OpenLLM-France/wikimedia huggingface dataset:
# The Story of Mankind/Chapter 11

THE INDO-EUROPEANS
THE INDO-EUROPEAN PERSIANS CONQUER THE SEMITIC AND THE EGYPTIAN WORLD
The world of Egypt and Babylon and Assyria and Phœnicia had existed almost thirty centuries and the venerable races of the Fertile Valley were getting old and tired. Their doom was sealed when a new and more energetic race appeared upon the horizon. We call this race the Indo-European race, because it conquered not only Europe but also made itself the ruling class in the country which is now known as British India.
These Indo-Europeans were white men like the Semites but they spoke a different language which is regarded as the common ancestor of all European tongues with the exception of Hungarian and Finnish and the Basque dialects of Northern Spain.
When we first hear of them, they had been living along the shores of the Caspian Sea for many centuries. But one day they had packed their tents and they had wandered forth in search of a new home. Some of them had moved into the mountains of Central Asia and for many centuries they had lived among the peaks which surround the plateau of Iran and that is why we call them Aryans. Others had followed the setting sun and they had taken possession of the plains of Europe as I shall tell you when I give you the story of Greece and Rome.
​For the moment we must follow the Aryans. Under the leadership of Zarathustra (or Zoroaster) who was their great teacher many of them had left their mountain homes to follow the swiftly flowing Indus river on its way to the sea.
THE STORY OF A WORD
Others had preferred to stay among the hills of western Asia and there they had founded the half-independent communities of the Medes and the Persians, two peoples whose names we have copied from the old Greek history-books. In the seventh century before the birth of Christ, the Medes had established a kingdom of their own called Media, but this perished when Cyrus, the chief of a clan known as the Anshan, made himself king of all the Persian tribes and started upon a career of conquest which soon made him and his children the undisputed masters of the whole of western Asia and of Egypt.
THE INDO-EUROPEANS AND THEIR NEIGHBOURS
​found themselves in serious difficulties with certain other Indo-European tribes which centuries before had moved into Europe and had taken possession of the Greek peninsula and the islands of the Ægean Sea.
These difficulties led to the three famous wars between Greece and Persia during which King Darius and King Xerxes of Persia invaded the northern part of the peninsula. They ravaged the lands of the Greeks and tried very hard to get a foothold upon the European continent.
But in this they did not succeed. The navy of Athens proved unconquerable. By cutting off the lines of supplies of the Persian armies, the Greek sailors invariably forced the Asiatic rulers to return to their base.
It was the first encounter between Asia, the ancient teacher, and Europe, the young and eager pupil. A great many of the other chapters of this book will tell you how the struggle between east and west has continued until this very day.
# The Venice (69 U.S. 258)

* related portals: Supreme Court of the United States.
* sister projects: Wikidata item.
United States Supreme Court
69 U.S. 258
Venice

## Notes

This work is in the public domain in the United States because it is a work of the United States federal government (see 17 U.S.C. 105).
Public domainPublic domainfalsefalse
# The Venture/A Phial

A PHIAL.
# The Venture/Beauty's Mirror

WHEN BONY DEATH HAS CHILLED HER GENTLE BLOOD.
# The Venture/The Market Girl

THE MARKET GIRL.
(Country Song.)
I.
A-trying to sell her honey and apples, and bunches of garden herb; And if she had offered to give her wares, and herself with them too, that day, I doubt if a soul would have cared to take a bargain so choice away.
II.
I went and I said, "Poor maidy, dear! And will none o' the people buy?" And so it began; and soon we knew what the end of it all must be, And I found that though no others had bid, a prize had been won by me.
THOMAS HARDY.
# The Venture/The Clue

THE CLUE.
# The Venture/Blindness

BLINDNESS.
# The Venture/Marriage in Two Moods

MARRIAGE IN TWO MOODS.
# The Surprising Adventures of Baron Munchausen/Preface to the first edition

