Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1914-01-20
aaistsllaasulls gsaaing.
FRIVOLOUS CAUSES OF WAR
Fist Fight Started Conflict in France
and Smashed Teapot in China.

and Venice. When the Venetian am
bassador was asked by the Turkish
grand vizier to ratify a treaty in the
Moslem fashion by swearing 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 monkeys!" Stung by this
insult the ambassador struck the
Turk and the latter returned the blow.
The treaty was torn to fragments,
and the result was a sanguinary war
between the two nations.
| The beginning Of the great uprising
Of the Sicilians against their French
conquerors and masters, commonly
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 hus-
band. A French officer flung at her
a taunting remark and the husband
sprang at him and felled him with a
blow.
Now, the Sicilians were not allowed
to bear arms; the Frenchman carried
sword. This he attempted to draw
as he scrambled to his feet; but a
second time the husbands arm shot
out and again the Frenchman meas
ured his length on the ground. Then,
before anyone could interfere, the in
suited 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 pop
ulace rushed wildly through the
streets, Staying all Frenchmen they
encountered. Altogether it is record
ed 5000 perished and many times
that number lost their lives in the
war subsequently undertaken by
France to avenge what she stigmatiz-
ed as a massacre, but which the
Sicilians gloried in as an act Of praise
worthy patriotism.
Somewhat similar was the origin OF
that terrible series Of religious wars
that desolated France in the latter
half Of the sixteenth century. More
than a thousand Huguenots were as
sembled in a large barn near Vasy,
peaceably celebrating their religious
rites under the protection OF what
was known as the "Edict Of January"
The Duke Of Guise, with a numerous
escort, rode by, and certain Of his
followers Knocked and mimicked the
Huguenots in so offensive a way that
the latter retaliated with most op-
probrious remarks. Soon all were at
blows, and from this comparatively
trivial beginning arose the bloody
wars between the Huguenots and
Catholics that for 80 years agitated
the French nation.
In China, $50 years ago, the smash
ing Of a teapot led to sanguinary
conflict extending over a period Of
years. The teapot in question formed
part Of the travelling equipment OF
one of the emperors during his pro-
gress through a disaffected province
Of northern China. 1t happened that
certain Of the emperor's retinue were
intercepted by band of robbers, who
found the teapot among the baggage
and Indignantly flung it to the ground
and broke it. The matter was report
ed to the emperor, who was so anger
ed by the occurrence that he sent out
a punitive force. A long war ensued,
resulting, it is said, in the death Of
100000 men.
In the year 1879, the Transvaal was
declared a crown colony and the sal
aries Of officials, both Dutch and En-
glish, were cut down. Among the num-
Der so treated was certain Paul
Kruger, whose salary was reduced
by $3.50 per annum. The loss Of the
money annoyed the Dutchman, who
raised the standard revolt. AS a con-
sequence there followed the Majuba
Jameson raid and finally the great
war which cost Britain s1,100,000,-
900 and the lives Of $4,000 of her
sons.
The borrowing of a tobacco pipe
and it's return caused civil war in the
Pamirs and Afghanistan, while the
stealing Of a lace petticoat belonging
to lady of CASTLE by Moor led to
long and bloody confinct. The war
between Sweden and Poland. which
began in 1854, arose through a sup
posed slight.
The king Of Sweden suddenly dis
his name and title were followed by
only two etceteras, while the king Of
Poland was given three. The result,
incredible as it may seem, was war.
Mrs. Masham, the favorite lady in
waiting on Queen Anne, was one day
| carrying a glass of water to her royal
mistress when she collided with the
Marquis de Torey, on whose clothes
the water was spilled. The marquis,
failing to obtain an apology for what
he regarded as an insult to both him
self and his country, made sch ado
in the matter that soon bad feeling
was engendered. 1t spread from the
court and involved the two nations.
1t was not settled without the inter-
vention Of the great Duke Of Marl-
borough and his brilliant campaigns
One Of the most curious excuses for
war, as we'll as one Of the most eX-
traordinary Of wars, had its origin in
little matter that occurred in the
sixteenth century. This war" was
was conducted between a bankrupt
grocer of Berlin, on the one hand, and
the elector Of Saxony, on the other
The immediate cause Was the ARREST"
of two of the bridesmaids horses in
the electors territory, the grocer him
self being a subject Of the elector Of
Brandenburg.
Failing to obtain redress the bellig-
erent grocer adopted what was then a
perfectly legal expedient. He declar-