<Chess.
The Philadelphia Club. - The Forest and Stream in a notice of this club says: "The club now numbers ninety members, and is increasing from five to ten every week. A handsome suite of rooms has been taken on West Penn square, opposite the new public buildings. These rooms are located in the second story, and command a fine view. They are splendidly furnished, the expense for furnishing alone amounting to nearly $1,000. The president, Mr. Joseph M. Bennett (one of the wealthiest men in Philadelphia, worth $3,000,000), has donated a billiard table, which will occupy a room by itself. Some of our foremost citizens have joined, and the club is a splendid success. The officers are as follows: Joseph M. Bennett, President; George C. Halmbold, Emerson Bennett, Jacob Elson, James G. Whitehead, and James Roberts, Vice Presidents; G. Reichhelm, Recording Secretary; B. M. Neill, Corresponding Secretary, and W. H. Sayen, Treasurer.">

Of these, we recognize Gustavus Charles Reichhelm, Jacob Elson, Benjamin Milnes Neill, and William Henry Sayen who was the main editor of the tournament book of Philadelphia (1876). And probably also James Roberts? The piece continues:

<The three great chess clubs of the world now are the St. George's Club, of London; the Vienna Chess Club, of which the Baron Rothschild is the President, and the new Philadelphia Chess Club, now the leading organization of America.>

Brooklyn Daily Eagle, February 12, 1880:

<A New Chess Club. — Philadelphia has a new chess club, which was organized last Saturday night. They wanted one badly, as their city chess rooms at the Atheneum, Union League, Mercantile Library, Commercial, etc. were only chess lounging places, where nothing of special interest transpired beyond the meeting of "old boys" to play a quiet game or two, like a certain club in this city. That live paper, the Philadelphia Times, of Sunday, in referring to the revival of chess in that city, says:

"In consequence of this chess revival, plans have been matured during the past week for the organization of a new chess club, so that the chess talent of this city may be focalized in one representative institution. Last evening, a large and euthusiastic meeting of chess players was held for the purpose, indicated in the parlors of the Edwards House, northwest corner of Franklin and Race streets. Messrs. Martinez, Davidson, Elson, J. Roberts, Reichhelm, Neill, Puente, Barbour, Knox, Ringwalt, Abrahamson, Priester and many other chess notabilities were present. Mr. L. D. Barbour called the meeting to order and stated that the credit of carrying out this project is chiefly due to the energy and enterprise of the celebrated chess master, D. M. Martinez. Mr. Barbour then dropped into poetry, after which, relapsing into prose, he dwelt at some length on the value of time in chess. Mr. George W. Knox, the well known chess expert, was then called to the chair. After much animated discussion the dues were fixed at $5 a year, payable in quarterly installments, in advance, together with an entrance fee of $2. Messrs. Martinez, Barbour, and Professor Abrahamson were appointed a committee, with all the necessary powers for selecting rooms, soliciting membership, etc. A large number have already signed their adhesion to the club.>