Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-02-15

Chess Players ParadIse-A Royal Pat
ron-Game for Head.


Yesterday, after dejeuner, says J. b.
Hsynie in a letter from Paris to the
New Orleans Picdyune, l left home, turn
ed to the right IN the Rue Saint HOnOre
and strOlled along that celebrated street
until / reached the Place de Ia Comedie
Franchise, where 1 entered the Cafe de la
Regence to learn how the chess tourna-
ment was coming on. There are about
hundred players entered, and, as the
tournament has been in progress for only
two or three days, il is OF course too
carly to say anything about 1t OF interest
to players of that noble game; but the
cafe itself Is worth writing about. 1t is
perhaps less changed since its establish
ment IN Ills then any other OF the old
Partisan 'estaminets." There had al
ready been a Cafe de Ia Regence as far
back as 1858, located in the Palais Royal,
and when tnat establishment removed to
its present location the compton, was
presided over by Nine. Leclerc, whose
beauty and gallantry formed the chief
bait for customers. One day Leclerc
disappeared, and the character of the
habltues soon changed. To the fast
young blood of the day succeeded the
bOOsworms and professors who hunted
the BIbliOtheque ROYale in the Rue de
Rlchelieu, aud a few of these-amOug
them were Jean Jacques Rousseau,
DlderOt AID PhIlidOr-iOunded the Chess
Club, which has made its headquarters
at La Regence ever since. All the il
lustriOus men Of the last century fire.
quented the cafe, and at the time of the
Revolution IL was the most popular place
OF the sort in Paris. Writing in TAO,
lie Sage gives a description OF it which
reads as if made yesterday. you may
see" says he, ''in vast room ornament
ed with mirrors and chandeliers, some
twenty grave looking persons playing at
draughts or chess and surrounded by
others watching them. All preserve so
profound silence that no noise Is heard
but that made by the players in moving
their pieces. Such a cafe might be called
the Cafe d. HarpOcTates God of Sllence),"
At times the crowd to see the playing was
so great that it was necessary 10 put
policeman on duty at the door to prevent
a crush, put Que day the establishment
was deserted; everybody had gone across
the way TO the Palais Roval, IN the hope
of seeing the father of Marie Antoinette,
Francis IL. of Austria, who had arrived
In Paris 10 visit his daughter and sOn-in-
law. Presently a plainly dressed gentle
man came in and called for cup Of cQf-
fee. The dame da compton entered into
conversation with her solitaire customer
and lamented in bitter terms the injury
that the visiting sovereign was dong
trade. Have you seen Joseph ii. since
he arrived in PARISH asked the stranger.
NO." replied the lady, ''butI should like
very mucn to see him." IL see him every
day" returned the other throwing new
ly coined louis ON the counter TO pay for
his coffee. "Ah. what handsome coin"
exclaimed the limOnadlere; "lt IS the
head of our young King" eyes," SAID
the stranger, raising his hat and bowling,
and this Is the head OF his tather-ln-laW."
Before the astOnished hostess could re-
cover her wits the Emperor had departed,
leaving her the change out OF his louis
for her pourbUire. The next royal visitor
was Emperor Paul of Russia, but he pre-
served IL strict incOgnItO. Lafayette,
Mirabeau, DantOn, Saint just and Robes
pierre were among the habltues OF the
cafe during the Revolution. During the
reign of terror the last named had some
trouble to find any one bold enough 10
play chess with him. One evening
mere STRIPPING entered, sat down at
RObespierre's table and challenged MIN
to play. The lad won the first game and
RoDespierre the second. What shall we
play iOr?" asked RObespierre as he was
setting up the pieces for the third game.
ga mans head" answered his opponent.
The revolutionary leader bowed and the
game began. Again RoDesplerre lost.
"YOu must pay the stake at once" said
the young man, eff you don't the gull
lotine will tomorrow take the head l
want" And he drew from his pocket an
order for the release of nObleman whom
the Revolutionary Tribunal had just
condemned to death. RObespierre signed
the order, and as he dld SO asked: What
is your name, cttOyeB." Il should say
cttOyeRRe, for / am the fiaBcee OF the pTis-
oner. Thanks and adieu;" and snatching
up the order she ran out of the cafe. Gen.
Bonaparte, before he became the Emperor
Napoleon, frequently played chess at the
Regence, but the only one of ais success
sOrs who patrOnized the establishment is.
Nj. GreYy, who WAS a great chess player
In his younger days. Since he has become
President he has turned his attention to
billiards and rabbit shooting. Alfred de
Musset and DelgOTgues were there over a
chess board on Feb. "a. When the firing
began in front of the Palais Roy al Del
goTgues ran out to take hand in the re-
YOlution OF 184S, but Musset did not stir;
he finished the game, playing his right
hand against his lett, as TRANQUILITY as
though there was not street battle going
on in front of the door. 1t was here that
Morphy played those biGdtOld games,
eight Of them at once, which, some twenty
live years ago, so astOnlshed the Blondes
des ESchec of Paris. defeating in them
the most celebrated French champions.