( aesop_00001 "A cock was once strutting up and down the farmyard among the hens   \\break when suddenly he espied something shining amid the straw.   \\break Ho! ho! quoth he,   \\break that's for me,   \\break and soon rooted it out from beneath the straw.   \\break What did it turn out to be but a Pearl that by some chance had been lost in the yard?   \\break You may be a treasure, quoth Master Cock, to men that prize you, but for me   \\break I would rather have a single barley-corn than a peck of pearls.   \\break Precious things are for those that can prize them.   ") 
( aesop_00002 "Once upon a time a Wolf was lapping at a spring on a hillside, when, looking up, what should he see but a Lamb just beginning to drink a little lower down.   \\break There's my supper, thought he, if only I can find some excuse to seize it.   \\break Then he called out to the Lamb,   \\break How dare you muddle the water from which I am drinking?   \\break Nay, master, nay, said Lambikin;   \\break if the water be muddy up there, I cannot be the cause of it, for it runs down from you to me.   \\break Well, then, said the Wolf, why did you call me bad names this time last year?   \\break That cannot be, said the Lamb; I am only six months old.   \\break I dont care, snarled the Wolf;   \\break if it was not you it was your father;   \\break and with that he rushed upon the poor little Lamb and WARRA WARRA WARRA WARRA WARRA ate her all up.   \\break But before she died she gasped out.   \\break Any excuse will serve a tyrant.   ") 
( aesop_00003 "It happened that a Dog had got a piece of meat and was carrying it home in his mouth to eat it in peace.   \\break Now on his way home he had to cross a plank lying across a running brook.   \\break As he crossed, he looked down and saw his own shadow reflected in the water beneath.   \\break Thinking it was another dog with another piece of meat,   \\break he made up his mind to have that also.   \\break So he made a snap at the shadow in the water, but as he opened his mouth   \\break the piece of meat fell out,   \\break dropped into the water and was never seen more.   \\break Beware lest you lose the substance by grasping at the shadow.   ") 
( aesop_00004 "The Lion went once a-hunting along with the Fox, the Jackal, and the Wolf.   \\break They hunted and they hunted till at last they surprised a Stag,   \\break and soon took its life.   \\break Then came the question how the spoil should be divided.   \\break Quarter me this Stag, roared the Lion; so the other animals skinned it and cut it into four parts.   \\break Then the Lion took his stand in front of the carcass   \\break and pronounced judgment   \\break The first quarter is for me in my capacity as King of Beasts;   \\break the second is mine as arbiter;   \\break another share comes to me for my part in the chase;   \\break and as for the fourth quarter, well, as for   \\break that, I should like to see which of you will dare to lay a paw upon it.   \\break Humph, grumbled the Fox   \\break as he walked away with his tail between his legs;   \\break but he spoke in a low growl.   \\break You may share the labours of the great,   \\break but you will not share the spoil.   ") 
( aesop_00005 "a Wolf had been gorging on an animal he had killed, when suddenly a small bone in the meat stuck in his throat and he could not swallow it.   \\break He soon felt terrible pain in his throat, and ran up and down groaning and groaning and seeking for something to relieve the pain.   \\break He tried to induce every one he met to remove the bone.   \\break I would give anything, said he,   \\break if you would take it out.   \\break At last the Crane agreed to try, and told the Wolf to lie on his side and open his jaws as wide as he could.   \\break Then the Crane put its long neck down the Wolf's throat, and with its beak loosened the bone, till at last it got it out.   \\break Will you kindly give me the reward you promised? said the Crane.   \\break The Wolf grinned and showed his teeth and said   \\break Be content.   \\break You have put your head inside a Wolf's mouth   \\break and taken it out again in safety;   \\break that ought to be reward enough for you.   \\break Gratitude and greed go not together.   ") 
( aesop_00006 "a Countryman's son by accident trod upon a Serpent's tail,   \\break which turned and bit him so that he died.   \\break The father in a rage got his axe, and pursuing the Serpent, cut off part of its tail.   \\break So the Serpent in revenge began stinging several of the Farmer's cattle and caused him severe loss.   \\break Well, the Farmer thought it best to make it up with the Serpent,   \\break and brought food and honey   \\break to the mouth of its lair, and said to it   \\break Let's forget and forgive; perhaps you were right to punish my son, and take vengeance on my cattle,   \\break but surely I was right in trying to revenge him;   \\break now that we are both satisfied why should not we be friends again?   \\break No, no, said the Serpent;   \\break take away your gifts; you can never forget the death of your son,   \\break nor I the loss of my tail.   \\break Injuries may be forgiven,   \\break but not forgotten.   ") 
( aesop_00007 "Now you must know that a Town Mouse once upon a time went on a visit to his cousin in the country.   \\break He was rough and ready, this cousin, but he loved his town friend and made him heartily welcome.   \\break Beans and bacon, cheese and bread, were all he had to offer,   \\break but he offered them freely.   \\break The Town Mouse rather turned up his long nose at this country fare, and said   \\break I cannot understand, Cousin, how you can put up with such poor food as this,   \\break but of course you cannot expect anything better in the country;   \\break come you with me and I will show you how to live.   \\break When you have been in town a week you will wonder how you could ever have stood a country life.   \\break No sooner said than done   \\break the two mice set off for the town and arrived at the Town Mouse's residence late at night.   \\break You will want some refreshment after our long journey, said the polite Town Mouse,   \\break and took his friend into the grand dining-room.   \\break There they found the remains of a fine feast, and soon the two mice were eating up jellies and cakes and all that was nice.   \\break Suddenly they heard growling and barking.   \\break What is that? said the Country Mouse.   \\break It is only the dogs of the house, answered the other.   \\break Only! said the Country Mouse.   \\break I do not like that music at my dinner.   \\break Just at that moment the door flew open, in came two huge mastiffs, and the two mice had to scamper down and run off.   \\break Good-bye, Cousin, said the Country Mouse,   \\break What!   \\break going so soon? said the other.   \\break Yes, he replied;   \\break Better beans and bacon in peace   \\break than cakes and ale in fear.   ") 
