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Historic Girls
by E。 S。 Brooks
STORIES OF GIRLS WHO HAVE INFLUENCED THE
HISTORY OF THEIR TIMES
E。 S。 BROOKS
PREFACE。
In these progressive days； when so much energy and discussion are
devoted to what is termed equality and the rights of woman； it is
well to remember that there have been in the distant past women；
and girls even； who by their actions and endeavors proved
themselves the equals of the men of their time in valor；
shrewdness； and ability。
This volume seeks to tell for the girls and boys of to…day the
stories of some of their sisters of the long…ago；girls who by
eminent position or valiant deeds became historic even before
they had passed the charming season of girlhood。
Their stories are fruitful of varying lessons； for some of these
historic girls were wilful as well as courageous； and mischievous
as well as tender…hearted。
But from all the lessons and from all the morals； one truth
stands out most clearlythe fact that age and country； time and
surroundings； make but little change in the real girl…nature；
that has ever been impulsive； trusting； tender； and true； alike
in the days of the Syrian Zenobia and in those of the modern
American school…girl。
After all； whatever the opportunity； whatever the limitation；
whatever the possibilities of this same never…changing
girl…nature； no better precept can be laid down for our own
bright young maidens； as none better can be deduced from the
stories herewith presented； than that phrased in Kingsley's noble
yet simple verse：
〃Be good； sweet maid； and let who will be clever
Do noble things； not dream them； all day long
And so make life； death； and the vast forever
One grand； sweet song。〃
Grateful acknowledgment is made by the author for the numerous
expressions of interest that came to him from his girl…readers as
the papers now gathered into book…form appeared from time to time
in the pages of St。 Nicholas。 The approval of those for whom one
studies and labors is the pleasantest and most enduring return。
CONTENTS
ZENOBIA OF PALMYRA： THE GIRL OF THE SYRIAN DESERT
HELENA OF BRITAIN： THE GIRL OF THE ESSEX FELLS
PULCHERIA OF CONSTANTINOPLE： THE GIRL OF THE GOLDEN HORN
CLOTILDA OF BURGUNDY： THE GIRL OF THE FRENCH VINEYARDS
WOO OF HWANG…HO： THE GIRL OF THE YELLOW RIVER
EDITH OF SCOTLAND： THE GIRL OF THE NORTHERN ABBEY
JACQUELINE OF HOLLAND： THE GIRL OF THE LAND OF FOGS
CATARINA OF VENICE： THE GIRL OF THE GRAND CANAL
THERESA OF AVILA： THE GIRL OF THE SPANISH SIERRAS
ELIZABETH OF TUDOR： THE GIRL OF THE HERTFORD MANOR
CHRISTINA OF SWEDEN： THE GIRL OF THE NORTHERN FIORDS
MA…TA…OKA OF POW…HA…TAN： THE GIRL OF THE VIRGINIA FORESTS
ZENOBIA OF PALMYRA：
THE GIRL OF THE SYRIAN DESERT。
＇Afterward known as 〃Zenobia Augusta； Queen of the East。〃＇ A。D。
250。
MANY and many miles and many days' journey toward the rising sun；
over seas and mountains and deserts；farther to the east than
Rome； or Constantinople； or even Jerusalem and old
Damascus；stand the ruins of a once mighty city； scattered over
a mountain…walled oasis of the great Syrian desert； thirteen
hundred feet above the sea； and just across the northern border
of Arabia。 Look for it in your geographies。 It is known as
Palmyra。 To…day the jackal prowls through its deserted streets
and the lizard suns himself on its fallen columns； while thirty
or forty miserable Arabian huts huddle together in a small corner
of what was once the great court…yard of the magnificent Temple
of the Sun。
And yet； sixteen centuries ago； Palmyra； or Tadmor as it was
originally called； was one of the most beautiful cities in the
world。 Nature and art combined to make it glorious。 Like a
glittering mirage out of the sand…swept desert arose its palaces
and temples and grandly sculptured archways。 With aqueducts and
monuments and gleaming porticos with countless groves of
palm…trees and gardens full of verdure； with wells and fountains；
market and circus； with broad streets stretching away to the city
gates and lined on either side with magnificent colonnades of
rose…colored marblesuch was Palmyra in the year of our Lord
250； when； in the soft Syrian month of Nisan； or April； in an
open portico in the great colonnade and screened from the sun by
gayly colored awnings； two young peoplea boy of sixteen and a
girl of twelvelooked down upon the beautiful Street of the
