Lookers On
I know players who have looked on at chess for years that have never been seen to engage in a game. Occasionally the occupiers of the earliest seats carry cigar cases, but more frequently they do not. Some talk over the game obtrusively which is not always convenient.
Such a one noticing that no money ever passed when Boden and Bird played, patronizingly said to the former, “Mr. Boden, I am so glad to find you do not care for ‘filthy lucre.’” B. replied, “It is not to the ‘filthy lucre’ I object, but to the ‘filthy looker on.’”
It is bad form for spectators to remove the pieces from the board without the consent of the players, even if it be done for the purpose of demonstrating more forcibly what move should be made.
One who never remained a spectator more than five minutes, observed, all he desired was to get a birds-eye view of Bird’s position.