Baron Munnikhouson or Munchausen, of Bodenweder, near Hamelyn on the Weser, belongs to the noble family of that name, which gave to the King's German dominions the late prime minister and several other public characters equally bright and illustrious. He is a man of great original humour; and having found that prejudiced minds cannot be reasoned into common sense, and that bold assertors are very apt to bully and speak their audience out of it, he never argues with either of them, but adroitly turns the conversation upon indifferent topics and then tells a story of his travels, campaigns, and sporting adventures, in a manner peculiar to himself, and well calculated to awaken and shame the common sense of those who have lost sight of it by prejudice or habit.
As this method has been often attended with good success, we beg leave to lay some of his stories before the public, and humbly request those who shall find them rather extravagant and bordering upon the marvellous, which will require but a very moderate share of common sense, to exercise the same upon every occurrence of life, and chiefly upon our English politics, in which old habits and bold assertions, set off by eloquent speeches and supported by constitutional mobs, associations, volunteers, and foreign influence, have of late, we apprehend, but too successfully turned our brains, and made us the laughing-stock of Europe, and of France and Holland in particular.
TO THE PUBLIC
Having heard, for the first time, that my adventures have been doubted, and looked upon as jokes, I feel bound to come forward and vindicate my character for veracity, by paying three shillings at the Mansion House of this great city for the affidavits hereto appended.
This I have been forced into in regard of my own honour, although I have retired for many years from public and private life; and I hope that this, my last edition, will place me in a proper light with my readers.
AT THE CITY OF LONDON, ENGLAND.
We, the undersigned, as true believers in the profit, do most solemnly affirm, that all the adventures of our friend Baron Munchausen, in whatever country they may lie, are positive and simple facts. And, as we have been believed, whose adventures are tenfold more wonderful, so do we hope all true believers will give him their full faith and credence. GULLIVER. x SINBAD. x ALADDIN. x Sworn at the Mansion House 9th Nov. last, in the absence of the Lord Mayor. JOHN (the Porter).
# The Surprising Adventures of the Magical Monarch of Mo and His People

[Illustration]
The Surprising Adventures of the Magical Monarch of Mo and His People
To the Comrade of my
boyhood days
Dr. Henry Clay Baum
TO THE READER
This book has been written for children. I have no shame in acknowledging that I, who wrote it, am also a child; for since I can remember my eyes have always grown big at tales of the marvelous, and my heart is still accustomed to go pit-a-pat when I read of impossible adventures. It is the nature of children to scorn realities, which crowd into their lives all too quickly with advancing years. Childhood is the time for fables, for dreams, for joy.
These stories are not true; they could not be true and be so marvelous. No one is expected to believe them; they were meant to excite laughter and to gladden the heart.
Perhaps some of those big, grown-up people will poke fun of us--at you for reading these nonsense tales of the Magical Monarch, and at me for writing them. Never mind. Many of the big folk are still children--even as you and I. We cannot measure a child by a standard of size or age. The big folk who are children will be our comrades; the others we need not consider at all, for they are self-exiled from our domain.
L. FRANK BAUM.
June, 1903.

### Contents

* The First Surprise: The Beautiful Valley of Mo
* The Second Surprise: The Strange Adventures of the King's Head
* The Third Surprise: The Tramp Dog and the Monarch's Lost Temper
* The Forth Surprise: The Peculiar Pains of Fruit Cake Island
* The Fifth Surprise: The Monarch Celebrates His Birthday
* The Sixth Surprise: King Scowleyow and His Cast-Iron Man
* The Seventh Surprise: Timtom and the Princess Pattycake
* The Eighth Surprise: The Bravery of Prince Jollikin
* The Ninth Surprise: The Wizard and the Princess
* The Tenth Surprise: The Duchess Bredenbutta's Visit to Turvyland
* The Eleventh Surprise: Prince Fiddlecumdoo and the Giant
* The Twelfth Surprise: The Land of the Civilized Monkeys
* The Thirteenth Surprise: The Stolen Plum-Pudding
* The Fourteenth Surprise: The Punishment of the Purple Dragon
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 Tales of John Oliver Hobbes

