Evening star., 1905-09-29
RoYAL ROWS OVER CHESS.
Stories Of Kings Who Lovsd Game and
Played It.


From the Boston Herald
II, as Is reported in the papers. King Ed
ward is developing an enthusiasm for chess.
he is only following In the steps of many
of his predecessors on the throne. including
his namesake. the first Edward. who was
almost as keen fighter with castles and
pawns as with his knights and squires at
his back on the Scottish border.
His wife. too, was little less skillful at
the game than her lord; indeed. on one oc-
casion. when she gave him one of his rare
beatings, he rewarded her With present OF
chess board and man made OF Jasper END
crystal. On one occasion his devotion to
the game nearly cost him his life, for ne
had only just risen from the board when
the center stone OF the ceiling fell on the
very spot where he had been sitting.
Whether or not players were more sifas-
cible in those old days than now. lis
curious fact that chess was often more
stimulating to the royal tempers than Is
golf III these latter days. and many game
peacefully begun ended in broken heads.
When Prince Henry-afterward Henry IL
once paid visit to the court OF France.
chronicler tells us. he wan so much a,
chesse of Louis. the kings elders some. as
he, growing into choller. called MIN "a
naughty name) and threw the chesse IN ms
face. Henry takes up the chesse poaro
and strake Louis with that force as drew
blood. and had killed him had not nus protm- on
er Robert come In the meane time and inter-
posed himselfe. whereupon they sudoehv
took horse and gaS away.
King John in his younger days had a SINH
lar experience. for game OF chess IN Wn'cn a =,
a royal row, during which Fulk gave the
prince 80 grievous blowe as almost 10
slaie him on the spot" John never forgoe
f~t~ So L. I've, r,ih
and punished him when later he came to
the throne by Withholding his heritage
Wilmington castle-from him.
William the Conqueror more than once
lost his temper over the game. and OIL at
least one occasion with serious conse-
quences. He was playing with the son OF
the King Of France when dispute led TO
hot words, and eliminated in William
bringing down the board so heavily on his
opponents head as to make him uncon-
scious. Within an hour Williams horse put
a score Of miles between his rider and the
French court.
Philip II of Spain could play chess amia-
bly, enough as long as he won-like so many
of us-but woe to the indiscreet player who
checkmated his majesty; Punishment from
court was the least penalty he might ex-
pect One of the most powerful grapdees
of Spain, after playing with the king, re-
turned home and thus greeted his
more to do at court. There we must hence
forth expect no favor; the king is offended
because have won every game of chess.
Napoleon the great was an equally selfish
and inhoerant player. Once when he was
playing with Eugene Beauharnais and sud
denly found himself face to face with
checkmate, in fit of passion he swept
board. pieces and all. off the table, slapped
his opponent in the face and walked out Of
the room.
In one case at least chess estranged a
husband and wife and cost the husband
dearly. Ferrand, Count of Flanders, was
in the habit of playing with his countess,
and was ungallant enough to win almost
every game. This constant and almost in
in time she conceived a positive hatred of
her victor-to such an extent that when he
was taken prisoner at the battle of Bou-
vines she refused point blank to take any
steps to procure his release.
Louis XIII of France was so infatuated
with the game that wherever he went he
was accompanied by his chess board and
men. and invariably played it in his coach
when he took his drives abroad. Charles
found 1t so fascinating that he almost liter
ally played 1T to the foot of the scaffold,
and when once his game was interrupted
by news that the Scots had decided to sell
him to the parliament he proceeded with
his move as unruff1ed as If, instead Of hear
ing his doom. he had received a summons
to dinner. And when John Frederick, cleo
tor of Saxony, heard over the chess board
the news that he had been condemned to
death, he completed his move and was,assain
in the game before the messenger had time
to withdraw.