Grand River times. [volume] (Grand Haven, Mich.) 1851-18??, 1851-10-15

DECISIVE BATTLES.


which, to use Hallam's worms, +" a contrary event
would have essentially varied the drama of the
world in all its subsequent scenes" are number
ed as fifteen by Professor Greasy, who fills the
chair Of Ancient and Modern History in the Uni
versty of London. They are the grand subject
Of two volumes by him, just from Bentley's
press. These battles are:-
/. The Battle of Marathon, fought 400 B. C.
in which the Greeks under Themistocles defeat.
ed the Persians under Darius, thereby turning
back tide of Asiatic invasion, which else would
have swept over Europe.
g. The Battle of Syracuse, 413 B. c., in which
the Athenian power was broken, and the West
Of Europe saved from Greek domination.
3. The Battle of Arbella, S3l B. c.. in which
Alexander, by the defeat of Darius, established
his power in ASIA and by the introduction of
European civilization produced an effect which
as yet may be traced there.
A. The Battle of Metaurus, fought 207 B. c.,
in which the Romans under Consul Nero de-
feated the Carthagenians under Hasdrubal, and
by which the supremacy of the great Republic
was established
8. The victory of Arminus, A. ID. 9, over the
Roman legions under Varus, which secured Gaul
! from Roman domination.
6. The Battle of Chalons, A. d. 45l, in which
Aetius defeated Atilla the Hun, the sef-styled
"Scourge of God," and saved Europe from en-
| tire devastation.
7. The Battle of Tours, A. d. 1872, in which
Charles Martel, by the defeat of the Saracens,
averted the Mahomedan yoke from Europe.
8. The Battle of Hastings, A. ID. l056 in
which William Of Normandy was victorious o.
yer the Anglo-Saxon Harold, and the result of
which was the formation Of the Anglo-Norman
nation which now is dominant in the world.
8. The Battle of Orleans, A. ID. 1929, in
which the English were defeated and the inde-
pendent existence of France secured.
10. The defeat of the Spanish Aramada A. ID.
1888, which crushed the hopes of Papacy in Eng
land.
IL. The Battle of Benheim, A. d. 1904, in
which Marlborough by the defeat of Tallard,
broke the power and crushed the ambitious
schemes of Louis XIV.
IL. The defeat of Charles XII, by Peter the
Great at Pultowa, A. d. 1909, which secuted the
stability of the Muscovite Empire.
l3. The Battle of Saratoga, A. ID. 1777, in
which Gen. Gates defeated Gen. Burgoyne, and
which decided the fate of the American Revolu-
tionists, by making France their ally, and other
European powers friendly to them.
IA. The Battle of Valmy, A. ID. 1892, in which
the Continental Allies, under the Duke of Bruins
wick, were defeated by the French Revolution
ary army.
15 The Battle of Waterloo A. D. 1915, in
which the Duke of Wellington hopelessly de-
feated Napoleon, and saved Europe from his
grasping ambition. [Cour. and Inq.
MATERNAL INFLUENcE.-During lecture on
Popular Education, recently delivered, Cover
nor Briggs related the following impressive in
cident:
Twelve or fifteen years ago, left Washing
ton three or four weeks during the spring
While at home possessed myself Of the letters
of Mr.. Adams mother, and read them with ex-
ceeding interest [ remember an expression in
one of the letters addressed to her son, while
yet a boy twelve years Of age in Europe: says
she, IL would rather see you laid in your grave
than that you should grow up a profane and
graceless boy"
After returning to Washington, went over
to Mr.. Adams seat one day and said to him:
"Mr. Adams, | have found out who made
you"
What do you mean! ?" said he
/ replied, II have been reading the letters of
your mother"
IfI had spoken that dear name to some little
boy who had been for weeks away from his dear
mother, his eye could not have flashed more
brightly, or his face glowed more quickly, than
did the eye and face Of that venerable old man
when pronounced the name of his mother. He
started up in his peculiar manner, and emphatic
ally said,
"Yes, Mr.. Briggs, all that is good in me owe
to my mother"
Oh, what testimony was that from this vene-
rable man to his mother, who had in his remem-
brance all the scenes of his manhood GAIL that
is good in me owe to my mother" Mothers
think of this when your bright eyed little boy is
about you. Mothers make the first impression
upon their children, and those Impressions will
be the last to be effaced
The RELIGION OF PAYING DEBTs.-One of
our religious exchanges has the following strong
remarks on this subject. They drive the nail
on the head and clinch it:
"Men may sophisticate as they please. They
can never make it right, and all the bankrupt
laws in the universe cannot make it right for
them not to pay their debts. There is sin in
this neglect as clear and as deserving church dis
cipline, as in stealing or false swearing. He
who violates his promise to pay, or withholds
n