OpenLLM-France/wikimedia huggingface dataset:
# The Ballad of a Barber

Originally published in The Savoy, June 1896.
Here is the tale of Carrousel, The barber of Meridian Street, He cut, and coiffed, and shaved so well, That all the world was at his feet.
The King, the Queen, and all the Court, To no one else would trust their hair, And reigning belles of every sort Owed their successes to his care.
With carriage and with cabriolet Daily Meridian Street was blocked, Like bees about a bright bouquet The beaux about his doorway nocked.
Such was his art he could with ease Curl wit into the dullest face; Or to a goddess of old Greece Add a new wonder and a grace.
All powders, paints, and subtle dyes, And costliest scents that men distil, And rare pomades, forgot their price And marvelled at his splendid skill.
The curling irons in his hand Almost grew quick enough to speak, The razor was a magic wand That understood the softest cheek.
Yet with no pride his heart was moved; He was so modest in his ways! His daily task was all he loved, And now and then a little praise.
An equal care he would bestow On problems simple or complex; And nobody had seen him show A preference for either sex.
How came it then one summer day, Coming the daughter of the King, He lengthened out the least delay And loitered in his hairdressing?
The Princess was a pretty child, Thirteen years old, or thereabout. She was as joyous and as wild As spring flowers when the sun is out.
Her gold hair fell down to her feet And hung about her pretty eyes; She was as lyrical and sweet As one of Schubert's melodies.
Three times the barber curled a lock, And thrice he straightened it again; And twice the irons scorched her frock, And twice he stumbled in her train.
His fingers lost their cunning quite, His ivory combs obeyed no more; Something or other dimmed his sight, And moved mysteriously the floor.
He leant upon the toilet table, His fingers fumbled in his breast; He felt as foolish as a fable, And feeble as a pointless jest.
He snatched a bottle of Cologne, And broke the neck between his hands; He felt as if he was alone, And mighty as a king's commands.
The Princess gave a little scream, Carrousel's cut was sharp and deep; He left her softly as a dream That leaves a sleeper to his sleep.
He left the room on pointed feet; Smiling that things had gone so well. They hanged him in Meridian Street. You pray in vain for Carrousel.
This work was published before January 1, 1929, and is in the public domain worldwide because the author died at least 100 years ago.
Public domainPublic domainfalsefalse
# The Ballad of the Brown Girl (Cullen)

THE BALLAD OF THE BROWN GIRL
AN OLD BALLAD RETOLD
THE BALLAD OF THE BROWN GIRL
AN OLD BALLAD RETOLD
by
Countee Cullen
WITH ILLUSTRATIONS AND DECORATIONS BY
charles cullen
HARPER & BROTHERS NEW YORK AND LONDON 1927
THE BALLAD OF THE BROWN GIRL Copyright, 1927, by Harper & Brothers Printed in the U. S. A. FIRST EDITION E-B
To Witter Bynner
THE BALLAD OF THE BROWN GIRL
He picked its strings and played a tune And sang it to the dead.
This work is in the public domain in the United States because it was published before January 1, 1929.
The longest-living author of this work died in 1946, so this work is in the public domain in countries and areas where the copyright term is the author's life plus 77 years or less. This work may be in the public domain in countries and areas with longer native copyright terms that apply the rule of the shorter term to foreign works.
Public domainPublic domainfalsefalse
# The Ballad of that P.N.