THE TALES
OF
JOHN OLIVER HOBBES
WITH PORTRAIT BY
WALTER SPINDLER
LONDON T. FISHER UNWIN MDCCCXCIV
CONTENTS
PAGE
Part I
Part II
This work is in the public domain in the United States because it was published before January 1, 1929.
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 Tales of John Oliver Hobbes/A Bundle of Life

A BUNDLE OF LIFE
# The Wonderful Fairies of the Sun/Santa Claus’ Assistants

SANTA CLAUS’ ASSISTANTS.
DID you ever wonder, children dear, How Santa always knows Just what to bring you Christmas Eve? Did you for once suppose He comes around throughout the year To watch the girls and boys And find out what they want the most In the way of dolls and toys?
Ah, no indeed! Old Santa is A very busy elf, And has no time to go around And find out for himself; And so he sends his son—what’s that? You think that isn’t true? Oh, yes! He has a little son, And a little daughter too!
This little son, when Christmas time Draws nearer, day by day, Goes driving all around the world In a tiny golden sleigh. ’Tis drawn by twenty wee white mice; And, scampering o’er the ground, They stop at every chamber where A good boy’s to be found.
“And tells what toys those boys have got, And what he thinks they need.”
​And then young Santie skips about And peeps in every nook Where toys are kept; and scans them all, Each top, ball, bat, or book; Examines all the sleds and skates, And when one’s worn or old He writes it down on a crystal slate With a pencil made of gold.
Then back he drives to Santa Claus At the greatest rate of speed, And tells what toys these boys have got And what he thinks they need. So Santa’s workmen make the things, And pack them in his sleigh, All ready for his midnight ride On the eve of Christmas Day.
But Santa’s daughter! My! oh, my! How she does travel round! From north to south or east to west, Where good little girls are found. Her sleigh is made of glistening frost, And whew! How she does go! For she drives a hundred whirling flakes Of the purest, whitest snow.
“Her sleigh is made of glistening frost.”
​She visits rooms of little girls, And hunts around to see If she’d better order another doll To hang on the Christmas-tree. She rummages through the bureau drawers, The closets, and everywhere, To see what things like gloves and lace, Or trinkets, are needed there.
So, children, bear this fact in mind, That Santa Claus has spies Who watch you all, throughout the year, With sharp, all-seeing eyes; And if you’re naughty, those who drive The snowflakes and the mice Will simply peep inside your room And scoot off in a trice!
# The Wonderful Fairies of the Sun/The Fairies of the Night

“Some have bedding for the Insects,— Gowns and nightcaps for the Birds.”
THE FAIRIES OF THE NIGHT.
WHEN the world is calmly sleeping, Through the quiet summer nights, From the Forest’s depths come creeping Swarms of tiny Nymphs and Sprites. Moving slowly, all on tip-toe, At the Forest’s edge they stay. Till the last hues of the daylight O’er the hill-tops fade away.
Then across the fields they scamper, Each one carrying on his back Various tools to do his work with, Done up in a cobweb sack. Some have bedding for the Insects, Gowns and nightcaps for the Birds; Monstrous music-books, containing Lullabies that have no words.
Others carry tiny cradles For the little baby Toads; While behind the rest come rushing Many Gnomes with curious loads. There are Barrels, Tanks, and Bottles Filled with dew, clear to the brinks; And these Gnomes, with silver goblets Give the Flowers their evening drinks.
“Owls and Bats, with young Mosquitoes, Mice and Fire-flies, dance and hop.”
​Now, when all this work is finished And the whole World calmly dreams, More Nymphs from the woods come skipping, Heading for the Fields and Streams. They’re a band of sweet musicians, Rich in melody and song; Hurrying to their wondrous concert, That will last the whole night long.
In the hot June nights, this music Through your chamber window floats, Sounding now like rippling brooklets, Then the Tree-toad’s warbling notes. From the grass a steady chorus,— Buzzings, chirps, and croakings,—show How this Fairy Band is playing, Loud and fast, or soft and slow.
Though most all the world is sleeping, There are some who hear them play, Who prefer the quiet of Evening To the light and noise of Day. Owls and Bats, with young Mosquitoes, Mice and Fire-flies, dance and hop, Till the Sun, the King of Fairies, Sends his rays to bid them stop.
# The Wonderful Fairies of the Sun/The Rainbow Fairy

