The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1913-01-10
World Was COnvuISGd by
Wars One Hundred
Years Ago.
By JAMES A. EDGERTON.

" recent wears, about the only eel
ebraton in America being that
of the battle of Lake Erie. Yet on
both sides of the Atlantic 1913 saw I'M
portant events. The downfall of Ma
poleon and the invention of the loco
motive made rather big dents in this
old world 1t is true that the little en-
peror was not banished to Elba till the
following yea. but the alliance against
him that doomed his ascendancy was
consumma ted in 1918. 1t Is also true
that George Stephenson did not COM
plete his first travelling engine until
1914, but ht was at work on 1t the
year previous, so that 1918 should have
share of the glory.
Superstitious peOple-and who among
us is entirely free?-are not little
nervous about a year ending In the
hoodoo burdened 13. Some one has
gone to the trouble to point out not
only the downfall OF Napoleon In 1913,
but the eclipse OF the Grand Monarch,
Louis XIV, in 1713 and other disas-
ters that happened in 1918, 1918, etc.
All of this is respectfully referred to
the various ancient history societies
and the thirteen clubs. Meanwhile the
rest of us can get all the apprehensive
shivers .ut of the GATE that our sys-
tens require. There is nothing uncon-
stitutional in being superstitious, even
though most of our troubles never oc-
cur.
In 1918 the population Of the United
.k
census of 1910, was 7,239,ss1. Eight
cen states comp, sed the Union, the
original thirteen and the following sub
seuuently admitted: Vermont, which
came in during 1871; Kentucky, admit
ted in 1892; Tennessee, 1916; Ohio,
1903, and Louisiana, carved out of the
then new Louisiana purchase, In 1872.
Nearly everything west of the Allie
gheny mountains was raw frontier.
Washington was struggling A. mud
dy country village and New York a
city of about 100000 population.
Not Millionaire In the Land.
Somebody has said that transporta-
ton in the days of William Pitt was
but little advanced from the time of
Julius Caesar. Outside of the steam
boat, the same statement would apply
to 1913. Even the steamboat had not
yet come into general use the bulk OF
ocean vessels still carrying sail. The
steam engine in any form was in its
infancy. Lights commonly in use were
the candle, tallow dip and pine knot
The stagecoach went numbering over
muddy and i'll kept roads, the Indian
was menace in most Of the land,
education was confined to the few, and
there was not a millionaire In the re-
public.
Conditions in Europe were but little
better. War was still the chief occu-
patton of men who amounted to any
thing, and at this very time the great
est warrior since Caesar had gone
through the devastating retreat from
Russia and was being hedged about by
his numerous foes and driven into a
corner.
For decade Napoleon had practical
ly been Europe. He made its map to
suit his whim. The kings ate out Of
his hand He strode through the ma
tions like an overiord, accompanied by
the thunders of war and the lightnings
of victory He preached the gospel of
the French revolution in tones so
loud that they have not yet ceased to
reverberate. He was the man Of iron
that broke the nations to pieces and
rewelded the bits into his own personal
empire He was both a scourge and
an evangel, a destroyer and a rebuild
er, mighty warrior and a great execu-
tive. In all hearts he aroused extreme
passions. Men either idolatrously loved
or feared and hated him. Napoleon was
one of those prodiaiOus figures that will
shine through thousands Of years and
will be an enigma TO all OF them.
Beaten by NonresiStance.
Russia conquered Napoleon without
fighting him. True she did meet him
at bloody Borodino. but 1t was not Bor.
odino that gave him the fatal check
from which he never recovered. He
was a victor in the battle, but could
not overcome the frost and starvation
that encompassed his legions. Russia
defeated this greatest of soldiers by
nOnresistance. The retreat from Mos
cow broke not only his own grand
army, but the spell he held over Eu
rope. After all, he was but mortal
The lion had fallen into the pit, and
before he could emerge his enemies
were on him in pack.
The retreat occurred in the early
winter and Ney brought the remnants
of the grand army across the Niemer
" December. The emperor had hur
bed on before and was already bacl
IN Paris raising another army. He was
still to win a few victories, but Lacked
the old swiftness and decision. The re
cruits had to be drilled and this useC
up precious time. The workman whC
fears the tool in his hand does no