A Boswell of Baghdad. By E. V. Lucas. (Methuen and
Co. is. net.)—Mr. Lucas's new volume of light essays, which are as usual very good reading, takes its title from a paper on Ihn KlmIlikanys biographical dictionary of Arabian literary worthies, which was compiled in the thirteenth century and was translated into English many years ago. Among the many anecdotes which Mr. Lucas has gleaned from the book is a story that chess was invented by one Sissah for the amusement of King Shihram. When he King asked the inventor to name his reward, Sissah said: 1 then demand that a groin of wheat be placed in the first square of the chessboard, two in the second, and that the number of grains be progressively doubled till the last square is attained ; whatever this rmantity may be, I ask you to bestow it on me." The King of course ridiculed Sissah's seemingly, modest demand, and was astonished to learn from his officials that there was not enough wheat in the world to satisfy the inventor, Then said the King to Sissah Your ingenuity in imagining such a request is yet more admirable than your talent in inventing the game of chess."
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