Jokes have been sometimes made about the pieces used in
chess. Even the calm and serene Mr. Lambe could not refrain
from being facetious in reference to the conversion of a Pawn or
private soldier into a Queen. Another remarked that the Queen
works very hard for a lazy King who alone gets all the checks.
Umpleby, the retired fishmonger in the chess story declared that
he would have been the best player in the world, but for the
Knights at chess which jumped about in the most unreasonable
and absurd manner without rhyme or reason, here there and
everywhere, and the lady who it was said was found engaged and
playing with thirty-two men remained single ever afterwards.
A rather boasting player once said, "I must win, I have a piece
--a (of) head." One answered, "You would be more likely to
win, if instead of a piece of a head, you had a whole head."
The Rooks occupy the corner squares, and may be played along
either of the files of squares they command.
Mr. Serjeant Drytong whose legal acumen was acknowledged
by all parties, was also distinguished for a pretty wit and great
skill in our Royal Game.
On one occasion he appeared for the Defendant in an action
brought by four persons to recover a sum of money lost by his
client in a betting transaction. In the course of his speech the
judge (C. J. Wontone) interrupting him asked, Do I understand
you to say that the Plaintiffs were standing two and two at each
end of the street in order to intercept the Defendant when he
came out. Not exactly two and two, my lord, said the counsel,
but as on a chess board. There was a Rook at every corner, only
these, as I shall show, did not act upon the square.
Miss Rooster, on one occasion when her dearest friend, Miss
Pullet called, was found so absorbed in studying a problem by
the great Schwerlagerbier, that her visitor could not obtain even
a sign of recognition. After various unsuccessful efforts to
attract the attention of the fair enthusiast, Miss Pullet departed,
and meeting an acquaintance immediately afterwards jocosely
remarked that she had left Miss Rooster engaged with thirty-two
men, whereby she acquired the reputation of being a dangerous
coquette. To this thoughtless jest Miss Rooster ascribed the
circumstance, that during the remainder of her life she walked
in meditation fancy free.
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