, for the deceiver merely deceives himself.
    The Rev. W. Wayte, who, in a humorous address, proposed the health of the hon. secretary, Mr Minchin, congratulated the latter on having come out decisively as this years champion of the St. Georges Chess Club, by winning both the Lowenthal tournament and the winter handicap of the club. The speaker then related some anecdotes from the “Life of Lord Palmerston” to show that chess had been a favourite game with the late Prince Albert and Her Majesty the Queen, the following amongst others: On one occasion Her Majesty played a game with the Queen of the Belgians, who was then on a visit to England, and in the course of the contest Lord Palmerston strained his constitutional privileges so far as to give his sovereign some hints about the game, which, notwithstanding his assistance, was win by the Belgian royal lady. “It was the fault of your Majestys humble adviser,” said the Prime Minister, consolingly. The toast was received with great applause, and with musical honours. Some other speeches followed after Mr Minchins reply. The greatest cordiality prevailed throughout the meeting, and the French guests of the evening were duly honoured in most of the speeches. M. Sipier, a member of the Paris Cercle des Echecs, was a visitor at the dinner.
The Field, 1880.06.12

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