Lanterna Rally

Author: David Christie Murray

Publisher: Rarebooksclub.com

Published: 2013-09

Total Pages: 70

ISBN-13: 9781230010175

This historic book may have numerous typos and missing text. Purchasers can usually download a free scanned copy of the original book (without typos) from the publisher. Not indexed. Not illustrated. 1886 edition. Excerpt: ...a keen dig, lad. Do ye mark how the bishop's course, from his own point 0' view, is straightforward? He sticks to his own straight line, but the man that has the board before 'm sees the crablike course he takes. The knight was oreeginally a casuist, or a lawyer. The castle was the military man, a downright fellow, ob--a straight strong fellow, with no subteelities. Then, the game's a proclamation of the eternal verity of the gynecocracy." "The what?" said ob, looking up at him seriously. "Gynecocracy," repeated Armstrong, stoutly, but with a humorous twinkle in his eye. "Petticoat government. The lady rules everything. The game's republican as well. The humblest pawn has only to go on his straightforward course to be a bishop or a baron, or to become transmogrified into royalty. There's a sort of idea in it that all the pieces fought their way up once upon a time, which, as you may have noticed, is a pre-historic period. The game of chess," pursued the grey man, suddenly growing warm with his theme, "is the only mechanical invention the warld ever saw for the production of poetry and romance. In every game ye play, ye have intrigue and chivalry and loyal devotion. Now see here, in the game ye_ just retired from, look how these two Churchmen dominate the board. Ye've got a brace 0' curly barons there, but the Church has been too wily for them, and their way's blocked everywhere. The queen's dead, poor lady. Never a thought had she but for that useless, heavy-footed lubber of a consort of hers, and she's flang herself into the vera gulf 0' deith to secure him victory. Man, if Walter Scott were here, he'd tell ye a...