( aesop_00008 "a Fox once saw a Crow fly off with a piece of cheese in its beak and settle on a branch of a tree.   \\break That's for me, as I am a Fox, said Master Reynard,   \\break and he walked up to the foot of the tree.   \\break Good-day, Mistress Crow,   \\break he cried.   \\break How well you are looking to-day how glossy your feathers; how bright your eye.   \\break I feel sure your voice must surpass that of other birds, just as your figure does;   \\break let me hear but one song from you that I may greet you as the Queen of Birds.   \\break The Crow lifted up her head and began to caw her best,   \\break but the moment she opened her mouth the piece of cheese fell to the ground,   \\break only to be snapped up by Master Fox.   \\break That will do, said he. That was all I wanted.   \\break In exchange for your cheese I will give you a piece of advice for the future.   \\break Do not trust flatterers.   ") 
( aesop_00009 "a Lion had come to the end of his days and lay sick unto death at the mouth of his cave, gasping for breath.   \\break The animals, his subjects, came round him and drew nearer as he grew more and more helpless.   \\break When they saw him on the point of death they thought to themselves   \\break Now is the time to pay off old grudges.   \\break So the Boar came up and drove at him with his tusks;   \\break then a Bull gored him with his horns;   \\break still the Lion lay helpless before them   \\break so the Ass, feeling quite safe from danger, came up, and turning his tail to the Lion   \\break kicked up his heels into his face.   \\break This is a double death, growled the Lion.   \\break Only cowards insult dying majesty.   ") 
( aesop_00010 "a Farmer one day came to the stables to see to his beasts of burden   \\break among them was his favourite Ass, that was always well fed and often carried his master.   \\break With the Farmer came his Lapdog, who danced about and licked his hand and frisked about as happy as could be.   \\break The Farmer felt in his pocket,   \\break gave the Lapdog some dainty food,   \\break and sat down while he gave his orders to his servants.   \\break The Lapdog jumped into his master's lap,   \\break and lay there blinking while the Farmer stroked his ears.   \\break The Ass, seeing this, broke loose from his halter and commenced prancing about in imitation of the Lapdog.   \\break The Farmer could not hold his sides with laughter, so the Ass went up to him,   \\break and putting his feet upon the Farmer's shoulder   \\break attempted to climb into his lap.   \\break The Farmer's servants rushed up with sticks and pitchforks and soon taught the Ass   \\break that. Clumsy jesting is no joke.   ") 
( aesop_00011 "Once when a Lion was asleep a little Mouse began running up and down upon him;   \\break this soon wakened the Lion, who placed his huge paw upon him, and opened his big jaws to swallow him.   \\break Pardon, O King, cried the little Mouse   \\break forgive me this time, I shall never forget it   \\break who knows but what I may be able to do you a turn some of these days?   \\break The Lion was so tickled at the idea of the Mouse being able to help him, that he lifted up his paw and let him go.   \\break Some time after   \\break the Lion was caught in a trap, and the hunters who desired to carry him alive to the King, tied him to a tree while they went in search of a waggon to carry him on.   \\break Just then the little Mouse happened to pass by,   \\break and seeing the sad plight   \\break in which the Lion was,   \\break went up to him and soon gnawed away the ropes that bound the King of the Beasts.   \\break Was I not right? said the little Mouse.   \\break Little friends may prove great friends.   ") 
( aesop_00012 "It happened that a Countryman was sowing some hemp seeds in a field where a Swallow and some other birds were hopping about picking up their food.   \\break Beware of that man, quoth the Swallow.   \\break Why, what is he doing? said the others.   \\break That is hemp seed he is sowing; be careful to pick up every one of the seeds,   \\break or else you will repent it.   \\break The birds paid no heed to the Swallow's words, and by and by the hemp grew up and was made into cord,   \\break and of the cords nets were made, and many a bird that had despised the Swallow's advice was caught in nets made out of that very hemp.   \\break What did I tell you? said the Swallow.   \\break Destroy the seed of evil,   \\break or it will grow up to your ruin.   ") 
( aesop_00013 "The Frogs were living as happy as could be in a marshy swamp that just suited them;   \\break they went splashing about caring for nobody and nobody troubling with them.   \\break But some of them thought that this was not right,   \\break that they should have a king and a proper constitution,   \\break so they determined to send up a petition to Jove to give them what they wanted.   \\break Mighty Jove, they cried,   \\break send unto us a king   \\break that will rule over us and keep us in order.   \\break Jove laughed at their croaking, and threw down into the swamp a huge Log,   \\break which came down splash to the swamp.   \\break The Frogs were frightened out of their lives by the commotion made in their midst,   \\break and all rushed to the bank to look at the horrible monster;   \\break but after a time,   \\break seeing that it did not move, one or two of the boldest of them ventured out towards the Log,   \\break and even dared to touch it;   \\break still it did not move.   \\break Then the greatest hero of the Frogs jumped upon the Log and commenced dancing up and down upon it,   \\break thereupon all the Frogs came and did the same;   \\break and for some time the Frogs went about their business every day without taking the slightest notice of their new King Log lying in their midst.   \\break But this did not suit them,   \\break so they sent another petition to Jove, and said to him,   \\break We want a real king;   \\break one that will really rule over us.   \\break Now this made Jove angry,   \\break so he sent among them a big Stork that soon set to work gobbling them all up.   \\break Then the Frogs repented   \\break when too late.   \\break Better no rule   \\break than cruel rule.   ") 
( aesop_00014 "One day the Countrymen noticed that the Mountains were in labour;   \\break smoke came out of their summits,   \\break the earth was quaking at their feet,   \\break trees were crashing, and huge rocks were tumbling.   \\break They felt sure that something horrible was going to happen.   \\break They all gathered together in one place to see what terrible thing this could be.   \\break They waited and they waited, but nothing came.   \\break At last   \\break there was a still more violent earthquake, and a huge gap appeared in the side of the Mountains.   \\break They all fell down upon their knees and waited.   \\break At last, and at last, a teeny, tiny mouse poked its little head and bristles out of the gap   \\break and came running down towards them, and ever after they used to say   \\break Much outcry,   \\break little outcome.   ") 
