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      It is a fact that apparently insignificant incidents have from time to time in the story of the human race led to sweeping and momentous alterations in the world's history. These changes were beneficial to some, and equally calamitous to others of the various peoples, in some cases laying the foundation of future great ness in nations hitherto of small account, and causing correspondingly the fall of mighty empires, sometimes en compassing the destruction of entire races.
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