Clarke courier. [volume] (Berryville, Va.) 1869-1997, 1907-04-24
THE FALL OF NATIONS
How Great World Powers Have
Passed Into History.
MOST HAVE DIED FIGHTING.
The Struggle Between the Empire Of
the East and the Empire of the West
Venice, Its Secret Three and Its Long
Reign Of Terror.

the East and the Empire of the West
Venice, It's Secret Three and It's Lono
Reign of Terror.
Most countries which have died have
gone down fighting. The Roman en-
pire persisted like that, and by the
irony OF fate the power OF the Caesars
came to an end far away from Rome.
After IL had existed for centuries the
Roman empire became so vast and IN
wieidy that 1t 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 IL could make no
stand against its enemies. Rome was
sacked by the barbarians and eventu-
ally became not the capital of a vast
empire, but the city OF the popes. over
which the pontifrs reigned as kings.
The temporal power of the popes last
ed till 1870. while the capital Of Italv
was hrst Turin and then Milan. Final
~ the city was taken without n real
night 10y the soldiers of the king OF
Italy.
The empire of the east had its cant
tai at ConstantinOple. For centuries IL
was the greatest power in the world.
But 1t became honeycombed with vice
and enervated with pride and luxuvy:
also 1t grew old and weak Then in
l422 the Turks made tigerish sDrin-
on ConstantiHople and took IL by storm
The last OF the Greek cmperors died
sword In hand and his descendants
are living In England today I'm Very
humble situations.
Egypt, once SO powerful and SO FL
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 tie
Nile, and the aforetime naughty Egyp-
tians were slaves for a 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.
lul that he thought II vast conde-
scension on his part to receive an en-
bassy from the maiden queen. But
us time went OH the great rajahs. or
tributary kings, rebelled against the
moguls. India was rent asunder 10y the
wars between rival rajahs. This gave
the Europeans n 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
Tor herself. The heir of the moguls. by
the way. still enjoys pension given
by the British government as n COM
pensation for the throne lost by his an
cestors
Poland used to occupy a big place on
the map OF Europe At one time II
was much larger and stronger than
Russia. The ear Of Russia and the
emperor OF Austria were only too glad
TO be on good terms with the king of
Poland, and there was no king OF
Prussia in those DAYS.
Noble Adventures from all parts OF
the world nocked 10 the Polish capital
at Warsaw. eager to serve In the Pol
ish armies. The Duke OF Monmouth.
son OF King Charles III. OF England.
thought OF doing this.
But Poland persisted through her
own faults and follies. The mass of
the common people were slaves In all
but name. They were not allowed 10
move from one part OF the country TO
another without leave, they could not
own a foot OF land, and they could
never be sure that they might not be
sold by the great noble they served to
n new master: hence the mobiles and
the people never stood together in
times OF danger or disaster.
Poland was n big country. but il was
divided against itself. and Russia.
Prussia and Austria combined were
more powerful. They all three Joined
hands, and each tocK large share Of
Poland in 1T72. That was the first
partition OF Poland" The Poles sub
mitted tamely. for they were still di-
vided
In 1898 the trio Of robbers made a
second swoop. Only the ghost of Po-
land was left. Another year saw the
end of the tragedy. The last REM
nants OF Poland were swallowed up by
Russia, Prussia and Austria.
The fa,c Of the republic OF Venice Is
one OF the most dramatic in all history.
For hundreds OF years the city Of the
Lagoons was one OF the most powerful
states In the world. Its doges ranked
as the equals OF the proudeSt kings.
Its alliance was coveted by the great
est powers. Its government was one
or sheer terrorism. The doge was
hardly more than splendid figure
head. All rea! power rested in the
hands OF the dreaded council of ten
and the secret three. The latter were
4 trio OF living Mysteries and were
known hy name to practically no one
I'm Venice.
Sometimes man was one of the
secret three and his own wife and chill
dren never dreamed ii. Their most
dreaded servants We're masked mutes.
II Venetian. no matter how high his
rank, was denounced by the council
or ten or the secret three, he knew he
was no better than a dead man. So
che government OF Venice was Il terror
to Its own people and the outside
world. Then Napoleon came upon the
scene. and the lion OF st. Mark licked
the dust."-Pearson's Weekly.
81 have generally found that the
man who IL good at an excuse is good
for NOTHING .alSa Snf1 INro.,lyIfD =,