Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1909-11-04
GREAT LOVE STORIES
. OF HISTORY
BY ALBERT PAYsoN TERHUNE
Paris and Helen. and the Siege of Troy
BY ALBERT PAYSON TERE4UNE
(COpyrieht by the AuthoF.)

Gloriously beautiful red-haired
Greek princess, Helen OF Argos,
was called upon, about 3,10O years ago,
to choose husband. She was the fair
est woman in all Greece. Nearly every
creek king and nobleman was suitor
for her hand.
Greece in those days was cut up
into many small safes, each with q
king Of its own. It needed little to
set these states at war with one an
other. So Ulysses, wisest OF all the
petty monarchs, suggested that each
sutton not only pledge himself to sub.
NIT to Helen's choice, but vow also
to defend her land the husband she
might choose) against any foes. This
plan was meant to ward on war. 1t
had just the opposite effect.
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 modest the
lucky man. A short time later royal
visitor came to the court Of Meme
laus. This was Paris, one Of the %
sons OF old King Priam of Troy. Meme
laus was rough soldier. Paris was
handsome, graceful and what would
now be called a "woman's 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 a wife. He might ask the
hand Of an unmarried girl; he might
marry another mans wife by chal-
longing her husband and killing him
o,, In fair fight. Or
'"' S he might carry on
' such q wife, mar.
ry her and defend her and himself
against her pursuing husband. Paris
chose the last named course. Fight
ing 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 warlike Trojans
could easily protect him from any
Spartan army. But he did not reckon
upon the oath sworn by Helens suit
ors. By the terms Of this oath nearly
every monarch in Greece Joined Meme
laus in avenging the theft Of the lat
ter's wife. The combined Grecian
armies, under command Of Menelaus'
brother Agamemn0n, King Of Myce.
nae, sailed for Asia Minor and laid
siege to 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 cor
daily welcomed at Troy. She and
Paris were married there with splen'
did ceremonies. They embarked on q
life of Oriental luxury that delighted
the frivolous girl, who had hitherto
known nothing more gay than the
meagre, rigorous plainness Of the
Spartan court But their dream oI
bliss was short lived. An army oi
10000 Greeks encamped outside the
Trojan walls about 11S4 d. c., and
laid siege to the city. The Trojans
admiration for their princes pretty
Greek bride suddenly changed to
wrath. For they saw she had brought
upon them a deadly war. Neverthe
less, they Loyalty refused to give W
Helen at MeneIaus' demand, and pre-
pared to defend their city against the
invaders.
For ten long years the war dragged
on with varying fortunes. ITO while
away the time between conflicts the
game Of checkers is said to have beer
invented during the siege by one Pal
amedes, a Greek.l Menelaus more
than once urged Paris to end the use
less bloodshed by coming forth and
fighting him, man to man. 1t was fal