The shades of night had fallen at last, When through the house a shadow passed, That once had been the Genial Dan, But now become a desperate man, At question time he waited near, And on the Premier's startled ear A voice fell like half a brick -- "Did ye, or did ye not, pay Crick Did ye?"
By land and sea the Premier sped, But found his foe where'er he fled, The sailors swore -- with whitened lip -- That Neptune swam behind the ship: When to the stern the Premier ran, Behold, 'twas no one else but Dan, And through the roaring of the gale That clarion voice took up the tale, "Ahot there! Answer, straight and slick! Did not the Ministry pay Crick Did they?"
In railway trains he sought retreat, But soon, from underneath the seat, With blazing eye and bristling beard, His ancient enemy appeared, And like a boiling torrent ran The accents of the angry Dan -- "Tell me, John See, and tell me quick Did not ye pay your shares to Crick Did ye?"
This work is in the public domain in Australia because it was created in Australia and the term of copyright has expired. According to Australian Copyright Council - Duration of Copyright, the following works are public domain:
* published non-government works whose author died before January 1, 1955,
* anonymous or pseudonymous works and photographs published before January 1, 1955, and
* government works published more than 50 years ago (before January 1, 1974).
This work is also in the public domain in the United States because it was first published outside the United States (and not published in the U.S. within 30 days), and it was first published before 1989 without complying with U.S. copyright formalities (renewal and/or copyright notice) and it was in the public domain in Australia on the URAA date (January 1, 1996). This is the combined effect of Australia having joined the Berne Convention in 1928, and of 17 USC 104A with its critical date of January 1, 1996.
Because the Australian copyright term in 1996 was 50 years, the critical date for copyright in the United States under the URAA is January 1, 1946.
This work may be in the public domain in countries and areas with longer native copyright terms that apply the rule of the shorter term to foreign works.
Public domainPublic domainfalsefalse
# The Biographical Dictionary of America/Bache, Franklin

​BACHE, Franklin, physician, was born in Philadelphia, Pa., Oct. 25, 1792; son of Benjamin Franklin and Margaret H. (Markoe) Bache, grandson of Richard and Sarah (Franklin) Bache, and great-grandson of Benjamin Franklin. He was graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1810, taking his M. D. degree in 1814. In 1824 he was appointed practising physician at the Walnut street prison, and two years later accepted the chair of chemistry at the Franklin institute, holding the former position until 1886, and the latter until 1832. From 1829 to 1839 he was physician to the Eastern penitentiary in Philadelphia. Dr. Bache was elected a member of the Philadelphia medical society in 1852, of the American philosophical society in 1819, and its president from 1853 to 1855, and was a fellow of the college of physicians and surgeons, U. S. A., 1814-'16. In 1841 he was made professor of chemistry at Jefferson college, continuing in this position during the rest of his life. His "Pharmacopoeia," arranged in conjunction with Dr. George Bacon Wood, developed, in 1833, into "The Dispensatory of the United States of America." which reached its sixteenth edition in 1890. He was one of the editors of the North American Medical and Surgical Journal from 1823 to 1832, and was the author of "A Supplement to Henry's Chemistry" (1823); "Letters on Separate Confinement of Prisoners" (1829-'30); "Introductory Lectures on Chemistry" (1841-’52); and a "System of Chemistry for the Use of Medical Students." He died in Philadelphia, Pa., March 19, 1864.
# The Biographical Dictionary of America/Bache, Richard

​BACHE, Richard, merchant, was born in England. Sept. 12, 1737. He came to America shortly after his brother Theophylact, and settled in Philadelphia, where, on October 29, 1767. he was married to Sarah, only daughter of Benjamin Franklin. He was very successful in business, and through Franklin's influence attained prominence in political affairs, being secretary, comptroller and register-general, and from 1776 to 1782 colonial postmaster-general. He was also president of the Republican society of Philadelphia, and a prominent protestant against the injustice of the stamp act. He died in Berks county. Pa., July 29, 1811.
# The Biographical Dictionary of America/Backus, Azel

​BACKUS, Azel, educator, was born at Norwich, Conn., Oct. 13, 1765. He was graduated from Yale college in 1787, and, although brought up a Congregationalist, acquired deistic beliefs at college. Through the influence of his uncle, Rev. Charles Backus, he refrained from entering the army and became a Presbyterian minister. He served the church at Bethlehem, Conn., where he remained the pastor until 1812, when upon the founding of Hamilton college, Clinton, N. Y., he was elected its first president, holding the office up to the time of his death. Princeton and Hamilton conferred on him the degree of S. T. D. in 1810, and Yale the same degree in 1816. He died at Clinton, N. Y., Dec. 28, 1816. On his tombstone has been carved his biography in Latin, the translation of which is as follows: "Here lies buried, Azel Backus, D. D., a man of remarkable piety and learning, a zealous minister of the gospel, a distinguished president of Hamilton college; a man of extraordinary diligence, and greatly endeared to the members of the institution. In him were conspicuous the highest benevolence towards his fellow-men, incorruptible integrity and uncompromising truth. His wife survives to lament his loss; and we who knew him mourn also. The corporation of Hamilton college have erected this monument to the memory of their beloved and venerated president. He was pastor of the church in Bethlehem, Conn., twenty-two years, president of Hamilton college four years. He departed this life Dec. 28, A. D. 1816, aged fifty-two years."
# The Biographical Dictionary of America/Backus, Franklin Thomas