“When, out of her home in a Star, This beautiful goddess came riding.”
THE RAINBOW FAIRY.
THERE once lived a beautiful Fairy, Who floated around in the sky. She was always inventing new wonders To please or astonish the eye. As soon as she finished one notion She’d start again, hunting around All over the sky to discover What new things there were to be found.
It happened one day to be raining. When out of her home in a star This beautiful Goddess came riding; But hadn’t progressed very far When she met an ambitious young Sunbeam; And, resting a while on a wall, She told him she’d lately discovered The greatest invention of all.
The Moon was this Goddess’s workshop, And up there they wended their flight. Then she gave him a dozen small Raindrops And asked him to shine them up bright. He scrubbed and he rubbed, till he had them So bright they were all of a glow; And ere the good Fairy perceived it He’d shined up a hundred or so.
“And they stuck all those Raindrops together In the form of a beautiful arch.”
And called in more Beams to his aid Till at last, after hours of scrubbing, A million bright drops they had made. The Big Bear brought in the Big Dipper, Having filled it with mucilage and starch; And they stuck all those Raindrops together In the form of a beautiful arch.
Then high in the heavens they hung it; And the Earth, from a promise she’d made, Sent up hosts of artists to paint it In every conceivable shade. Each separate color was given By a different child of the Earth, And their richness and skill of their blending Is a proof that they knew of its worth.
The violet and indigo colorings Were sent by the Deep Rolling Seas, The blue from the Lakes and the Rivers, The screen from the Grasses and Trees. The Sunset sent red in abundance, While out of the Desert’s fierce heat Came tintings of orange and yellow, Which made the invention complete.
“Sent up hosts of artists to paint it In every conceivable shade.”
And the Sun saw the beautiful bow, And sent over thousands of Sunbeams To light it and keep it aglow. But the Fairy had fears that the colors Might fade in such powerful light, So she only displays it in showers, When the Sun doesn’t shine very bright.
# The Wonderful Fairies of the Sun/The Cloud Fairies

“High overhead, above the sky, Their plans are drawn and laid.”
THE CLOUD FAIRIES.
THERE’S another band of Fairies Who live high in the air, Who never come down on the Earth, But stay forever there. They’re called “The Fairies of the Clouds,” For all they have to do Is make designs for different clouds That please and puzzle you.
High overhead, above the sky Their plans are drawn and laid, And down on the Horizon’s rim The clouds are cut and made. From there they’re sailed across the sky In glorious array, Until upon the farther side They slowly fade away.
“In a monstrous foundry, where the Wind A thousand forges blows.”
​Whene’er you see one tiny cloud Alone in all the sky, Just watch him close, and note his pranks As he goes skipping by. He’s slipped beneath the watchful eye Of the cloud-despatching elf, And tickled to death because he’s got The whole sky to himself!
Those little fleecy clouds are made By pretty Fairy girls, Who love to have them soft and white, And fringe their edge with curls. Then, some are like huge balls of wool, Or sheets of drifting snow, That stretch before the Moon at night, Who sets them all aglow.
Then there’s the frightful thunder-clouds! The Fairy men make those In a monstrous foundry, where the Wind A thousand forges blows. They fill these clouds with dynamite, And the little Fairy boys Explode them during thunder-storms With a fearful flash and noise.
“In a magic-lantern held before The slowly setting sun.”
​But these Fairies’ Special Artist Has a studio by himself; And you can rest assured he is A very busy elf: For he paints all the sunset clouds In all their tints and rays, And shows them off at eventide On pleasant summer days.
He paints them first on strips of glass, And holds them one by one In a magic lantern held before The slowly setting sun. And if you watch you’ll often see A scarlet change to blue, Or a white to pink, which plainly proves That what I say is true.
# The Wonderful Fairies of the Sun/The Dream Fairies