( aesop_00016 "a Kid was perched up on the top of a house,   \\break and looking down saw a Wolf passing under him.   \\break Immediately he began to revile and attack his enemy.   \\break Murderer and thief, he cried,   \\break what do you here near honest folks houses?   \\break How dare you make an appearance where your vile deeds are known?   \\break Curse away, my young friend, said the Wolf.   \\break It is easy to be brave from a safe distance.   ") 
( aesop_00017 "One wintry day a Woodman was tramping home from his work   \\break when he saw something black lying on the snow.   \\break When he came closer he saw it was a Serpent to all appearance dead.   \\break But he took it up and put it in his bosom to warm   \\break while he hurried home.   \\break As soon as he got indoors he put the Serpent down on the hearth   \\break before the fire.   \\break The children watched it and saw it slowly come to life again.   \\break Then one of them stooped down to stroke it,   \\break but the Serpent raised its head and put out its fangs and was about to sting the child to death.   \\break So the Woodman seized his axe, and with one stroke cut the Serpent in two.   \\break Ah, said he,   \\break No gratitude from the wicked.   ") 
( aesop_00019 "At one time the Fox and the Stork were on visiting terms and seemed very good friends.   \\break So the Fox invited the Stork to dinner,   \\break and for a joke put nothing before her but some soup in a very shallow dish.   \\break This the Fox could easily lap up, but the Stork could only wet the end of her long bill in it,   \\break and left the meal as hungry as when she began.   \\break I am sorry, said the Fox, the soup is not to your liking.   \\break Pray do not apologise, said the Stork,. I hope you will return this visit, and come and dine with me soon.   \\break So a day was appointed when the Fox should visit the Stork;   \\break but when they were seated at table all that was for their dinner was contained in a very long-necked jar with a narrow mouth,   \\break in which the Fox could not insert his snout,   \\break so all he could manage to do was to lick the outside of the jar.   \\break I will not apologise for the dinner, said the Stork   \\break One bad turn deserves another.   ") 
( aesop_00021 "a Jay venturing into a yard where Peacocks used to walk,   \\break found there a number of feathers which had fallen from the Peacocks when they were moulting.   \\break He tied them all to his tail and strutted down towards the Peacocks.   \\break When he came near them   \\break they soon discovered the cheat,   \\break and striding up to him pecked at him and plucked away his borrowed plumes.   \\break So the Jay could do no better than go back to the other Jays, who had watched his behaviour from a distance;   \\break but they were equally annoyed with him, and told him   \\break It is not only fine feathers that make fine birds.   ") 
( aesop_00022 "Oh Father, said a little Frog to the big one sitting by the side of a pool,   \\break I have seen such a terrible monster!   \\break It was as big as a mountain, with horns on its head, and a long tail, and it had hoofs divided in two.   \\break Tush, child, tush, said the old Frog,   \\break that was only Farmer White's Ox.   \\break It isnt so big either;   \\break he may be a little bit taller than I,   \\break but I could easily make myself quite as broad; just you see.   \\break So he blew himself out, and blew himself out, and blew himself out.   \\break Was he as big as that,? asked he.   \\break Oh, much bigger than that, said the young Frog.   \\break Again the old one blew himself out, and asked the young one if the Ox was as big as that.   \\break Bigger, father, bigger, was the reply. So the Frog took a deep breath, and blew and blew and blew, and swelled and swelled and swelled. And then he said I'm sure the Ox is not as big as... but at that moment he burst. Self-conceit may lead to self-destruction.   ") 
( aesop_00023 "A slave named Androcles once escaped from his master and fled to the forest.   \\break As he was wandering about there he came upon a Lion lying down moaning and groaning.   \\break At first he turned to flee, but finding that the Lion did not pursue him,   \\break he turned back and went up to him.   \\break As he came near, the Lion put out his paw, which was all swollen and bleeding,   \\break and Androcles found that a huge thorn had got into it,   \\break and was causing all the pain.   \\break He pulled out the thorn and bound up the paw of the Lion,   \\break who was soon able to rise and lick the hand of Androcles like a dog.   \\break Then the Lion took Androcles to his cave,   \\break and every day used to bring him meat from which to live.   \\break But shortly afterwards both Androcles and the Lion were captured,   \\break and the slave was sentenced to be thrown to the Lion, after the latter had been kept without food for several days.   \\break The Emperor and all his Court came to see the spectacle, and Androcles was led out into   \\break the middle of the arena.   \\break Soon the Lion was let loose from his den, and rushed bounding and roaring towards his victim.   \\break But as soon as he came near to Androcles he recognised his friend,   \\break and fawned upon him, and licked his hands like a friendly dog.   \\break The Emperor, surprised at this, summoned Androcles to him, who told him the whole story.   \\break Whereupon the slave was pardoned and freed,   \\break and the Lion let loose to his native forest.   \\break Gratitude is the sign of noble souls.   ") 
( aesop_00024 "A great conflict was about to come off between the Birds and the Beasts.   \\break When the two armies were collected together the Bat hesitated which to join.   \\break The Birds that passed his perch said: Come with us;   \\break but he said: I am a Beast.   \\break Later on, some Beasts who were passing underneath him looked up and said:   \\break Come with us;   \\break but he said:   \\break I am a Bird.   \\break Luckily at the last moment peace was made, and no battle took place,   \\break so the Bat came to the Birds and wished to join in the rejoicings,   \\break but they all turned against him and he had to fly away.   \\break He then went to the Beasts, but soon had to beat a retreat, or else they would have torn him to pieces.   \\break Ah, said the Bat,   \\break I see now,   \\break He that is neither one thing nor the other has no friends.   ") 
( aesop_00025 "The Hart was once drinking from a pool and admiring the noble figure he made there.   \\break Ah, said he, where can you see such noble horns as these, with such antlers!   \\break I wish I had legs more worthy to bear such a noble crown;   \\break it is a pity they are so slim and slight.   \\break At that moment a Hunter approached and sent an arrow whistling after him.   \\break Away bounded the Hart, and soon, by the aid of his nimble legs, was nearly out of sight of the Hunter;   \\break but not noticing where he was going, he passed under some trees with branches growing low down in which his antlers were caught,   \\break so that the Hunter had time to come up. Alas! alas! cried the Hart   \\break We often despise what is most useful to us.   ") 