​BACKUS, Franklin Thomas, lawyer, was born at Lee, Mass., May 6, 1813. He spent his boyhood ta working on a farm to support his widowed mother, and at the age of thirteen went to Cleveland. Ohio. He obtained employment in a lawyer's office, gained an elementary education and earned his way through Yale college. After his graduation in 1836 he studied law in Cleveland for three years, and was admitted to the bar. In 1841 he was prosecuting attorney for Cuyahoga county, and was elected state representative in 1846, and state senator in 1848. In 1861 he was a delegate to the peace conference at Washington. He died May 14, 1870.
# The Biographical Dictionary of America/Bache, Hartman

​BACHE, Hartman, civil engineer, was born in Philadelphia. Pa., in 1797; son of Benjamin Franklin and Margaret H. (Markoe) Bache. He was graduated from the military academy at West Point in 1818, and was promoted in the army to brevet captain of staff, serving on the surveys in Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries. On July 24, 1828, he was brevetted major for ​faithful service ten years in one grade, and on Aug. 1, 1832, was brevetted major of staff, he was promoted to the full rank of major on the corps of topographical engineers in July, 1838, being engaged on the Florida reef defences; in the construction of the Brandywine screw-pile lighthouse and ice harbor. Delaware; as a member of the board of topographical engineers for lake harbors and western rivers; as lighthouse engineer for Delaware and Chesapeake bays; as lighthouse engineer for the Pacific coast, and as inspector in charge of military roads on the Pacific coast. On Aug. 6, 1861, he was promoted lieutenant-colonel, and on March 3, 1863, was made colonel, serving as superintending engineer of Forts Mifflin and Delaware. He was brevetted brigadier-general on March 13, 1863, and was retired from active service, March 7, 1867. He died in Philadelphia. Pa., Oct. 8. 1872.
# The Biographical Dictionary of America/Bachman, Max

​BACHMAN, Max, sculptor, was born in Brunswick, Germany, Feb. 27, 1862; son of John Hermann Bachman, author of various scientific and industrial works. Max was educated primarily at the industrial school, Berlin, and afterwards entered the Royal academy in the same city where he studied under Professor Wolff. Like most youths of versatile talent, his inclinations were at first indeterminate; music, painting, composing, the plastic and histrionic arts had each claims upon his many-sided nature, but his success as an amateur actor had almost determined him to choose the stage, when he was obliged to enter the army according to the German law. When he removed to the United States, in 1885, his cultivated talents gave him a brilliant introduction in art circles in Boston, Philadelphia and New York. His teutonic stability, comprehensive grasp of his subject, and his versatility as a colorist, sculptor, and musician, afforded him ability to conceive and perpetuate an idea, whether grotesque or sublime, in the plastic medium which is the most common exponent of his art. His work as a cartoonist marked a departure in the art of the caricaturist, and was a significant advance of a branch already exemplified by the great masters of the pencil in America and Europe. Great cartoons had not hitherto been achieved in clay, but Max Bachman began a new work in harmony with the spirit of the age. Some of his larger works include the four figures representing Europe. Asia, Africa and America, ​supporting the cornice of the World building in New York, and his panels in the State normal art school of Massachusetts―the twenty or more figures being of heroic size. In 1895 he was married to Eleanor May Brown, a sculptor of ability, and a pupil of her husband for three years. Her Bacchante, exhibited at the Boston art club in 1895, evoked much favorable criticism. In 1895 Mr. Bachman exhibited a bust of Cupid at the exhibition of the Architectural league in New York.
# The Biographical Dictionary of America/Backus, Charles Chapman

