Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-09-24
PARIS AND HELEN.
The True story of the Great Trojan
scandal SehIiemaun's New DiseOy-


COnstantinople Correspondence of the New
York Graphic.
Among the recent discoveries made by
DR.. Scbliemann on the site of ancient
Troy is one which not only fully confirms
the HOmeric legend, but which is in itself
so extraordinary as TO seem almost incredi-
BILE. 1t is nothing less than the discovery
among the sO-called treasures of Priam"
of a series Of papyri containing a full ac-
count of the abduction of Helen. The pre-
servatiOn of these papyri is to be ac-
counted for by the fact that they were
inelOsed in a chest formed of thick slabs OF
asbestos, which resisted the fire which
consumed Troy. They include copies of
several of the leading SGreek and Trojan
journals of the day, thus refuting the pop
Ular theory that journalism was unknown
to the aneients. / have been permitted,
through the kindness of Herr Won Sehwein-
hund, late German Consul at Constantine
pie, to see the original dOcuments,-all Of
which are written in Greek,-and TO make
TRANSACTIONS Of the most interesting facts
set forth by them. / am, therefore, in a
position to give your readers the first trust
worthy account Of the great Trojan scandal
which has appeared for 5000 years.
The identity of the HOmeric characters
is fully confirmed, and the legend that
Paris visited MenelauS at Messene is sub
stantiated in all ITS main features. Paris
was, however, not the mere handsome
suaplsman whom Homer has described.
but young Prince of great promise, who
had already written a number of popular
works, and who was engaged while at
Messene on a s'Life of PrOmeiheus."
Menelaus does not seem to have suspect
ed any intimacy between the handsome
Trojan and his wife until the latter, in a
moment of remO-se, caused by Over-indulg-
ence in weak tea, made a confession to
him. He therefore met Paris at the house
Of Ajax-whO was the friend Of bOth-and
after obtaining 4 confession from him,
agreed to hush tie matter up.
Unfortunately, retired priest of Del
phOs, with a strong desire for mischief, got
wind Of the matter-dOu btless through one
Of the PythOneSes-and began to abuse
Aenelaus n the columns of the MeSeHedR
NelrS. About the same time Paris return
ed TO Troy, taking Helen with him, and
Menelaus, in his Indignation, made the
whole Story public.
The excitement created was enormous,
and Paris, to save his reputation, demand
ed an investigation, selecting six troopers
Of his own regiment as a committee. The
investigation was conducted with the most
speriecb fairness a company Of archers be-
ing stationed outside the door Of the COM
mittee-rOOm, with orders TO shoot every
witness who did not testify in Paris favor.
They failed, however, to hit Menelaus, and
inStigating the camp-tOllOWers TO throw
mud al him.
Menelaus told a straightforward story,
which, when published by the Trojan and
Grecian papers, convinced nearly every in
telligeAt person Of its truth, especially rs it
contained tiers written by Paris, in which
he expressed his guilty attachment, and re-
marked thai "AIenelaus had conducted him
self most generously toward him." but that
he should nevertheless be very nervous
until he could carry Helen away to Troy
with HIM. Paris, of course, denied that lie
was guilty. Helen, be admitted, came to
Troy with him, but ii was in order to read
the prOOf-sheetS of his 'd4Ife of Pre-
metheus." His expression as to ner-
vOusneSs in certain of his letters, we're
due TO the fact that his father, the
venerable Priam, had frequently been
troubled with deafness, while he himself
had for years believed that he was in dan
ger of receiving blow on the head from a
cOcoanut i'm case he should ever visit the
South Sea Islands. As to the rest Of his
letters, he could not at that distance Oftime
what th0y meant, but rather
fancied they alluded to an attack of meas
les, from which his little bOyhOOd had suf-
fered. In closing his testimony he re-
marked that he considered Ajax a liar al
a thief on general principles, and informed
him that, whatever he might say, no intel
ligent trooper would believe him.
Now Ajax was--as Homer represents him
ono of the bTayest of the brave. He was
greatly incensed against Paris, and pro-
ceeded to crush him, by making full
81 statement of the facts in the case. He pub
lished letters from Paris, from his sister
CassandTa--WhO knew him to be guilty
and from numerous other persons. The
guilt of Paris was made as clear as noon
day, and thereupon the troopers who were
the matter hastily brought in
a verdict 10 the effect that, inasmuch as
Menelaus and Ajax had proved Paris |
guilty Of a shameful crime, he was UR-
IuestiOnably innocent.
The report Of the committee was fol- |
lowed by general publication Of state
ments on the part Of everybody. Ajax and |
Menelaus each made new statements more /
terrible than their original ones. The |
PythOneses who had been away on a voyage |
10 Egypt, returned and made a weekly |
statement for three months without inter- |
mission. Cassandra made her statement |
claiming that Paris was innocent because |
she had originally called him guilty. |
Helen and her waiting maid both made |
but they were so full Of i'm
that they were hOOted at. |
The mother Of Helen made her lit |
lie statement, occupying fOrty-eight |
loosely printed columns Of the /
Troy Wing, impartially calling everybody |
in the scandal hOrsethieves and
and ending with the request
hat some one would appoint her brother
Collector at COrinth. Public opinion, which
It first had been somewhat favorable to
Paris. completely changed. There was a
universal demand that the man who had
leen the cause of so many statements
should die. The condition Of the Greek
.hiefs was the result Of this demand, and
Homer tells us how the great vengeance Of
heaven fell upon Paris and involved his
whole army Of supporters in his ruin.
The original papyn from which | have
AIKEN these facts are now on their way to
Berlin, and in a few weeks will doubtless
-, IN, fill q M -