I mowed them down without the loss of a
single game, my superiority became apparent." Or, in speaking of his
"endings" (a term we chess experts use to designate the last part of our
game), to murmur modestly: "The endings I already played very well, and
to my mind had attained the high standard for which they were in the
future to be well known." Mr. Capablanca will have to watch that false
modesty of his. It will get him into trouble some day.

Although this column makes no pretense of carrying sporting news, it
seems only right to print a part of the running story of the big game
between Capablanca and Dr. O.S. Bernstein in the San Sebastian
tournament of 1911. Capablanca wore the white, while Dr. Bernstein
upheld the honor of the black.

The tense moment of the game had been reached. Capablanca has the ball
on Dr. Bernstein's 3-yard line on the second down, with a minute and a
half to play. The stands are wild. Cries of "Hold 'em, Bernstein!" and
"Touchdown, Capablanca!" ring out on the frosty November air.

Brave voices are singing the fighting song entitled "Capablanca's Day"
which runs as follows:

"Oh, sweep, sweep across the board,
With your castles, queens, and pawns;
We are with you, all Havana's horde,
Till the sun of victory dawns;
Then it's fight, _fight_, FIGHT!
To your last white knight,
For the truth must win alway,
And our hearts beat true
Old "J.R." for you
On Capa-blanca's Day."

"Up to this point the game had proceeded along the lines generally
recommended by the masters," writes Capablanca. "The last move, however,
is a slight deviation from the regular course, which brings this Knight
back to B in order to leave open the diagonal for the Q, and besides is
more in accordance with the defensive nature of the game. Much more
could be said as to the reasons that make Kt - B the preferred move of
most masters.... Of course, lest there be some misapprehension, let me
state that the move Kt - B is made in conjunction with K R - K, which
comes first."

It is lucky that Mr. Casablanca made that explanation, for I was being
seized with just that misapprehension which he feared. (Mr.
_Capablanca_, I mean.)

Below is the box-score by innings:

1. P - K4. P - K4.
2. Kt - QB3. Kt - QB3.
3. P - B4. P x P.
4. Kt - B3. P - K Kt4.

(Game called on account of darkness.)

XXXVIII

"RIP VAN WINKLE"

After all, there is nothing l