​BACKUS, Charles Chapman, financier, was born in Charlton, Saratoga county, N. Y., March 13, 1816, seventh in lineal descent from William Backus, who lived at Saybrook, Conn., as early as 1637, and was, with his son Stephen, among the original settlers of Norwich in 1659. In 1745 and and 1756, Timothy Backus, the great-grandfather of Charles C. Backus, maintained successfully a religious contention exercising all New England. His grandfather, Elisha Backus, fought at the battle of Bunker Hill, and was a major in the American revolutionary forces, and his father, Elisha Backus, was an American colonel in the second war with Great Britain. Charles C. married, in 1840, Harriet Newell, daughter of Edward Baldwin of Utica, N. Y. At the age of twenty-three he engaged in the book and publishing business at Utica, N. Y., as one of the firm of Bennett, Backus and Hawley, who also issued there the Baptist Register, which subsequently was merged in the Examiner of New York city, and became the leading paper of the Baptist denomination in the country. In 1840, Livingston, Wells & Pomeroy established an express business between New York city and Buffalo, and engaged Bennett, Backus & Hawley to act as their agent in Utica. The "express" consisted in the conveyance of money packages between the banks along the Line of the New York Central and Hudson River railroads, and Mr. Henry Wells was the sole messenger, his freight being carried in a handbag. The income at first was so small that, time and again, Mr. Wells was on the point of abandoning the enterprise, but Mr. Backus encouraged him to persevere, for he foresaw the vast capacities of the business, if extended, to include the carrying of merchandise. This was eventually done, and Mr. Backus became interested in it, and soon afterwards conceived and organized with others the American express company. Mr. Backus was one of the original promoters of the House telegraph system, and these interests demanding much of his time, he abandoned the book concern, and in 1850 removed to New York city in order to be at the centre of business operations. About 1861 Mr. Backus was placed, on behalf of the stockholders of the New York Central railroad, upon an examining committee, to inspect the road's financial affairs and general management. The disclosures arising from his thorough inquiry effected the installation of Dean Richmond as the new president of the road, and made an entire change in the financial methods and conduct of this great corporation. After 1865 Mr. Backus was constrained by impaired health to forego much of his earlier activity, yet his earnest interest in affairs, his valuable advice and his benefactions kept his name prominent. He died at the home of his son, Henry Clinton Backus, New York city, Feb. 13, 1899.
# The Biographical Dictionary of America/Backus, Isaac

​BACKUS, Isaac, clergyman, was born at Norwich, Conn., Jan. 9, 1724; son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Tracy) Backus. He was ordained pastor of the Congregational church at Middleborough in 1748, and continued as pastor and evangelist until 1756, when he assumed charge of a newly formed Baptist church in the same town. From 1765 to 1799 he was a trustee of Rhode Island college. In 1774 he was chosen agent of the Baptist churches of Massachusetts, and in this capacity was sent to Philadelphia to enlist in behalf of the Baptists the protection of the Continental Congress. President Manning of R. I. college presented a memorial, petitioning for relief from the persecution and oppression to which the Baptists were at that time subjected, and Mr. Backus made several addresses in behalf of religious freedom. In 1789 he made a tour through Virginia and North Carolina for the purpose of strengthening the Baptist denomination in that section. He published: "History of New England with Particular Reference to the Denomination of Christians called Baptists" (1777, 2d ed., 2 vols., 1871); "An Abridgement of the Church History of New England, 1602-1804" (1804), and "Church History of New England from 1620 to 1804" (1844). He died Nov. 20, 1806
# The Biographical Dictionary of America/Bache, Sarah (Franklin)

