AThe Boston Globe Boston, Massachusetts Sunday, May 03, 1964 - Page 59
Child Prodigies and Diminutives
Rev. George L. Paine, Cambridge, anticipates a full house for the Robert J. Fischer exhibition at Harvard Club next Sunday. Dr. Paine said: “But to be sure of getting your place at the table you had better promptly send in your check for $4, made out to the Harvard Club and labeled ‘for Chess Exhibition’. First come, first served.”
Note the reference to Robert J. Fischer above. No more Bobby. Reader Jack Stone, Baltimore, wrote to Chess Review complaining about the innate lack of dignity in these “childish diminutives.” He referred specifically to Bobby as in Fischer and Sammy as in Reshevsky. And he wanted to know if anyone had ever called Emanuel Lasker, Manny or Jose Raul Capablanca y Graupera, Joey. Chess Review's editor answered that these affectionate diminutives seem to apply only to child prodigies. He signed the answer Eddie.
