New-York tribune., 1905-11-05
ROYAL ROWS OVER CHESS.
Stories of Kings Who Loved and Played the
Game

IT, as is reported in the papers King Edward is
developing an enthusiasm for chess. he is only
following in steps of many of his predecessors
on the throne, including his namesake the first
Edward, who almost keen a fighter with
castles and pawns with his knights and squires
his back the Scottish border
His wife. too. little less skiful at the game
than her lord; indeed. on one occasion. when she
gave him of his beatings. he rewarded her
with a present of chess board and men made OF
jasper and crystal On one occasion his devotion
10 the game nearly cost him his life. for he had
only just risen from the board when the centre
stone of the ceiling fell the spot where he
Whether or not players were more irascible in
those old days than now, il is curious fact thaC
pers than is golf in these latter days, and many
game peacefully begun endeq 1I IN broken nea9S All
a visit of France. chronicler tells u.s.
':he wan SO much at cheese of Louis, the King 5
elders some as he growing into choier called him
"a naughty name and threw the cheese IN ms lace.
Henry takes up the cheese D9ard ana G sIT4Ke Ii I Jus
with that force as drew blood ana M ma had aS Ksa & i
and interposed himselfe: whereupon they suddenly
King John in his younger days had similar ex
perience, for game of chess IN Whlch MS oppo7
1ent was one @ Ik H arm me nr1ce ~ so rievous a
blowe almost 70 sale him on me me Spol- Sp,tIe n
ponent. and punished him when later he came 70
the throne by withholding his heritage" hitung-
WjIIiam the Conqueror more than once lost his
temper over the game ana on at IeaSr one %,ire-
sion with SERIOUS S ~ I2Te ~ France when a dis
with me me son 2 3i oTds @ and culminated in william
bringine down the board heavily on his opPo-
nent's head as to make him unconscious Nitllh
an hour williams horse put score OF Lies D1-
tween his rider and the French couTt ..t.1,.
enough as long as he won-like so many OF US pu-
woe 10 the indscreet player who cneckInite9 IIlS
majesty. banishment from court was ths lees|
-apsitS he might expect. One OF the most power
fII grandees of Spain after playing Win Ile h.IS.
retn1red home and thus greeted his tanly' Ny
children we have nothing more 10 90 az Cott ~ ~,
There we must henceforth expect no favor Is W.
King is offended because l have won every sainS
OF NanoIeon the Great was an equally selfish and
intoierant piayer. Once when he was playing WE
Eugene Beauharnais and suddenly iouIu Ife. IlIi-efS
face to face with a checkmate, In NJ o. P1sSt1A
he swept board pieces and all. on ths Iaples
sIapped his opponent in the face ana "diheu O--
- " - one case at least chess estranged a husoah5i
a1d yrife and cost the husband dearly. efriIl1,
9'ont of Flanders was in the habit OF playing VIII
I1iS corntess and was Ungala1t enough 10 win -
most every game This constant and a!iioSt ~. -
evitSbIe defeat so disturbed the lady that IN unls
she conceived a positi-e hatred OF her FlctoI-lo
such an extent that when he was taktn prlS1iltlL
ar the battle of Bouvines she Tefused point OaiiN
70 take any steps to procure his release -
ouis XIII of France was so infatuated win
lied nv his chess board and men. ana fnvariep.y
in coach when he took MS oFiNeS
5byoad Charles found IL fascinating trat -
almost literally played il TO the foot or me sesI
-,aues that the Scots had decided 20 sell him 10
the Parliament he proceeded with his move as uh
rI,f7ed az II instead Of hearing his DOOM ne haa
rereiyed a summons 70 dinner And when Johl
Frederick elector Of Saxony heard over the c.es5
i,card the news that he had been condemned 10
,Jeoth ne corupleted his and was again IA
the came before the messenger had time 10 Wllf1s
dr. " Boston Herald