( aesop_00026 "a Serpent in the course of its wanderings came into an armourer's shop.   \\break As he glided over the floor he felt his skin pricked by a file lying there.   \\break In a rage he turned round upon it and tried to dart his fangs into it;   \\break but he could do no harm to heavy iron and had soon to give over his wrath.   \\break It is useless attacking the insensible.   ") 
( aesop_00027 "a Man came into a Wood one day with an axe in his hand, and begged all the Trees to give him a small branch which he wanted for a particular purpose.   \\break The Trees were good-natured and gave him one of their branches.   \\break What did the Man do but fix it into the axe head, and soon set to work cutting down tree after tree.   \\break Then the Trees saw how foolish they had been in giving their enemy the means of destroying themselves.   ") 
( aesop_00028 "A gaunt Wolf was almost dead with hunger when he happened to meet a House-dog who was passing by.   \\break Ah, Cousin, said the   \\break Dog.   \\break I knew how it would be;   \\break your irregular life will soon be the ruin of you.   \\break Why do you not work steadily as I do, and get your food regularly given to you?   \\break I would have no objection, said the Wolf,   \\break if I could only get a place.   \\break I will easily arrange that for you, said the Dog;   \\break come with me to my master and you shall share my work.   \\break So the Wolf and the Dog went towards the town together.   \\break On the way there the Wolf noticed that the hair on a certain part of the Dog's neck was very much worn away,   \\break so he asked him how that had come about.   \\break Oh, it is nothing, said the Dog.   \\break That is only the place where the collar is put on at night to keep me chained up;   \\break it chafes a bit,   \\break but one soon gets used to it.   \\break Is that all? said the Wolf.   \\break Then good-bye to you, Master Dog.   \\break Better starve free than be a fat slave.   ") 
( aesop_00030 "a Hart hotly pursued by the hounds   \\break fled for refuge into an ox-stall, and buried itself in a truss of hay,   \\break leaving nothing to be seen but the tips of his horns.   \\break Soon after   \\break the Hunters came up and asked if any one had seen the Hart.   \\break The stable boys, who had been resting after their dinner, looked round, but could see nothing, and the Hunters went away.   \\break Shortly afterwards   \\break the master came in, and looking round, saw that something unusual had taken place.   \\break He pointed to the truss of hay and said   \\break What are those two curious things sticking out of the hay?   \\break And when the stable boys came to look they discovered the Hart, and soon made an end of him.   \\break He thus learnt that Nothing escapes the master's eye.   ") 
( aesop_00031 "One hot summer's day a Fox was strolling through an orchard till he came to a bunch of Grapes just ripening on a vine which had been trained over a lofty branch.   \\break Just the thing to quench my thirst, quoth he.   \\break Drawing back a few paces,   \\break he took a run and a jump,   \\break and just missed the bunch.   \\break Turning round again with a One, Two, Three,   \\break he jumped up, but with no greater success.   \\break Again and again he tried after the tempting morsel,   \\break but at last had to give it up, and walked away with his nose in the air, saying   \\break I am sure they are sour.   \\break It is easy to despise what you cannot get.   ") 
( aesop_00033 "a Peacock once placed a petition before Juno desiring to have the voice of a nightingale in addition to his other attractions;   \\break but Juno refused his request.   \\break When he persisted, and pointed out that he was her favourite bird, she said   \\break Be content with your lot;   \\break one cannot be first in everything.   ") 
( aesop_00034 "When first the Fox saw the Lion   \\break he was terribly frightened, and ran away and hid himself in the wood.   \\break Next time however he came near the King of Beasts   \\break he stopped at a safe distance and watched him pass by.   \\break The third time they came near one another the Fox went straight up to the Lion and passed the time of day with him, asking him how his family were,   \\break and when he should have the pleasure of seeing him again;   \\break then turning his tail, he parted from the Lion without much ceremony.   \\break Familiarity breeds contempt.   ") 
( aesop_00035 "a Man and a Lion were discussing the relative strength of men and lions in general.   \\break The Man contended that he and his fellows were stronger than lions by reason of their greater intelligence.   \\break Come now with me, he cried, and I will soon prove that I am right.   \\break So he took him into the public gardens and showed him a statue of Hercules overcoming the Lion and tearing his mouth in two.   \\break That is all very well, said the Lion,   \\break but proves nothing, for it was a man who made the statue.   \\break We can easily represent things as we wish them to be.   ") 
( aesop_00036 "In a field one summer's day a Grasshopper was hopping about, chirping and singing to its heart's content.   \\break An Ant passed by, bearing along with great toil an ear of corn he was taking to the nest.   \\break Why not come and chat with me, said the Grasshopper, instead of toiling and moiling in that way?   \\break I am helping to lay up food for the winter, said the Ant,   \\break and recommend you to do the same.   \\break Why bother about winter,? said the Grasshopper;   \\break we have got plenty of food at present.   \\break But the Ant went on its way and continued its toil.   \\break When the winter came the Grasshopper had no food and found itself dying of hunger,   \\break while it saw the ants distributing every day corn and grain from the stores they had collected in the summer.   \\break Then the Grasshopper knew   \\break It is best to prepare for the days of necessity.   ") 
( aesop_00041 "In the old days men used to worship stocks and stones and idols,   \\break and prayed to them to give them luck.   \\break It happened that a Man had often prayed to a wooden idol he had received from his father, but his luck never seemed to change.   \\break He prayed and he prayed, but still he remained as unlucky as ever.   \\break One day in the greatest rage he went to the Wooden God, and with one blow swept it down from its pedestal.   \\break The idol broke in two, and what did he see?   \\break An immense number of coins flying all over the place.   ") 
( aesop_00042 "a Fisher once took his bagpipes to the bank of a river,   \\break and played upon them with the hope of making the fish rise;   \\break but never a one put his nose out of the water.   \\break So he cast his net into the river and soon drew it forth filled with fish.   \\break Then he took his bagpipes again, and, as he played, the fish leapt up in the net.   \\break Ah, you dance now when I play, said he.   \\break Yes, said an old Fish   \\break When you are in a man's power you must do as he bids you.   ") 
