Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1894-08-09

repaid by the long series OF naroM NJ
trigues, revoltA murders ana reesinons
through which the son OF baahsnepa Wss
finally established on the throne as
Dayid's successor An equally casual
promenade rad consequences quite as
nome utovs for Italy during tho second |
punic war. il was after the great Han |
nihai had crossed the Alps and entered
italy Tho Romans had been defeated at
the Ticinus and TreoIa. ut Lake Thrasy-
menus, and, worst OF all. at Gamma, ana
Hannibal had taken up winter quarters
at Capua. Here he took possession OF one
of the best houses In the city for his
own use. and. while walking in the gar
den. heard a female voice singing not
far away. He could understand nothing
OF what was sung. but was struck by
the plaintive melody. In the rough and
ready way of those good old days he
commanded the singer TO be brought into
his presence, and when this was done
was so greatly impressed by her appear
ance that he at once took her into his
own household. Kidding himself OF her
husband by the simple but effective me-
thod OF cutting of his head. During the
remainder OF the winter the time OF the
great Carthaginian was given up TO
pleasure; business and discipline were
alike neglected. and before spring the
Carthaginian army was 80 demorallzed by
dissipation and vice that IL was never
afterward good for anything, and Hanni-
balls cause was lost.
Jefferson was fond OF telling n story
which illustrates In a forcible manner the
Importance that absurdly insignificant
matters may sometimes assume. When
the delberative body that gave the world
the Declaration of Independence was in
session, Its proceedings were conducted in
hall close to which was situated n
livery stable. The weather was warm, and
from the stable came swarms OF flies
that lighted on the legs OF the honorable
members. and, biting through the thin
silk stockings then In fashion. gave In
finite annoyance. IL was no uncommon
sight said jefferson, to see a member
| making a speech with a large handker-
chief in hand, and pausing Mt every
moment TO thrash the flies from his thinly-
protected calves The opinion of the body
! was not unanimous In favor of the docu-
| ment. and. under other circums stances DIS
| cusson might have been protracted for
| days. IL not for weeks. but the flies were
| intolerable Efforts were made to find an
other hall. free from the pests. but m
| vain. As the weather became warmer
! the flies grew worse and the tapping Of
| handkerchiefs was heard all over the nall
! as an accompaniment TO the voices or the
| speakers. In despair. at last some one
| suggested that matters be hurried, 80 that
| the body might adjourn. and get away
| from the flies There were Few mlid
| protests. but no one needed them, the
| immortal declaration was hurriedy copied,
| and, with handkerchiefs In hand nghting
| flies as they came, the members fastened
/ up 10 the table to sign the authefVhc
! copy and leave the flies In the lurch.
| Had IL not been for the livery stable and
L. al
! document would have been completed, but
| II certainly would not have been signed
! on the Fourth.
Two historians of the time or Henry
| VIII, Of England. are responsible Tor inc
statement that lost horseshoe chang 'd
the religious and possibly also the poliu-
| cal history of the insular power After
| the fall % Anne Boleyn, and wren hsr
death had been determined, the Papacy
prepared terms of reconciliation so favor-
able in every particuk,y 10 Henry. and
90 datterins TO the vanity Of which he
! possessed rather more than due share.
that II was impossible for him not 70
accent them. A delegate was dispatched
from Dome with the proposals.. and rods
most hhste across Europe WITH them
When only a days journey from Calais,
however. his horse cast a shoe and Tell
lame As the horse was a favofite ami
NAL. the Papal messenger Determined tc
wait for day rather than take anothei
steed, which might not be so easy under
the saddle. The next day the horse was
well and the journey was resumed, Ca
lois was reached, the Channel was cross
ed. and the delegate arrived in London
only to find that on the day Of his ar
rival Henry had been married 10 Jane
Seymour. Protestant; that Anne had
been beheaded the day before, and that
all hope Of reconciliation was lost III
was a day too late. A lest horseshoe
! had changed the course OF n nation
history A similar mishap Is said Il
have been responsible for the arrest an'
detention OF Louis XVI. at Farennes
guard of cavalry had been sent to NEE
him at the village and escort him in safe
across the frontier. one OF the horse
drawing the royal carriage became LAM
from the loss of Shoe and the rova
marty was detained Meantime the cav
airy escort. fearful OF attracting toe
much attention in the village, Withdrew
10 a bridge a few hundred yards dis
tant and on the opposite side from whicl
the King was expected. ana there walte'
his arrival The delay and change Wer
fatal. The King was recognized th'
marty was detained; the cavalry becom
inc tired Of waiting, and supposlng INA
the King had taken some other rout7
rode of. and Louis went back to Parl
and the scafold.
History records one war that was cause
b,, a glass of water which the Englls
.. Ambassador procured for "A celebrate
French beauty at the Paris court, ana q
treaty. that of Utrecht, which wa
| brought on by quarrel between Quee
Q Anne and the Duchess OF Marlboroug
about a pair of gloves. Odder than eithei
however. was the cause OF the grei
Hundred Years War between Englan
: and FAnce. which impoverished both.
! was I'm this wise: Louis VII. was n
3. saint. but, so far as the ladies' were cor
u cernod. had a weakness that was cor
stantIy securing for him penances OF on
l kind or another at the hands OF his cor
j. | fessor Finally he was guilty OF som
Il peccadillOes 80 very bad that the reVefen
e father ordered him TO have his luAurlaI
u beard shaved and his flowing locks croi
L ped short This was done and the chang
: made in the personal appearance Oh IN
= Majesty OF France was so startling Una
, when his Queen, the already not ~
u faithful Eleanor. came into his presenc
~ she laughed aloud at the spectacle. III
IS poor King could not explain matters, n
e the explanation would have made wors
e appearance than his cIose-cropped pol
K so he was forced in silence to endure NJ
l. jibes II she had stopped at ridicule, u
matter might have ended there ana bee
y forgotten when his beard and hair wei
u grown. but he was rendered so contempt
y Bile in her sight that she openly Kept con
> pauy with the Count Of Anjou. then
II nobleman OF the court. The shaver III
! stood the disgrace as long as he coui
81 but matters went from bad to worse az
" finally he sent to the Pope evidence
n the case, and succeeded in having u
} marriage declared invalid. Eleanor the
u finding herself free. married her love
y who afterward became Henry H. OF En-
- land. When she came 10 the throne
Is Louis. however. she had brought as n
y dover the rich provinces Of Poitou al
" Guienne. and after her divorce from Lou
II sought 10 reclaim them. To this, ho'
DC ever. Louis would by no means consei
he was glad enough 10 get rid OF q
81 Queen. but he was cage $40 keep h
=. doyvrv Henry pre-. sed his Wifes CLAIM