Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-03-13
TRIVIAL INCIDENTS.
Not Easy to Draw the Line Between
Them and Important Occurrences.

From the London Spectator
What may be deemed trivial incident? What
IL an occurrence Of serious Importance Those
who have observed life most closely win proba-
bly, be the least able to furnish to these queries
replies altogether satisfactory. The choice Of
. boys school, young mans start in profess
sion, marriage, serious injuries, illness, sudden
wealth or poverty, would probably be included
In the latter; whilst meeting an acquaintance
in the street, forgetting TO post letter. accept
ing an invitation to particular party, the ex-
preston Of . random opinion, missing . rail-
way train, are likely TO be relegated to the for
mer category. Yet an unbiased analysis
Of the experiences Of the majority Of
mankind would. in our opinion, show that
what is variousiy termed BY different orders
Of persons, providence" "chance," or tho
chapter Of accidents" acting extremely
often through the agency OF the slightest inn
aginable circumstance, plays most import
ant, not unfrequently an overwhelming part,
in the drama of human affairs. The result Of q
fall from q horse depends much less on the
speed Of the horse, or the constitution and
equestrian ability Of the precipitated rider,
than on the precise manner in which his body
reaches the ground, and this, despite all theo-
never be twice exactly the same, however often
the mischance may occur. To take another IN
stance, the impression made by one personality
on another, leaving ont OF reckoning the ele-
ment of beauty, is we'll known to defy all fore
cast, because We kindle sympathy and excite
distaste at points the most unexpected and I'M
accountable. Most of us have had occasion
to test the working Of this subtle attraction
and repulsion when he have endeavored to
make one of our friends take kindly to the
conversation and companionship OF another in
innate acquaintance. Yet upon the outcome
NJ fbeaa rarpatuallv recurring combination
depends the issue OF a vast number of our un-
dertakings. The arising Of a certain idea at a
given propitious moment Is another most
weighty factor in life. 1t may be replied that
Newton's apple or Watts tea kettle only
brought to q definite expression reflections
which had long been working in the philoso-
piers brain; but there can be no question that
many thoughts productive of momentous con-
sequences flash on the mind suddenly by what
can only be termed an inspiration. Then,
again, as to particular line of conduct and its
results- The novice is taught, and rightly
taught that the good apprentice succeeds,
and comes in his special sphere to
honor and credit. But we could name an emf
nent public character who owes his brilliant
career entirely to Grass neglect of his duty
as railway booking clerk; and also an idle
Ounce at school. held predestined to the work.
house, who retired from business about the
time his contemporaries were taking their de-
grees, on fortune acquired through a timely
developed genius for blending and tasting tea.
We know Of a young Austrian to whom vast
wealth was bequeathed by an aged gentleman
whom the lucky youngster met in a railway
train returning from his only sons funeral, be-
cause the bereaved parent was touched by the
close resemblance of the strangers features to
those of his departed boy. Similarly, we are
acquainted with person who distinctly traces
his entry on distinguished professional life to
the selection one day of a certain thoroughfare
in large city, where several ways met Above
ell, to mention the most critical of steps, the
origin Of very many marriages would disclose
this wool Of destiny crossing modifying, and
not seldom cancellng the operation of the warp
Of law generally controlling events.