Thousand Columns； as lined with bazaars and thronged with
merchants it stretched from the wonderful Temple of the Sun to
the triple Gate…way of the Sepulchre； nearly a mile away。
Both were handsome and healthytrue children of old Tadmor； that
glittering； fairy…like city which； Arabian legends say； was built
by the genii for the great King Solomon ages and ages ago。 Midway
between the Mediterranean and the Euphrates； it was the
meeting…place for the caravans from the east and the wagon trains
from the west； and it had thus become a city of merchant princes；
a wealthy commercial republic； like Florence and Venice in the
middle agesthe common toll…gate for both the East and West。
But； though a tributary colony of Rome； it was so remote a
dependency of that mighty mistress of the world that the yoke of
vassalage was but carelessly worn and lightly felt。 The great
merchants and chiefs of caravans who composed its senate and
directed its affairs； and whose glittering statues lined the
sculptured cornice of its marble colonnades； had more power and
influence than the far…off Emperor at Rome； and but small heed
was paid to the slender garrison that acted as guard of honor to
the strategi or special officers who held the colony for Rome and
received its yearly tribute。 And yet so strong a force was Rome
in the world that even this free…tempered desert city had
gradually become Romanized in manners as in name； so that Tadmor
had become first Adrianapolis and then Palmyra。 And this
influence had touched even these children in the portico。 For
their common ancestora wealthy merchant of a century
beforehad secured honor and rank from the Emperor Septimus
Severus the man who 〃walled in〃 England； and of whom it was
said that 〃he never performed an act of humanity or forgave a
fault。〃 Becoming； by the Emperor's grace； a Roman citizen； this
merchant of Palmyra； according to a custom of the time； took the
name of his royal patron as that of his own 〃fahdh；〃 or family；
and the father of young Odhainat in the portico； as was Odhainat
himself； was known as Septimus Odaenathus； while the young girl
found her Arabic name of Bath Zabbai； Latinized into that of
Septima Zenobia。
But as； thinking nothing of all this； they looked lazily on the
throng below； a sudden exclamation from the lad caused his
companion to raise her flashing black eyes inquiringly to his
face。
〃What troubles you； my Odhainat？〃 she asked。
〃There； there； look there； Bath Zabbai！〃 replied the boy
excitedly； 〃coming through the Damascus arch； and we thought him
to be in Emesa。〃
The girl's glance followed his guiding finger； but even as she
looked a clear trumpet peal rose above the din of the city； while
from beneath a sculptured archway that spanned a colonnaded
cross…street the bright April sun gleamed down upon the standard
of Rome with its eagle crest and its S。 P。 Q。 R。 design beneath。
There is a second trumpet peal； and swinging into the great
Street of the Thousand Columns； at the head of his light…armed
legionaries； rides the centurion Rufinus； lately advanced to the
rank of tribune of one of the chief Roman cohorts in Syria。 His
coming； as Odhainat and even the young Bath Zabbai knew； meant a
stricter supervision of the city； a re…enforcement of its
garrison； and the assertion of the mastership of Rome over this
far eastern province on the Persian frontier。
〃But why should the coming of the Roman so trouble you； my
Odhainat？〃 she asked。 〃We are neither Jew nor Christian that we
should fear his wrath； but free Palmyreans who bend the knee
neither to Roman nor Persian masters。〃
〃Who WILL bend the knee no longer； be it never so little； my
cousin；〃 exclaimed the lad hotly； 〃as this very day would have
shown had not this crafty Rufinusmay great Solomon's genii dash
him in the sea！come with his cohort to mar our measures！ Yet
seewho cometh now？〃 he cried； and at once the attention of the
young people was turned in the opposite direction as they saw；
streaming out of the great fortress…like court…yard of the Temple
of the Sun； another hurrying throng。
Then young Odhainat gave a cry of joy。
〃See； Bath Zabbai； they come； they come〃！ he cried。 〃It is my
father； Odhainat the esarkos；＇1＇ with all the leaders and all the
bowmen and spearmen of our fahdh armed and in readiness。 This day
will we fling off the Roman yoke and b