MUSHROOM EMPIRES.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 304, 19 December 1908, Page 4

MUSHROOM EMPIRES.

' Most empires grow by imperceptible : degrees. Some, however, like Bulgaria, are born in n day. , Germany, for example! Prior to January 18th, 1871, the German Empire, as we know it to-day, had no existence. Instead, was a jumble of kingdoms, states, duchies, grand-duchies, and principalities—all joined togetlicr by a like language and common political aspirations, it is true, but otherwise quite separate and distinct. Then eame the historic ceremony in the Hall of Mirrors at Versailles. Paris had just been captured by King William of Prussia, and it was beld to be a fitting time and plaice to proclaim bim f - the first German Emperor. Xever since the dawn of history -was an empire born more dramatically. ißy a strange irony of fate, 100, its birth took place among the ruins of the Third French Empire, itself the creation of a day- or rather, to be strictly accurate, of a night. Prance went,to bed on the evening of December Ist, 1851, a republic. When it awoke next morning it was an empire. During -the hours of darkness Paris had been ' occupied by troops, and the PrincePresident had become Napoleon 111. ■Equally sudden,-and almost as sensational in its way, was the birth of the modem Greek Empire. After the yoke , of the Turks had been thrown off in ijM.be War of Independence, the country Wfecame a republic. But the people soon tired of that democratic form of Government, and promptly proceeded to assassinate their first and only President Then thev met together amicably, '-elected a King, and settled themselves down to be ruled bv him ill a quite rfrferly and contented fashion.