New Ulm review. (New Ulm, Brown County, Minn.) 1892-1961, 1907-03-20

the East and the Empire Of the West. |
Venice, Its Secret Three and Its Long
Reign of Terror.
Most countries which have died have |
gone down fighting. The Roman en-
pire perished like that, and by the
irony of fate the power of the Caesars
came to an end far away from Rome.
After it had existed for centuries the
Roman empire became so vast and IN
wieldy that it had to be divided into
two, the empire of the west and the
empire of the east. The capital of the
former was Rome.
The empire of the west became so
weak at last that it could make no
sacked by the barbarians and eventu-
ally became not the capital Of vast
empire, but the city Of the popes, over
which the pontiffs reigned as kings.
The temporal power of the popes last
ed till 1870, while the capital Of Italy
was first Turin and then Milan. Final
~ the city was taken without real
fight by the soldiers Of the king Of
Italy.
The empire of the east had its CAPT.
tai at Constantinople. For centuries it
was the greatest power in the world.
But it became honeycombed with vice
and enervated with pride and luxury;
also it grew old and weak. Then in
1922 the Turks made tigerish spring
on Constantinople and took it by storm.
The last Of the Greek emperors died
sword in hand, and his descendants
are living in England today in very
humble situations.
Egypt, once so powerful and SO IA
nous under the pharaohs, was con-
quered by Rome and was afterward
swamped by the Moslems. The cres-
cent was supreme in the land Of the
Nile, and the aforetime naughty Egyp-
tians were slaves for thousand years.
The great moguls used to reign in
India. In the days Of Queen Elizabeth
| the mogul-or emperor of Delhi, as he
was sometimes called-was SO power
full that he thought it a vast conde-
/ scension on his part to receive an en-
bassy from the maiden queen. But
as time went on the great rajahs, or
tributary kings, rebelled against the
| moguls. India was rent asunder by the
wars between rival rajahs. This gave
/ the Europeans chance.
/ France at first held the upper hand
and nearly conquered the land, but
then England drove France back and
seized the empire Of the great moguls
for herself. The heir Of the moguls, by
the way, still enjoys pension giveI
by the British government as com
pensation for the throne lost by his an
cestors.
Poland used to occupy big place OF
the map Of Europe. At one time i
was much larger and stronger thar
Russia The czar Of Russia and thu
emperor Of Austria We're only too glat
to be on good terms with the king O
Poland, and there was no king o
Prussia in those days.
Noble Adventures from all parts o
the world hoclked to the Polish capita
at Warsaw, eager to serve in the POI
ish armies. The Duke Of Monmouth
son of King Charles II. Of England
thought of doing this.
But Poland persisted through he
own faults and follies. The mass Q
the common people were slaves in a
but name They were not allowed t
move from one part of the country t
another without leave, they could nc
own a foot of land, and they coul
never be sure that they might not b
sold by the great noble they served
{ new master; hence the mobiles an
: the people never stood together
, times of danger or disaster.
) Poland was a big country, but it wa
: divided against itself, and Russi;
) Prussia and Austria comb ined we1
more powerful They all three joine
5 hands, and each took a large share {
: Poland in 1772 That was the ''frS
5 partition Of Poland The Poles sui
5 mitted tamely, for they were still
vided.
In 1893 the trio of robbers made
second swoop. Only the ghost of p
land was left. Another year saw tt
t end Of the tragedy. The last ren
nants of Poland were swallowed up b
Russia, Prussia and Austria.
J The fate Of the republic of Venice
/ one Of the most dramatic in all histor
e For hundreds of years the City of tt
3 Lagoons was one Of the most powerf
it states in the world. Its doges ranke
as the equals Of the proudest king
n Its alliance was coveted by the grea
l. est powers. It's government was OF
a of sheer terrorism. The doge WI
d hardly more than a splendid fgur
e head. All real power rested in Il
d hands of the dreaded council Of t.
If and the secret three. The latter we
v a trio Of living mysteries and we
D. known by name to practically no o.
lie in Venice.
)e Sometimes a man was one OF t
d secret three and his own wife and Oh
30 dron nnvnr dreamed if Their. me