( aesop_00043 "There was once a young Shepherd Boy who tended his sheep at the foot of a mountain near a dark forest.   \\break It was rather lonely for him all day, so he thought upon a plan by which he could get a little company and some excitement.   \\break He rushed down towards the village calling out Wolf, Wolf,   \\break and the villagers came out to meet him,   \\break and some of them stopped with him for a considerable time.   \\break This pleased the boy so much that a few days afterwards he tried the same trick,   \\break and again the villagers came to his help.   \\break But shortly after this   \\break a Wolf actually did come out from the forest, and began to worry the sheep,   \\break and the boy of course cried out   \\break Wolf, Wolf, still louder than before.   \\break But this time the villagers, who had been fooled twice before,   \\break thought the boy was again deceiving them,   \\break and nobody stirred to come to his help.   \\break So the Wolf made a good meal off the boy's flock,   \\break and when the boy complained, the wise man of the village said   \\break A liar will not be believed,   \\break even when he speaks the truth.   ") 
( aesop_00044 "A young Man had been caught in a daring act of theft and had been condemned to be executed for it.   \\break He expressed his desire to see his Mother, and to speak with her before he was led to execution,   \\break and of course this was granted.   \\break When his Mother came to him he said   \\break I want to whisper to you,   \\break and when she brought her ear near him,   \\break he nearly bit it off.   \\break All the bystanders were horrified, and asked him   \\break what he could mean by such brutal and inhuman conduct.   \\break It is to punish her, he said.   \\break When I was young I began with stealing little things, and brought them home to Mother.   \\break Instead of rebuking and punishing me, she laughed and said   \\break It will not be noticed.   \\break It is because of her that I am here to-day.   \\break He is right, woman, said the Priest;   \\break the Lord hath said   \\break Train up a child in the way he should go;   \\break and when he is old he will not depart therefrom.   ") 
( aesop_00045 "In the old days, when men were allowed to have many wives,   \\break a middle-aged Man had one wife that was old and one that was young;   \\break each loved him very much, and desired to see him like herself.   \\break Now the Man's hair was turning grey, which the young Wife did not like, as it made him look too old for her husband.   \\break So every night she used to comb his hair   \\break and pick out the white ones.   \\break But the elder Wife saw her husband growing grey with great pleasure,   \\break for she did not like to be mistaken for his mother.   \\break So every morning she used to arrange his hair and pick out as many of the black ones as she could.   \\break The consequence was the Man soon found himself entirely bald.   \\break Yield to all and you will soon have nothing to yield.   ") 
( aesop_00046 "Be quiet now, said an old Nurse to a child sitting on her lap.   \\break If you make that noise again I will throw you to the Wolf.   \\break Now it chanced that a Wolf was passing close under the window as this was said.   \\break So he crouched down by the side of the house and waited.   \\break I am in good luck to-day, thought he.   \\break It is sure to cry soon, and a daintier morsel I havent had for many a long day.   \\break So he waited,   \\break and he waited, and he waited,   \\break till at last the child began to cry,   \\break and the Wolf came forward before the window, and looked up to the Nurse, wagging his tail.   \\break But all the Nurse did was to shut down the window and call for help, and the dogs of the house came rushing out.   \\break Ah, said the Wolf as he galloped away,   \\break Enemies promises were made to be broken.   ") 
( aesop_00048 "One fine day two Crabs came out from their home to take a stroll on the sand.   \\break Child, said the mother, you are walking very ungracefully.   \\break You should accustom yourself, to walking straight forward without twisting from side to side.   \\break Pray, mother, said the young one,   \\break do but set the example yourself, and I will follow you.   \\break Example is the best precept.   ") 
( aesop_00049 "An Ass once found a Lion's skin which the hunters had left out in the sun to dry.   \\break He put it on and went towards his native village.   \\break All fled at his approach, both men and animals, and he was a proud Ass that day.   \\break In his delight he lifted up his voice and brayed, but then every one knew him,   \\break and his owner came up and gave him a sound cudgelling   \\break for the fright he had caused.   \\break And shortly afterwards a Fox came up to him and said   \\break Ah, I knew you by your voice.   \\break Fine clothes may disguise, but silly words will disclose a fool.   ") 
( aesop_00050 "Two Fellows were travelling together through a wood, when a Bear rushed out upon them.   \\break One of the travellers happened to be in front, and he seized hold of the branch of a tree, and hid himself among the leaves.   \\break The other, seeing no help for it, threw himself flat down upon the ground, with his face in the dust.   \\break The Bear, coming up to him, put his muzzle close to his ear,   \\break and sniffed and sniffed.   \\break But at last with a growl he shook his head and slouched off, for bears will not touch dead meat.   \\break Then the fellow in the tree came down to his comrade, and, laughing, said   \\break What was it that Master Bruin whispered to you?   \\break He told me, said the other,   \\break Never trust a friend who deserts you at a pinch.   ") 
( aesop_00054 "Two neighbours came before Jupiter and prayed him to grant their hearts desire.   \\break Now the one was full of avarice, and the other eaten up with envy,. So to punish them both, Jupiter granted that each might have whatever he wished for himself,   \\break but only on condition that his neighbour had twice as much.   \\break The Avaricious man prayed to have a room full of gold.   \\break No sooner said than done;   \\break but all his joy was turned to grief when he found that his neighbour had two rooms full of the precious metal.   \\break Then came the turn of the Envious man, who could not bear to think that his neighbour had any joy at all.   \\break So he prayed that he might have one of his own eyes put out,   \\break by which means his companion would become totally blind.   \\break Vices are their own punishment.   ") 
