The Birmingham age-herald., 1908-07-13
By Albert Payson Terhune.


 N GLORIOUSLY beautiful red-haired P0 Greek princess, Helen of Argos, was called upon, about 2oS0 years ago, to choose husband. She was the fairest woman in all Greece. Nearly every Greek king and nobleman was suitor for her hand.
 Greece in those days was cut up into many small states, each with king Of its own. It needed little to set these states at war with one another. So Ulysses, wisest of all the petty monarchs, suggested that each suitor not only pledge himself to submit to Helens choice, but VOW also to defend her (and the husband she might choose) against any foes. This plan was meant to ward off war. It had just the opposite eff feet.
 Helen's choice fell upon Menelaus, king of Sparta. The other suitors went back to their homes in anger; but kept their oath not to molest the lucky man. A short time after a royal visitor came to the court of Menelaus. This was Paris. one of the 23 sons of old King Priam of Troy. Menelaus was rough soldier. Paris was handsome, graceful and what would now be called a "wom- ans man." He and Helen fell in love with each other at sight. In those days there were several ways in which a man might legally win wife. He might ask
 ana of an unmarried girl; he might marry another mans wife by challenging her husband and killing him in fair fight Or he might carry off such a wife, marry her and defend her and himself against her pursuing husband. Paris chose the last named course. Fighting was not his strong point.
 He Kidnapped Helen and took her by sea to his fathers great walled city of Troy, in northwestern Asia Minor, at the mouth of the Hellespont. He knew that the war-like Trojans could easily protect him from a Spartan army. But he did not reckon upon the oath sworn by Helen's suitors. By the terms of this oath nearly every monarch in Greece joined Meneiaus in averaging the theft of the latter's wife. The combined Grecian armies under command of Menelaus brother, Agamemnon. King of Mycenae, sailed for Asia Minor and laid siege 10 Troy. The debt incurred by Paris in stealing Helen was destined to be paid in the blood of thousands of innocent men.
 Helen. meanwhile, had been cordially welcomed at Troy She and Paris were married there with splendid ceremonies. They embarked on a life of Oriental lux ury that delighted the frivolous girl, who had hitherto known nothing more gay than the measer, rigorous plainness of the Spartan court But their dream of bliss was short lived. An army of 150,OO0 Greeks encamped outside the Trojan walls about 11S4 B. C., and laid siege to the city. The TroJan's admiration for their princes pretty Greek bride suddenly changed to wrath. For they saw she had brought upon them deadly war. Nevertheless, they loyalty refused to give up Helen at Menelaus' demand and pre- pared to defend their city against the in- vaders.
 For 10 long years the war dragged on with varying fortunes (To while away the time between conflicts the game of checkers is said to have been invented during the siege by one Palamedes, Greek.) Menelaus more than once urged Paris to end the useless bloodshed by coming forth and fighting him. man to man. But the young Trojan preferred to let others do his fighting for him. It was far pleasanter to stay at home with his beautiful wife than face the man he had wronged At last urged by his eider brother, Hector, Paris consented to the duel He and Menelaus fought in the presence of both armies. Helen looking on from the city wall. Paris was over come and barely escaped death at the hands of his foe.
 Not long afterward, while lowering In the rear ranks of battle, Paris was struck and slain by an arrow. His brother Del phobus then married Helen who does not seem to have grieved greatly over Paris death. The Greeks, falling to