[MR] Tangent: was: Why should Atlantia care was: Re:Curiosity

[Ed Harrison]

On Tuesday 05 February 2002 11:25 pm, you wrote:
> ed you should also sign you name to your missives, it makes it a little
> more intimate and trustworthy.

By your command, my Prince. I meant only for my words to be taken on their 
own merit, rather than by my countenence.

> i disagree that martial prowess  and physical courage don't count (do you
> think the same for rapier?) by any means.

I didn't say they didn't count, Your Highness. I said they were the least 
important traits in a King. As I'm sure you know, and as anyone who has read 
Kingdom Law should know, fighting is not the principle duty of the Crown. I 
would set wisdom first of the traits a good king should have, with patience

> watching a man teach chess tells you nothing but his knowledge of the game

I regret, sire, that you percieve so little. Evan watching a man _play_ chess 
can teach us something about his character. Watching him teach can tell us 
much more. And all of this is hidden when he dons armor and enters the list.

> (by the way, im still looking for someone to beat me at it!!  nice jab for
> you thinner skinned folk, but i do love the game).  

A love and a proficency of chess is a good and needful thing in a Knight. 
Alas, my own game is poor for all I enjoy playing.  His Exellency of Marinus 
recommends to your attention Lord Robert the Blade as a potential worthy 
opponent, however.

>  i have worked with many
> "teachers" of chess that are complete boobs (not to mention dudes you would
> not want to get into a bar fight with!) and i can tell you first hand that
> the ability to teach strategy doesnt make you and inspiration nor a leader.

And were you not therefore, having seen these fearsome boobs teach, better 
able to judge them poor material for the throne, than if you had only seen 
them fight? Thus, you make my case.

Understand, my Prince, that I do not  think we should change our tradition. 
Because it IS traditional, and custom should not be overturned lightly, I 
think we should continue in the way we have gone. It is only that Logic has 
no place in the choice of method by which we select our monarchs; so let us 
recognise it for what it is. Tradition, and a good show, not wisdom and 
statecraft.

Lord Morgan ap Harris,
Free Scholar, MoL, Marshal,
Marlin, Oaken Oar, Artificer,
a Marinusian and Atlantian by the grace of the Dvine.
Sable, a pair of calipers invert argent.
"I live to serve; it says so in my contract."