The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1911-12-23
Iondon Globe.)

The history of warfare contains nu-
mcrous examples of conflicts that
have originated through tritling caus-
es. For instance. Turkey in the past
suffered greatly in III wal with Venice.
When the Venetian ambassador was
asked by the Turkish grand vizier To
ratify Il treaty by swearing i'll the
the beard of the prophet. he declined.
because, as he said, the Nenetians
wear no boards"
This remark was too much for the
Turk. who rctorted ansriiy, Nor do
monkeys!"-an eXciatnta1on Which
caused the other to tear UP tine treaty
and retire from the conference. The
sequel was IL sanguinary conflict in
which fell 10000 Christians and four
times hat number of Turks.
But the Turks We're not the only
ones to Use blows instead of argu-
ments on the slightest provocation.
The cmperors of China have ever
been famous in this direction. the rec
ord instance being a war $50 years
ago which began through the smash
ing Of a teapot. This Indispensable
household article was looked upon
by its owner, Il high dignitary of the
court. rs IL priceless treasure. and
consequently it accompanied the great
man Oh his journeys.
1t SO happened that when he was
travelling through the lawless prov
inces in the northwest of China some
of his rctinue were Intercepted by q
band of robbers, who found the g
pot among the baggage and indiS-
nantly flung it to the the ground and
broke it. The matter was reported
to the emperor, who was so indignant
as his favorite's loss that he sent ont
IL punitive force and a long war be-
gan which resulted i'll the death Of
5OO,O 600 men.
A conflict over 4 teapot even a val
liable one seems almost III of the
range OF possibility until n recalls
that Il bucket was once the innocent
cause of Il terrible Il Nine hun
drcd years ago II party Of soldiers OF
Modena stole IL bucket. apparently
as practical joke. from Il public
we'll in Bologna and refused to re-
store it. Fights thercupon took place
between the soldiers of the rival states
and started a war which devastated
Il large part of Europe.
The cash value Of that bucket WIS
only Il few shillings. but wars have
often been wngcd concerning things
that represented little from Il monc-
tary point of view. An excellent H.
Illustration is afforded hy Algeria
which came into the possession OF
France through =: disagreement over
II petty dclt. The hey Of Algeria
demanded immediate payment
through the French consul, who asked
time I" pay. aud in reply WAS
and thrown int" prison.
A couple of days later $; conflict
vas begun that continued for twenty
years. during which time moro than
half !, million lives were sacrificed.
q calamity was surely unncccS-
for $" pa'try us and the
same remark is equally applicable to
other wars.
In 1871? the T%ransvnal was declared
a crown colony. and the salaries of
both Dutch and British. were
rut down. Among the umbc SO
was Il certain Paul Kruger.
whose salary was reduced to fifty
pounds per annum, The loss of the
money annoyed the Dutchman, who
raised the standard of revolt. AS Il
consequence there followed the Maui
ba Hill fight. years Of AGITATION. i1he
Jameson raid. and finally the great
war. which cost Britain 22O. 900. 900
pounds and the lives Of $4,000 of her
IONS.
And equally tiny sparks have kind
many other cO~nilagrations. The
Of a tobacco pipe and its
'etention caused civil war in the IA
Mrs and Afganistan. while the steal
ng Of II lace pctticoat belonging to n
'astilc lady by a Moor led to II long
conflict. The war between Sweden
Poland. which began in 164a.
,ros" through Il supposed slight.
Tho king Of Sweden suddenly dis