( aesop_00055 "a Crow, half-dead with thirst, came upon a Pitcher which had once been full of water;   \\break but when the Crow put its beak into the mouth of the Pitcher he found that only very little water was left in it,   \\break and that he could not reach far enough down to get at it.   \\break He tried, and he tried,   \\break but at last had to give up in despair.   \\break Then a thought came to him, and he took a pebble and dropped it into the Pitcher.   \\break Then he took another pebble and dropped it into the Pitcher.   \\break Then he took another pebble and dropped that into the Pitcher,. Then he took another pebble and dropped that into the Pitcher.   \\break Then he took another pebble and dropped that into the Pitcher.   \\break Then he took another pebble and dropped that into the Pitcher.   \\break At last, at last,   \\break he saw the water mount up near him,   \\break and after casting in a few more pebbles he was able to quench his thirst and save his life.   \\break Little by little does the trick.   ") 
( aesop_00056 "a Man had lost his way in a wood one bitter winter's night.   \\break As he was roaming about, a Satyr came up to him, and finding that he had lost his way, promised to give him a lodging for the night, and guide him out of the forest in the morning.   \\break As he went along to the Satyr's cell, the Man raised both his hands to his mouth and kept on blowing at them.   \\break What do you do that for,? said the Satyr.   \\break My hands are numb with the cold, said the Man,   \\break and my breath warms them.   \\break After this they arrived at the Satyr's home, and soon the Satyr put a smoking dish of porridge before him.   \\break But when the Man raised his spoon to his mouth he began blowing upon it.   \\break And what do you do that for,? said the Satyr.   \\break The porridge is too hot, and my breath will cool it.   \\break Out you go, said the Satyr.   \\break I will have nought to do with a man   \\break who can blow hot and cold with the same breath.   ") 
( aesop_00057 "One day a countryman going to the nest of his Goose found there an egg all yellow and glittering.   \\break When he took it up it was as heavy as lead and he was going to throw it away, because he thought a trick had been played upon him.   \\break But he took it home on second thoughts, and soon found to his delight that it was an egg of pure gold.   \\break Every morning the same thing occurred, and he soon became rich by selling his eggs.   \\break As he grew rich he grew greedy; and thinking to get at once all the gold the Goose could give,   \\break he killed it and opened it only to find nothing.   \\break Greed oft oer reaches itself.   ") 
( aesop_00058 "a Labourer lay listening to a Nightingale's song throughout the summer night.   \\break So pleased was he with it that the next night he set a trap for it   \\break and captured it.   \\break Now that I have caught thee, he cried, thou shalt always sing to me.   \\break We Nightingales never sing in a cage. said the bird.   \\break Then I'll eat thee. said the Labourer.   \\break I have always heard say that a nightingale on toast is dainty morsel.   \\break Nay, kill me not, said the Nightingale; but let me free,   \\break and I'll tell thee three things far better worth than my poor body.   \\break The Labourer let him loose, and he flew up to a branch of a tree and said   \\break Never believe a captive's promise; that's one thing.   \\break Then again Keep what you have.   \\break And third piece of advice is   \\break Sorrow not over what is lost forever.   \\break Then the song-bird flew away.   ") 
( aesop_00059 "One moonlight night   \\break a Fox was prowling about a farmer's hen-coop, and saw a Cock roosting high up beyond his reach.   \\break Good news, good news! he cried.   \\break Why,   \\break what is that? said the Cock.   \\break King Lion has declared a universal truce.   \\break No beast may hurt a bird henceforth,   \\break but all shall dwell together in brotherly friendship.   \\break Why, that is good news, said the Cock;   \\break and there I see some one coming,   \\break with whom we can share the good tidings.   \\break And so saying he craned his neck forward and looked afar off.   \\break What is it you see? said the Fox.   \\break It is only my master's Dog that is coming towards us.   \\break What, going so soon?   \\break he continued, as the Fox began to turn away as soon as he had heard the news.   \\break Will you not stop and congratulate the Dog on the reign of universal peace?   \\break I would gladly do so, said the Fox, but I fear he may not have heard of King Lion's decree.   \\break Cunning often outwits itself.   ") 
( aesop_00061 "a Waggoner was once driving a heavy load along a very muddy way.   \\break At last he came to a part of the road where the wheels sank half-way into the mire, and   \\break the more the horses pulled, the deeper sank the wheels.   \\break So the Waggoner threw down his whip, and knelt down and prayed to Hercules the Strong.   \\break O Hercules, help me in this my hour of distress, quoth he.   \\break But Hercules appeared to him, and said   \\break Tut, man, dont sprawl there.   \\break Get up and put your shoulder to the wheel.   \\break The gods help them that help themselves.   ") 
( aesop_00062 "a Man and his son were once going with their Donkey to market.   \\break As they were walking along by its side a countryman passed them and said   \\break You fools, what is a Donkey for but to ride upon?   \\break So the Man put the Boy on the Donkey and they went on their way.   \\break But soon they passed a group of men, one of whom said   \\break See that lazy youngster, he lets his father walk while he rides.   \\break So the Man ordered his Boy to get off, and got on himself.   \\break But they hadnt gone far when they passed two women,   \\break one of whom said to the other   \\break Shame on that lazy lout to let his poor little son trudge along.   \\break Well, the Man didnt know what to do,   \\break but at last he took his Boy up before him on the Donkey.   \\break By this time they had come to the town, and the passers-by began to jeer and point at them.   \\break The Man stopped and asked what they were scoffing at.   \\break The men said   \\break Arent you ashamed of yourself for overloading that poor donkey of yours and your hulking son?   \\break The Man and Boy got off and tried to think what to do.   \\break They thought and they thought, till at last they cut down a pole,   \\break tied the donkey's feet to it, and raised the pole and the donkey to their shoulders.   \\break They went along amid the laughter of all who met them till they came to Market Bridge,   \\break when the Donkey,   \\break getting one of his feet loose,   \\break kicked out and caused the Boy to drop his end of the pole.   \\break In the struggle the Donkey fell over the bridge, and his fore-feet being tied together he was drowned.   \\break That will teach you, said an old man who had followed them   \\break Please all, and you will please none.   ") 
