SOME ACCIDENTS OF HISTORY.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume XXXXII, Issue 203, 20 October 1900, Page 1

SOME ACCIDENTS OF HISTORY.

Tm refusal of Napoleon's yoatbfal request for pennißtion to inter tbe British Navy shattered, remodelled, and again shattered Em ope. Throughout his oareer chance played a great part Lord Holland relates how the military oareer ef Napoleon, and therewith the f*te Europe, once hang oa the spin of tbe rculette la'l. When appointed to the command of the Italian Army Napoleon had not tbe money to defray the necessary expenses, through the parsimony of the Directory. By hoot and crook he borrowed2o,Qool. and gate the snm to Junor, telling him to ksa or double the earn at the gsmtog table. If be lost Napoleon would be unable to accept the command. After nearly losing the whole sum, Janot returned with 60,000 franc*. 'Thus Napoleon was enabled tdeMbhiifirst step of the ladder, aiid*.Ubttl Waterloo the fates were | equally k'nd. There everything the weather foremost of all, »a» against bim In b>s marvellous sketch of Water'oo Victor Hu?o describes the destiny of Ear pe as turning on the ncd of a peasant. Exi-m<ntng th« ground bfjre English to itionr, N»poe)n aikeda raitc if tbere was at y obstacle t) oavalry. The man ebiok his head, Tha bo-ses were ordered to coarse, and in the sunken road, of Ohaio, Übkaown to Napoleon and ftrgot.en by the guide, a large number of cavalry were lost. It was theifirst tf the French disasters that day., A different answer might have alttrVdNapo.ton'spiaLS, the isoe of the d.y, and the htsiory of the wor'd. The Third Empire of France was list through a riding habit. The n?ws of Sidan had cast Paris iato nproar. A fruited efficer decLr.d that tbe Emjira ought still be sa?ed if the Empiess Bugenie were to appear on horseback in the midt of the people and annoarue the a' dication of the Empcnr in favour of the Begsncy, and the appointment if Thiers ai Prime Minister. TheEroprew tcjipted the tdvice But the en y ridiag nsbit ii the luiileries was a fantaatic one oi green embroidered with gold a> d tiU er. Such afoatal garmtnl was unauiced to the accatioi, aid might excite the peop'e. The plan was given op, and With it vanish'd the lait chance of saving the Empire The riidoaesty cf an army contractor robbed France other ceaih in Zulaland wai doe to ihe b:eikage of hii hirse's ponmel etrap. Lat.r ex>minatioa thowtd thi< tocoali t of mere'y la:ed pi-per. WLat that commercilfraud his cost France tnd Eoghad m fcatred can nanr be r a'wed. Paul Krogei's mtlignnt cislike of thiEnglshhts bren tttriluted to bis di m< sil wbtn a y.u h from tbe Oivil Servica at Capetown, fir a pifc*y irragulaii y, If tin sioty be trae, a triflling iac dent has exerted an ii.flaeiiCa no me could leave foreto d, and the pabi-hment of a subordinate offi.ia' may yet chinge tbe in me cf tha wor,d, as it his already exacted a heavy t II in blcod and treasure,.