Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1906-01-10
ROYAL ROWS OVER CHESS.
Seme Stories Of Monarchs Who We're Iniu.
rated by Defeat.

thuslasm tor chess, ne ID only fOllOW-
ing in the steps of many of his pre-.
decessors 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 Scot
tish border.
His wife, too, was little less skill
full at the game than her lord +; in
deed, on one occasion, when she gave
him one of his rare beatings, he re-
warded her with present of chess
board and men made of jasper and
crystal. On one occasion his devo-
tion 10 the game nearly cost him his
life, for he 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 the players were
not more irasoible in those old days
than now, it is curious fact, says
The Boston Herald, that chess was
often more irascible in those old days
than is golf in these latter days, and
many game peacefully begun ended
in broken heads. When Prince
Henry afterwards Henry y once
paid visit to the court of France, a
chronieler tells us, che wan so much
at chess of Louis, the kings eldest
some, as he, growing into choller,
called him "a naughty name) and
threw the chesse board and strake
Louis with that force as drew blood,
and had killed him had not his
brother Robert come in the meane
time and interposed himself, where
upon they suddenly took horse and
gat away"
King John in his younger days
had similar experience, for game
of chess in which his opponent was
one Fulk Warine ended in royal
row, during which Fulk gave the
prince $50 grevious blow as almost
to slaie him on the spot" John
never forgot the blow or forgave his
irascible opponent, and punished him
when later he came to the throne by
withholding his heritage, Whiting
ton castle, from him.
p William the Conqueror more than
once lost his temper over the game,
and on at least one occasion with Sc
rious consequences. 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 oppo-
nent's head as to make him uncon-
scious. Within an hour William 3
horse put score of miles between
his rider and the French court.
Philip III, of Spain, could play chess
amiably enough as long as he won,
like 80 many of us; but woe to the
indiscreet player who checkmated
his majesty; Punishment from court
was the least penalty he could expect.
One of the most powerful grandees
of Spain, after playing with the king,
returned home and thus greeted his
family: "My children, we have moth
ing more to do at court. There we
must henceforth expect no favor /;
the king is offended because have
won every game of chess"
Napoleon the Great was an equally
selfish and intoerant player. Once
when he was playing with Eugene
Beauharnais and suddenly found
himself face to face with check
mate, 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 estrangcd
a husband and wife and cost the hus-
band 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 inevitable
defeat so disturbed the lady that in
time she conceived positive hatred
of her victor--to such an extent that