( aesop_00063 "Once upon a time there was a Miser who used to hide his gold at the foot of a tree in his garden;   \\break but every week he used to go and dig it up and gloat over his gains.   \\break a robber, who had noticed this, went and dug up the gold and decamped with it.   \\break When the Miser next came to gloat over his treasures, he found nothing but the empty hole.   \\break He tore his hair, and raised such an outcry that all the neighbours came around him,   \\break and he told them how he used to come and visit his gold.   \\break Did you ever take any of it out? asked one of them.   \\break Nay, said he, I only came to look at it.   \\break Then come again and look at the hole, said a neighbour; it will do you just as much good.   \\break Wealth unused might as well not exist.   ") 
( aesop_00067 "Long ago, the mice had a general council to consider what measures they could take to outwit their common enemy, the Cat.   \\break Some said this, and some said that; but at last a young mouse got up and said he had a proposal to make, which he thought would meet the case.   \\break You will all agree, said he, that our chief danger consists in the sly and treacherous manner in which the enemy approaches us.   \\break Now, if we could receive some signal of her approach, we could easily escape from her.   \\break I venture, therefore, to propose that a small bell be procured,   \\break and attached by a ribbon round the neck of the Cat.   \\break By this means we should always know when she was about, and could easily retire while she was in the neighbourhood.   \\break This proposal met with general applause, until an old mouse got up and said   \\break That is all very well, but who is to bell the Cat?   \\break The mice looked at one another and nobody spoke.   \\break Then the old mouse said   \\break It is easy to propose impossible remedies.   ") 
( aesop_00068 "The Hare was once boasting of his speed before the other animals.   \\break I have never yet been beaten, said he, when I put forth my full speed.   \\break I challenge any one here to race with me.   \\break The Tortoise said quietly,   \\break I accept your challenge.   \\break That is a good joke, said the Hare;   \\break I could dance round you all the way.   \\break Keep your boasting till youve beaten, answered the Tortoise.   \\break Shall we race?   \\break So a course was fixed and a start was made.   \\break The Hare darted almost out of sight at once, but soon stopped and, to show his contempt for the Tortoise, lay down to have a nap.   \\break The Tortoise plodded on and plodded on,   \\break and when the Hare awoke from his nap, he saw the Tortoise just near the winning-post   \\break and could not run up in time to save the race.   \\break Then said the Tortoise   \\break Plodding   \\break wins the race.   ") 
( aesop_00072 "An old man on the point of death summoned his sons around him to give them some parting advice.   \\break He ordered his servants to bring in a faggot of sticks, and said to his eldest son   \\break Break it.   \\break The son strained and strained, but with all his efforts was unable to break   \\break the Bundle.   \\break The other sons also tried, but none of them was successful.   \\break Untie the faggots, said the father, and each of you take a stick.   \\break When they had done so, he called out to them   \\break Now, break,   \\break and each stick was easily broken.   \\break You see my meaning, said their father.   \\break Union gives strength.   ") 
( aesop_00078 "a Horse and an Ass were travelling together,   \\break the Horse prancing along in its fine trappings, the Ass carrying with difficulty the heavy weight in its   \\break panniers.   \\break I wish I were you, sighed the Ass;   \\break nothing to do and well fed, and all that fine harness upon you.   \\break Next day, however, there was a great battle, and the Horse was wounded to death   \\break in the final charge of the day.   \\break His friend, the Ass, happened to pass by shortly afterwards and found him on the point of death.   \\break I was wrong, said the Ass   \\break Better humble security than gilded danger.   ") 
( aesop_00082 "By an unlucky chance a Fox fell into a deep well from which he could not get out.   \\break a Goat passed by shortly afterwards, and asked the Fox what he was doing down there.   \\break Oh, have you not heard? said the Fox;   \\break there is going to be a great drought, so I jumped down here in order to be sure to have water by me. Why dont you come down too?   \\break The Goat thought well of this advice, and jumped down into the well. But the Fox immediately jumped on her back, and by putting his foot on her long horns   \\break managed to jump up to the edge of the well.   \\break Good-bye, friend, said the Fox,   \\break remember next time,   \\break Never trust the advice of a man in difficulties.   ") 
( aesop_00083 "An Ant nimbly running about in the sunshine in search of food came across a Chrysalis that was very near its time of change.   \\break The Chrysalis moved its tail, and thus attracted the attention of the Ant, who then saw for the first time that it was alive.   \\break Poor, pitiable animal! cried the Ant disdainfully.   \\break What a sad fate is yours!   \\break While I can run hither and thither, at my pleasure,   \\break and, if I wish, ascend the tallest tree,   \\break you lie imprisoned here in your shell, with power only to move a joint or two of your scaly tail.   \\break The Chrysalis heard all this, but did not try to make any reply.   \\break a few days after, when the Ant passed that way again, nothing but the shell remained.   \\break Wondering what had become of its contents,   \\break he felt himself suddenly shaded and fanned by the gorgeous wings of a beautiful Butterfly.   \\break Behold in me, said the Butterfly, your much-pitied friend!   \\break Boast now of your powers to run and climb as long as you can get me to listen.   \\break So saying, the Butterfly rose in the air, and, borne along and aloft on the summer breeze,   \\break was soon lost to the sight of the Ant forever.   \\break Appearances are deceptive.   ") 
( aesop_00084 "A man who wanted to buy an Ass went to market,   \\break and, coming across a likely-looking beast, arranged with the owner that he should be allowed to take him home on trial to see what he was like.   \\break When he reached home, he put him into his stable along with the other asses.   \\break The newcomer took a look round, and immediately went and chose a place next to the laziest and greediest beast in the stable.   \\break When the master saw this he put a halter on him at once, and led him off and   \\break handed him over to his owner again.   \\break The latter was a good deal surprised to seem him back so soon, and said,   \\break Why, do you mean to say you have tested him already?   \\break I dont want to put him through any more tests, replied the other.   \\break I could see what sort of beast he is from the companion he chose for himself.   \\break A man is known by the company he keeps.   ") 
