Thank you for this amusing anecdote, Sarah Beth! It can often be fun when one learns about a Chess opponent after-the-fact.
In this spirit, I might point out that a photo has recently been discovered of that most mysterious of all Chessplayers -- the elusive "NN". Though his rating has never been particularly high, his Chess career spans many, many centuries. (I suspect his performance peaked back in the Persian period of Chess.)
It is with some satisfaction that I share with you this recently unearthed photo of the enigmatic "NN":
http://www.100bestwebsites.org/alt/NN-Noir.jpg
(Clearly one of those N's must stand for "noir"!)
Best wishes....
BishopBerkeley
Nihil obstat.
Otago Witness ; March 7, 1906
Many humorous stories are told of famous chess players when they come in contact with weak players to whom they were unknown. Some of these stories are true ; more are fanciful and pleasant fictions. The following, however, is vouched for:
— When Dr Lasker (the world's chess champion) was last in London hs visited the Ladies' Chess Club, and the first lady he saw upon his entrance to the club being Mrs. Finn, mother of the famous Miss Kate Finn, he naturally asked Mrs. Finn, who is not quite as strong at chess as her daughter, whether she would like a game. Mrs Finn, however, knew the champion, and she declined with thanks! But there happened to be another lady sitting near, and she, not knowing Lasker, at once volunteered.
This lady is by no means one of the most formidable of the members of the Ladies' Chess Club, and it is needless to add the result of her encounter with the champion. But when Dr Lasker had taken his leave, she remarked, innocently, to Mrs. Finn, "You know, I think that young man plays a good game!"