SOME BIG "IFS,"

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XL, Issue 9197, 7 January 1920, Page 2

SOME BIG "IFS,"

One-■■would have said 'that the most momentous event- of 1789 \vas the fall! of the Bastille. Yetyou a summer day ot: _ the same year ':i yo ung artillery officer, bathing in the Saone, was seized with cramp afid nearly drowned. 11: he had been: drowned Napoleon Bouaparto would neve rhave added a single line to the history ol' Europe. It is believed that Oliver Cromwell was on the quay ready to depart from his native England when he was detained by the soldiers of King. Charles. If it is true, then the Kino; must have regretted it later. But if Cromwell had gone ! In that ease it is quite likely that Charles would have 'won the Civil War, arid thai his House would ...still be in possession of the British throne.

The fate of India was decided at Plassoy. Surajah Dowlah had an tinny oi: GO,OOO, and Clive one of 3000. H<> called a council of war, which said ''Don't." dive- pondered for anhour, and decided to reject the advice of; the council. With a loss of 22 killed and 50 wounded. Clivc scattered the 60,000. But if ho had been a reasonable, sensible, man, and taken good adyice, India would.'not mow be British. " ...- .-.. .■■.■..,;■■ Canada became British when Quebec tell, but ii Wolfe had not encountered a man who knew the way up the cliffs from the river, Canada would, in all probability, have remained French to this day, and the whole history •of xsorth America would have been different. It is possible, indeed, that there would have been no ■ United States !

England nearly lost■• the 'tremendous start which the invention of the ■'locomotive gave her in the world's trade. George Stcphenson at one time struck a bad patch. His wife* died, and left him an infant son. the son who later on built the North-Western and half tho trunk lines of Britain. His old rather met with an accident which deprived him of ' his sight, whilst Gom-go "himself was drawn for the militia, and had to ..find.'.a substitute, or pay » long sum—for him. In his despair^ he would have emigrated to America, but be' could not get his passage-money. So he staved in_ the Old Country, where great triumphs and mach: prosperity awaited him.