SOME ACCIDENTS OF HISTORY.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXI, Issue 234, 2 October 1900, Page 2

SOME ACCIDENTS OF HISTORY.

The refusal of Napoleon's youthful request /for permission to enter the British Navy shattered, remodelled, arid again shattered Europe. Throughout his career chance played a great part. Lord Holland, relates how the military career oi""Napoleon, and therewith the fate of Europe, once hung on t:hfe spin of the roulfctte ball. When appointed tp the command of the Italian Army Napoleon had not the money to defray the necessary expenses, througlj the parsimony of the Directory. By hoolc arid crook he borrowed 20,000t., and gaA re the sum to Junot, telling him to lose or double the stim at the gaming table. If.he lost Napoleon ■would be unable to accept the command. After nearly losing the whole sum, .Junot returned with 65,000 francs; Thus : Napoleon was enabled to climb the; first step of the, ladder, and until Waterloo the* fates were equally ltind. There everything, the weather foremost of all, was against him. In his marvellous sketch of Wateriodr'Victbi" HUgo describes the destiny of Europe as turning on the nod of a peasant. ■ Examining the ground before the English positions, Napoleon asked- a rustic If there was any to cavalry. The man shook his head. The.horse were ordered to charge, and in the sunken road of Ohain, unknown to Napoleon and forgotten by the guide, a large number of' cavalry were lost. It was the first of the Freiich disasters ■that day. A different answer might have altered Nadbleon's plans, the issue of the day, and the his- ; tory of the world. The Third Empire of France was lost through a riding: habit. The news of Sedan '-had cast Paris into uproar. A trusted officer declared that the Empire might still be saved if the Empress Eugenic were to appear on horse back in the' midst of the people and announce the abdication of the Emperor in favour of the Prince Imperial, her own assumption of the Regency, and the appointment of Thiers as Prime Minister. The Empress accepted the advice. But the only riding habit iii the Tuilleriea was a fantastic one of- green embroidered with gold and silver. Such a festal garment was uhstiited to the occasion, and might excite the .people. Tho plan was given up, and with it vanished the last chance of saving the Empire. The dishonesty of an army contractor robbed France of her hope. The Prince Imperial's death in JSululahd was due to the breaking of his horse's pommel strap* Latfer examination showed thte %-c6Ji6lbß bfj

merely faced paper. What that commercial fraud has. cost France, and'Englahfl in hatred can never be: realised. Paiil Kruger's malignant dislike of the Eoglisli has been attributed to his dismissal when a youth from the civil service at Capetown, for a petty irregularity. If tiie story be true, a trifling incident has 6xerted an influence no one could have foreseen, and the punishment of a subordinate official may yet change the future of the world, as. it has already exacted a heavy toll in blood and treasure.