The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1914-01-29
FRIVOLOUS CAUSES OF WAR.
Fist Fight Started Conflict in France
and Szaashed Teapot in China.

conflicts that have originated in trivi-
al circumstances. A notable instance
was the Canadian war between Tur-
KEY and Venice. When the Vene-
tian ambassador was asked by the
Turkish grand vizier to ratify trea-
ty in the Moslem fashion by swear
ing upon his beard and that of the
prophet, the ambassador declined.
saying: The Venetians wear no
boards" Neither, for that matter, !"
angrily retorted the Turk, "do mon
keys!" Stung by this insult the am
bassador struck the Turk and the lat
ter returned the blow. The treaty
was torn to fragments, and the re-
suit was a sanguinary war between
the two nations.
The beginning of the great upris-
ing of the Sicilians against their
French conquerors and masters, COM
monty known as the "Sicilian
Vespers,'' was intensely dramatic. 1t
was Easter eve and Palermo was
thronged with merry-makers. A
Sicilian bride passed by leaning on
the arm of her husband. A French
officer flung at her a taunting re-
mark and the husband sprang at him
and felled him with a blow.
Now, the Sicilfans, were not allow
ed to bear arms; the Frenchman car
RED sword. This he attempted to
draw as he scrambled to his feet;
but second time the husbands s
arm shot out and again the French
man measured his length on the
ground. Then, before anyone could
interfere, the insulted husband
wrested the sword from his PROSTATE
enemy and ran him through.
Wild shouts of exultation from
the assembled Sicilians showed how
they, at any rate, regarded the deed.
Cries were raised of Death to the
French" Seized with a sudden
frenzy, the populace rushed wildly
through the streets, Staying all
Frenchmen they encountered. AL
together it is recorded 5000 perish
ed and many times that number lost
their lives in the war subsequently
undertaken by France to avenge
what she stigmatized as massacre,
but which the Sicilians gloried in as
an act of praiseworthy patriotism.
Somewhat similar was the origin
of that terrible series of religious
wars that desolated France in the lat
ter half of the sixteenth century.
More than a thousand Huguenots
were assembled in large barn near
yasy, peaceably celebrating their re-
ligious rites under the protection of
what was known as the "Edict OF
January" The Duke of Guise, with
a numerous escort, rode by, and GER
tain of his followers Knocked and
mimicked the Huguenots in so of
fensive way that the latter fetaliat-.
ed with most opprobrious remarks.
Soon all were at blows, and from this
comparatively trivial beginning arose
the bloody wars between the Hugue-
nots and Catholics that for 80 years
agitated the French nation.
In China, 250 years ago, the
smashing of teapot led to a san
culinary conflict extending over a
period of years. The teapot in ques-
ton formed a part of the travelling
equipment of one of the emperors
during his progress through disaf-
fected province of northern China.
It happened that certain of the en-
peror's retinue were intercepted by
a band of robbers, who found the
teapot among the baggage and in
dignantly flung it to the ground and
broke it. The matter was reported
to the emperor, who was so anger
ed by the occurrence that ne sent
out punitive force. A long war en-
sued, resulting, it is said, in the
death of 100000 men.
In the year 1879, the Transvaal
was declared crown colony and the
salaries of officials, both Dutch and
English, were cut down. Among
the number so treated was certain
Paul Kruger, whose salary was re-
duced by $3.50 per annun. The loss
of the money annoyed the Dutchman,
who raised the standard revolt. AS
a consequence there followed the
Majuba Hill fight, years of agitation,
the Jameson raid and finally the
great war which cost Britain s1,100,
100000 and the lives of $4,000 of
her sons.
The borrowing of tobacco pipe
and it's return caused civil war in
the Pamirs and Afghanistan, while
the stealing of a lace petticoat be-