Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1909-11-16
GREAT LOVE
--STORIES-.
of HISTORY
PARIS AND HELEN and
THE SIEGE OF TROY
BY Albert PoySon Terhune


a
est woman In all Greece. Nearly every
Greek king and noblemsn was sutton
for her hand.
Greece in those days was cut up
into many small safes. each with
king OF it's own. X needed little TO
set these states at war with one an.
other. So Ulysses. wisest OF all the
petty monarcbs. 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 OF war. IL
had just the opposite effect.
Helen's choice fell upon Menelans.
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 q rough soldier. Paris was
handsome. graceful and what would
now be called "woman's man. lie
and Helen fell In love with each other
a. sight. In those days there were
several ways In which a man might
legally win a wife. lie might ask the
hand of an unmarried girl; he might
marry another mans wife by chal-
longing her husband and killing him
Tn. st.s,;no Of in fair fight. Or
'"e he might carry on
such a 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 Helen's suit
ors. BY the terms OF this oath nearly
every monarch In Greece Joined Meme
iaus In avenging the theft Of the lat
ter's wife. The combined Grecian
armies. under command Of Menelaus'
brother Agamemnon. 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 we're married there with splen-
did ceremonies. They embarked on
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 OF
bliss was short lived. An army OF
$50, 900 Greeks encamped outside THE
Trojan walls about 1884 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 up
Helen at Menelaus' 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 been
invented during the siege by one Pal
amedes, a Creek Meneiaus more
than once urged Paris to end the use
less bloodshed by coming forth and
fighting him, man to man. 1t was far
pIeasanter to stay st home with his
beautiful wife than face the man he
had wronged. AT last, urged by his
elder 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 overcome 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 Deiphobus then married Helen.
who does not seem to have grieved
greatly over Paris death. The Greeks.
falling to carry Troy by assault. re-
sorted 10 tragedy. They pretended to
sail away. leaving on the seashore a
huge wooden horse. The Trojans.
thinking this horse an idol, bore 1t in
to the town. whiting the wooden an
ina several
Greeks were hid
IVY den. That night
they crept out and opened the gates
OF Troy to their returning comrades.
The city was sacked and utterly de-
stroyed by fire. The inhabitants were
msssacred, men. women and children
alike.
Helen was rescued and carried back
to sparta by Menelaus. who freely for
gave her desertion- But the other
s2ertas we're less merciful to the WON
an Who had brought such misfortunes