“And while you are sleeping they climb up and squat In a row on the foot of your bed.”
THE DREAM FAIRIES.
THE Fairies from Dreamland are queer little folks; Quite different from all of the rest. If you saw them you’d laugh at their comical ways, And you’d smile just to see how they’re dressed; For they wear any clothes they can possibly get, Odd coats, vests, or what they can catch When the wealthier Fairies throw old things away: So, naturally, none of them match.
Then, dressed in this style, they arrive in the night, When the stars keep their guard overhead; And while you are sleeping, they climb up and squat In a row on the foot of your bed. They all sit cross-legged, and giggle and grin, And eagerly wait for their King, Who presently comes, with your dream in a box, Tied up with an old knotted string.
“And while it is working, they dance.”
​He gently unfastens it, lifts off the lid, And sets the dream out on the bed. Then, after they’ve brushed it and dusted it off, They place it up close to your head. The King takes the key, and he winds up the dream; And while it is working, they dance With the King in the middle, “all hands around,” Till the end of the beautiful trance.
Sometimes he has trouble untying the knots, And tries to undo them too quick, When of course he gets mad, throws the box on the floor, And bursts in its sides with a kick. Now the dream, though a pretty one when it was packed, Is all dented or cracked, he will find. Which has spoiled all its beauty, and therefore you’ll have A nightmare of horriblest kind.
He ties it together, climbs up on the bed, And props up the dream on your breast, Then sits on your stomach, and he and the Gnomes Await the outcome of the test. They say not a word, but whenever you move They look at each other and grin, While the King, like a statue, keeps still and looks wise, And strokes the lone beard on his chin.
“For they scamper in forty directions at once When they think you’re about to awake.”
​But if it should happen the dream was all smashed Till nothing but fragments were found, You will have such a nightmare you’ll holler out loud; And my! don’t the Gnomes hop around! They tickle each other and wiggle their heads, And a comical picture they make; For they scamper in forty directions at once When they think you’re about to awake.
Quite often it happens the box will contain A mixture of several kinds; And when it is opened they’re all in a muss, So the King takes the first dream he finds, While the Gnomes take the others, and all round your head They are placed in a circular row; But in cases like this there is no time to dance: They must keep them all wound up, you know.
How funny it is when it happens like that! One goblin will grind out his dreams, But another commences before he leaves off, And they both grind at once, till it seems Like a queer panorama inside of your head (For the rest are all grinding as well); And if, the next morning, you’re asked what you dreamed. You will find you’re too mixed up to tell.
# The Wonderful Fairies of the Sun/The Musical Sprites

THE MUSICAL SPRITES.
THE Musical Fairies are queer little sprites Who teach Nature’s children to sing. Their lessons are held where the pupils abide, And the classes are formed in a ring. Some teach the young birds all their beautiful songs In a school-room high up in the trees; While a few show the chirp of the crickets and bugs, Others teaching the hum of the bees.
In the bushes are teachers who spend all their time Instructing young partridge and quails; And a dozen young sprites teaching squirrels to squeak Hold their classes on stone walls and rails. There are school-rooms in barn-yards for chickens and ducks (With departments for kittens and dogs), While the frog-teacher drills his young singers all day From a stump in the midst of the bogs.
“Thus, early and late are these teachers at work, Each proud of his own special class.”
​In the large open pastures some classes are found That surely would cause you to laugh; For the Fairies out there teach the bray of the mule And the bleat of the lamb and the calf. Little colts learn to neigh, baby pigs grunt and squeal, While out in the woods every noon The tree-toads and crows practise singing at sight And the locust rehearses his tune.
Thus, early and late are these teachers at work, Each proud of his own special class: And the pupils enjoy it I know, for they have No examinations to pass. They all sing as loud or as long as they choose, And the teacher is simply to see That the chickens don’t growl, or the bumble-bees bark, Or the dogs try to buzz like a bee.