The Logan County banner. [volume] (Logan, W. Va.) 1889-1903, 1889-05-16

nOUCNCf 0PPdEUubly SCrt1tu, 1h MI
penetrable vail. Even more startling
are often the effects OF incidents. to all
seeming immaterial and frifiing, when
we fcrsake the by-paths Of private life
for the great highway Of history. A
striking ease in point is dwelt on by
Sir Francis Palgrave, in his History
Of Normandy and England" showing
US the obscure and UNDECIDED origin Of
our very existence as a iation. He
well remarks that England owes its
place IN the world TO Duke Robert OF
Normandy, father OF William the Con-
queror, seeing Arletta. daughter of
tanner of Falaise, washing her linengin
rivuiet near that town. .'Arletta's
pretty feet, twinkling in the brook,
made her the mother of William the
Conqueror. But Tor the tanner OF
Falaise, her father, Harold would not
have fallen at Hastings. no Anglo
Norman dynasty would have arisen,
no British Empire To po sphere OF
energy does this sudden, overmaster-
ing interference OF the unforeseen.
apply more forcibly than to war.
Bluchers arrival half an hour later on
the field OF Waterloo might not inn
possibly have changed the history OF.
the world, and the cackling Of some
geese was once highly iseful-exam-
pies OF the manner in which the fate
OF armies and citadels. and with them
the destiny of nations, tremble at GER
tain moments in the balance, to be
swayed hither and thither by agencies
apparently slight.
On the other hand, the great salient
changes and events of life, from which
mighty innovations are expected, not
unfrequently leave no impression be-
hind them; and, though they may be
in sense important, have little or no
influence on the character or future of
the Individual they befall. Striking
occurrences, foreshadowing serious
consequences, have often absolutely
no equal, SO that it passes the sagacity
of the shrewdest to predict whether a
given acorn, SO to speak, shall perish
unnoticed or develop into majestic
oak. This strand of caprice. these in
explicabie, surprising results from
commonplace facts, whilst they render
life less logical and prevent the calm
est lot from being mapped out entire
| ly by rule and compass, undeniably
| supply most Of the romance and ex-
element falling to the share Of NOR
tails; and, though the medal has its
dark and distressing side, there can
be no doubt that existence without an
occasional impromptu in the shape of
| the sudden and unexpected, to relieve
IhezeVenztenor sof plans united and
prearranged, would be scarcely en-
durable. Not only can we but rough
hew our ends, our most careful en-
deavors lend not unfrequently to a
termination the very reverse from
what might reasonably have been an
ticipated. We can call to mind the
case of lady who directed her solic-
itor to invest large sum ofmoney in
shares of the City of Glasgow Bank
some months =priorte- it's collapse.
Imagining that her Instructions had
been carried out, she heard the news
of the closure of the banks doors with
unqualified dismay, as the claim OF
the creditors would have entailed her
total ruin. The subsequent discovery
of her agents embezzlement revealed
likewise the groundlessness of her APP
prehensions, her loss being limited to
the amount entrusted to her dishonest
representative London Spectator.