Neither Steinitz nor Bird are funny men; the latter most reserved among his superiors, yet looks good humored.  At the Anglo-American Hotel, Hamilton, in 1860, he was honored by a recognition each morning for a week from the Prince of Wales.  At the second Universities chess match, Perrott’s, Milk Street, 1874, a young gentleman introduced himself to Bird, and a pleasant chat was commenced, interrupted only by unreasonable intrusion.  This gentleman to Bird’s surprise who thus honoured him by interest in chess was H.R.H.  Prince Leopold.

Professor Ruskin, Lord Randolph Churchill and many eminent men have supported Bird’s chess efforts with much approval; in the far past J. P. Benjamin Esq., Q.C., and Sir Charles Russell enjoyed an occasional game.  Chief Justice Cockburn, and Sir George Jessel seem to have liked chess.  The list of highly distinguished men reported to admire the game is varied and significant.

Many working men have sought wrinkles from Bird; the late Mr. Bradlaugh at intervals extending over thirty years has ardently played occasionally chess or draught skirmishes with much zest.  He was singularly agreeable and good tempered and a moderate player at both.  Bird knew much of Ireland and the people twenty to thirty years ago.  Isaac Butt was fond of chess but played it but indifferently.  Chief Baron Pigott who also knew it presided in the long trial Bartlett v.  Lewis, Overend, Gurney, etc., and seemed much surprised at a chess allusion.  Said Butt to me, “Come, you are not playing chess with me.”  Whiteside and Sullivan two of the six Counsel on the other side, almost simultaneously replied, “A good thing for you brother Butt, for you would surely soon be checkmated.”

The master hand who sketched Mason for the Fortnightly Review scarcely did full justice to his vocal ability, dancing proclivities and Christian friends, and Blackburne’s marvellous oracles and dictums pass unnoticed.  Tinsley Lee, Van Vliet, Muller and Jasnagrodzky all have their peculiarities which shall remain untouched, for they are young and sensitive, whilst the most amusing since the loss of Purssell’s Lordship (next to the Philosopher who happily very much survives) is the extremely popular Monsieur.

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CHESS PATRONS

There have in recent years been annually about eight or ten chess patrons who have contributed more to promote high class chess than all the rest of her Majesty’s subjects, and remarkable as it may appear, with one exception there is not one titled, or what would be deemed very distinguished name among them.