​BACHE, Sarah (Franklin), was born in Philadelphia, Pa., Sept. 22, 1744; daughter of Benjamin and Deborah (Read) Franklin. She was married Oct. 29, 1767. to Richard Bache. and was distinguished for her benevolence, especially during the revolutionary war. Funds were contributed by men of wealth and patriotism, with which material was purchased to clothe the suffering soldiers. Mrs. Bache organized a party of more than two thousand women and girls to sew the garments, and she also spent much time in hospital work. She was a woman of a beautiful nature, and the Marquis de Chastelleaux said of her: "If there are ladies in Europe who need a model of attachment to domestic duties and love to their country, Mrs. Bache may be pointed out to them as such. Simple in her manners, she possesses all the benevolence of her father." She died Oct. 5, 1808.
# The Biographical Dictionary of America/Bachman, John

​BACHMAN, John, naturalist, was born in Dutchess county, N. Y., Feb. 4, 1790. At the age of twenty-three he was licensed by the Lutheran synod of New York, having been previously elected pastor of three congregations in his own neighborhood in Dutchess county. In 1815 he went to South Carolina for his health, and for about fifty years preached at the Lutheran church at Charleston. There he became associated with Audubon, and aided him in writing his books on ornithology. The three-volume work on quadrupeds was written almost wholly by him and illustrated by Audubon and his sons. His two eldest daughters married Audubon's sons. In 1835 Mr. Bachman received the degree of D. D., and in 1838 the University of Berlin conferred upon him the degree of Ph. D., and the South Carolina college at Columbia that of LL. D. Among his published works are: "Account of Experiments Made on the Habits of the Vultures Inhabiting Carolina" (1834); "Two Letters on Hybridity" (1850); "Defence of Luther and the Reformation" (1853); "Characteristics of Genera and Species, as Applicable to the Doctrine of the Unity of the Human Race" (1854); "Notice of the Types of Mankind by Nott and Gliddon" (1854); "Catalogue of Phænogamous Plants and Ferns Growing in the Vicinity of Charleston, South Carolina;" "Examination of Professor Agassiz's Sketch of the Natural Province of the Animal World," and in conjunction with J. J. Audubon, "The Viviparous Quadrupeds of North America" (3 vols., 1846-'53). He died in Charleston, S. C., Feb. 25, 1874.
# The Book of the Thousand Nights and One Night/The Khalif El Hakim and the Merchant

First-level story, told by Shehrzad
THE KHALIF EL HAKIM AND THE MERCHANT.
The Khalif El Hakim bi Amrillah was riding out in state one day, when he came to a garden, in which he saw a man, surrounded by slaves and servants. He asked him for a draught of water, and the man gave him to drink, saying, ‘Peradventure, the Commander of the Faithful will honour me by alighting in this my garden.’ So the Khalif dismounted and entered the garden with his suite; whereupon the man brought out to them a hundred carpets and a hundred leather mats and a hundred cushions and set before them a hundred dishes of fruits, a hundred saucers of sweetmeats and a hundred bowls full of sherbets of sugar; whereat the Khalif marvelled and said to his host, ‘O man, this thy case is a strange one. Didst thou know of our coming and make this preparation for us?’ ‘No, by Allah, O Commander of the Faithful,’ answered the other, ‘I knew not of thy coming and am but a merchant of the rest of thy subjects. But I have a hundred concubines; so, when the Commander of the Faithful honoured me by alighting with me, I sent to each of them, bidding her send me the morning-meal here. So they sent me each of her furniture and of the excess of her meat and drink: and every day each sends me a dish of meat and another of marinades, also a plate of fruits and a saucer of sweetmeats and a bowl of sherbet. This is my every-day noon-meal, nor have I added aught thereto for thee.’
​The Khalif prostrated himself in thanksgiving to God the Most High and said, ‘Praised be God, who hath been so bountiful to one of our subjects, that he entertaineth the Khalif and his suite, without making ready for them, but of the surplus of his day’s victual!’ Then he sent for all the dirhems in the treasury, that had been struck that year,—and they were in number three thousand and seven hundred thousand;—nor did he mount, till the money came, when he gave it to the merchant, saying, ‘Use this for the maintenance of thy state; and thy desert is more than this.’ Then he mounted and rode away.
This work is a translation and has a separate copyright status to the applicable copyright protections of the original content.