Thank you, Dr. Spinrad, for a fascinating article. You mention a story
involving a lawyer, a piece of candy, and an off-hand remark by
Morphy. I have never heard this story - would you mind providing some
details?

Regards,
zdrakec

On Oct 30, 9:56 am, zdrakec wrote:
Thank you, Dr. Spinrad, for a fascinating article. You mention a story
involving a lawyer, a piece of candy, and an off-hand remark by
Morphy. I have never heard this story - would you mind providing some
details?

Regards,
zdrakec

Zdrakec, as noted by Spinrad, the full Buck article can be read
he

http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Paul_M...His_Later_Life

Here is the passage you're asking about:

During all these years of misfortune Morphy still loved chess, and
kept run of the current news of the game down to his death. But he was
annoyed, and at times even enraged, at the mention of it. This may
seem rather contradictory but it should be remembered that his
experience and environments were peculiar. It may be worth while to
relate an episode that discloses Morphy's feelings regarding chess
better than anything else. Under the pretense of assisting him with
his suit against his brother-in-law, a lawyer of New Orleans examined
the papers in the case and gave his opinion in Morphy's favor. He
gained confidence to such an extent that Morphy ate a piece of rock
candy, first seeing that the lawyer himself had eaten a piece. The
lawyer then suggested that he would like, at some convenient time, to
play a game of chess with him. Morphy seemed alarmed; made sure that
no one was in hearing, and then replied : "I dearly love chess, but
not now, not now when we win the case."

On Oct 30, 10:19 am, Taylor Kingston wrote:
On Oct 30, 9:56 am, zdrakec wrote:

Thank you, Dr. Spinrad, for a fascinating article. You mention a story
involving a lawyer, a piece of candy, and an off-hand remark by
Morphy. I have never heard this story - would you mind providing some
details?

Regards,
zdrakec

Zdrakec, as noted by Spinrad, the full Buck article can be read
he

http://en.wikisource.org/wiki/Paul_M...His_Later_Life

Here is the passage you're asking about:

During all these years of misfortune Morphy still loved chess, and
kept run of the current news of the game down to his death. But he was
annoyed, and at times even enraged, at the mention of it. This may
seem rather contradictory but it should be remembered that his
experience and environments were peculiar. It may be worth while to
relate an episode that discloses Morphy's feelings regarding chess
better than anything else. Under the pretense of assisting him with
his suit against his brother-in-law, a lawyer of New Orleans examined
the papers in the case and gave his opinion in Morphy's favor. He
gained confidence to such an extent that Morphy ate a piece of rock
candy, first seeing that the lawyer himself had eaten a piece. The
lawyer then suggested that he would like, at some convenient time, to
play a game of chess with him. Morphy seemed alarmed; made sure that
no one was in hearing, and then replied : "I dearly love chess, but
not now, not now when we win the case."

Interesting. Thank you Taylor!