That's boring, girls!
Why don't you call it something else, in true chess style?
It would attract the trade-union masses into the section.
For example, you could call it The Four Knights Chess Club', or The Red End-game', or
'A Decline in the Standard of Play with a Gain in Pace'.
That would be good.
It has the right kind of sound."
The idea was successful.
"Indeed," exclaimed the citizens, "why shouldn't we rename our section The Four Knights Chess Club'?"
Since the chess committee was there on the spot, Ostap organized a one-minute meeting under his honorary chairmanship, and the chess section was unanimously renamed The Four Knights Chess Club'.
Benefiting from his lessons aboard the Scriabin, the Grossmeister artistically drew four knights and the appropriate caption on a sheet of cardboard.
This important step promised the flowering of chess thought in Vasyuki.
"Chess!" said Ostap. "Do you realize what chess is?
It promotes the advance of culture and also the economy.
Do you realize that The Four Knights Chess Club', given the right organization, could completely transform the town of Vasyuki?"
Ostap had not eaten since the day before, which accounted for his unusual eloquence.
"Yes," he cried, "chess enriches a country!
If you agree to my plan, you'll soon be descending marble steps to the quay!
Vasyuki will become the centre of ten provinces!
What did you ever hear of the town of Semmering before?
Nothing!
But now that miserable little town is rich and famous just because an international tournament was held there.
That's why I say you should organize an international chess tournament in Vasyuki."
"How?" they all cried.
"It's a perfectly practical plan," replied the Grossmeister. "My connections and your activity are all that are required for an international tournament in Vasyuki.
Just think how fine that would sound-The 1927 International Tournament to be held in Vasyuki!'
Such players as Jose-Raoul Capablanca, Lasker, Alekhine, Reti, Rubinstein, Tarrasch, Widmar and Dr. Grigoryev are bound to come.
What's more, I'll take part myself!"
"But what about the money?" groaned the citizens. "They would all have to be paid.
Many thousands of roubles!
Where would we get it?"
"A powerful hurricane takes everything into account," said Ostap. "The money will come from collections."
"And who do you think is going to pay that kind of money?
The people of Vasyuki?"
"What do you mean, the people of Vasyuki?
The people of Vasyuki are not going to pay money, they're going to receive it.
It's all extremely simple.
After all, chess enthusiasts will come from all over the world to attend a tournament with such great champions.
Hundreds of thousands of people-well-to-do people-will head for Vasyuki.
Naturally, the river transport will not be able to cope with such a large number of passengers.
So the Ministry of Railways will have to build a main line from Moscow to Vasyuki.
That's one thing.
Another is hotels and skyscrapers to accommodate the visitors.
The third thing is improvement of the agriculture over a radius of five hundred miles; the visitors have to be provided with fruit, vegetables, caviar and chocolate.
The building for the actual tournament is the next thing.
Then there's construction of garages to house motor transport for the visitors.
An extra-high power radio station will have to be built to broadcast the sensational results of the tournament to the rest of the world.
Now about the Vasyuki railway.
It most likely won't be able to carry all the passengers wanting to come to Vasyuki, so we will have to have a 'Greater Vasyuki' airport with regular nights by mail planes and airships to all parts of the globe, including Los Angeles and Melbourne."
Dazzling vistas unfolded before the Vasyuki chess enthusiasts.