( aesop_00085 "A singing bird was confined in a cage which hung outside a window, and had a way of singing at night when all other birds were asleep.   \\break One night a Bat came and clung to the bars of the cage, and asked the Bird why she was silent by day and sang only at night.   \\break I have a very good reason for doing so, said the Bird.   \\break It was once when I was singing in the daytime that a fowler was attracted by my voice,   \\break and set his nets for me and caught me.   \\break Since then I have never sung except by night.   \\break But the Bat replied,   \\break It is no use your doing that now when you are a prisoner   \\break if only you had done so before you were caught, you might still have been free.   \\break Precautions are useless after the crisis.   ") 
( aesop_00087 "Two Frogs lived together in a marsh.   \\break But one hot summer the marsh dried up, and they   \\break left it to look for another place to live in   \\break for frogs like damp places if they can get them.   \\break By and by they came to a deep well, and one of them looked down into it, and said to the other,   \\break This looks a nice cool place.   \\break Let us jump in and settle here.   \\break But the other, who had a wiser head on his shoulders, replied,   \\break Not so fast, my friend.   \\break Supposing this well dried up like the marsh, how should we get out again?   \\break Look before you leap.   ") 
( aesop_00088 "Hercules, once journeying along a narrow roadway, came across a strange-looking animal that reared its head and threatened him.   \\break Nothing daunted,   \\break the hero gave him a few lusty blows with his club, and thought to have gone on his way.   \\break The monster, however, much to the astonishment of Hercules,   \\break was now three times as big as it was before, and of a still more threatening aspect.   \\break He thereupon redoubled his blows and laid about him fast and furiously;   \\break but the harder and quicker the strokes of the club,   \\break the bigger and more frightful grew the monster, and now completely filled up the road.   \\break Pallas then appeared upon the scene.   \\break Stop, Hercules, said she.   \\break Cease your blows.   \\break The monster's name is Strife.   \\break Let it alone, and it will soon become as little as it was at first.   \\break Strife feeds on conflict.   ") 
( aesop_00090 "A funny old lion, who had the misfortune to lose his mane, was wearing a wig as he was taking a stroll on a very windy day.   \\break Looking up, he spied one of the charming Tiger sisters across the street,   \\break and, wishing to make an impression, smiled blandly and made a beautiful low bow.   \\break At that moment a very smart gust of wind came up, and the consequence was that his wig flew off and left him there,   \\break feeling foolish and looking worse, with his bald head glistening like a billiard ball.   \\break Though somewhat embarrassed at first, he smiled at the Lady and said   \\break Is it a wonder that another fellow's hair shouldnt keep on my head, when my own wouldnt stay there?   \\break Wit always has an answer ready.   ") 
( aesop_00092 "a Rose and an Amaranth blossomed side by side in a garden, and the Amaranth said to her neighbor,   \\break How I envy you your beauty and your sweet scent!   \\break No wonder you are such a universal favorite.   \\break But the Rose replied with a shade of sadness in her voice,   \\break Ah, my dear friend, I bloom but for a time my petals soon wither and fall, and then I die.   \\break But your flowers never fade, even if they are cut;   \\break for they are everlasting.   \\break Greatness carries its own penalties.   ") 
( aesop_00094 "The shipwrecked Chimpanzee had been clinging for a long time to a slender spar,   \\break when a Dolphin came up and offered to carry him ashore.   \\break This kind proposition was immediately accepted, and, as they moved along, the Chimp commenced to tell the Fish many marvelous tales,   \\break every one of them a bundle of falsehoods.   \\break Well, well, you are indeed an educated chap, said the Dolphin in admiration.   \\break My schooling has been sadly neglected, as I went to sea when but a week old.   \\break Just then they entered a large bay, and the Dolphin, referring to it, said,   \\break I suppose you know Herring Roads?   \\break The chimp, taking this for the name of a fellow,   \\break and not wishing to appear ignorant, replied   \\break Do I know Rhodes?   \\break Well, I should almost think so!   \\break He's an old college chum of mine,   \\break and related to our family by   \\break This was too much for the Dolphin, who immediately made a great leap, and then diving quickly, left the impostor in the air for an instant before he splashed back and disappeared.   \\break A liar deceives no one but himself.   ") 
( aesop_00095 "Having received an order for twenty yards of silk from Princess Lioness,   \\break the Silkworm sat down at her loom and worked away with zeal.   \\break a Spider soon came around and asked to hire a web-room near by.   \\break The Silkworm acceded, and the Spider commenced her task and worked so rapidly that in a short time the web was finished.   \\break Just look at it, she said,   \\break and see how grand and delicate it is.   \\break You cannot but acknowledge that I'm a much better worker than you.   \\break See how quickly I perform my labors.   \\break Yes, answered the Silkworm, but hush up, for you bother me.   \\break Your labors are designed only as base traps,   \\break and are destroyed whenever they are seen, and brushed away as useless dirt;   \\break while mine are stored away, as ornaments of Royalty.   \\break True art is thoughtful, delights and endures.   ") 
( aesop_00096 "Jupiter announced that he intended to appoint a king over the birds,   \\break and named a day on which they were to appear before his throne, when he would select the most beautiful of them all to be their ruler.   \\break Wishing to look their best on the occasion they repaired to the banks of a stream, where they busied themselves in washing and preening their feathers.   \\break The Jackdaw was there along with the rest, and realized that,   \\break with his ugly plumage,   \\break he would have no chance of being chosen as he was   \\break so he waited till they were all gone, and then picked up the most gaudy of the feathers they had dropped, and fastened them about his own body,   \\break with the result that he looked gayer than any of them.   \\break When the appointed day came,   \\break the birds assembled before Jupiter's throne. After passing them in review, he was about to make the Jackdaw king,   \\break when all the rest set upon the king-select, stripped him of his borrowed plumes, and exposed him for the Jackdaw that he was.   \\break It is not only fine feathers that make fine birds.   ") 
( aesop_00097 "a Vixen who was taking her babies out for an airing one balmy morning,   \\break came across a Lioness, with her cub in arms.   \\break Why such airs, haughty dame, over one solitary cub?   \\break sneered the Vixen.   \\break Look at my healthy and numerous litter here, and imagine, if you are able, how a proud mother should feel.   \\break The Lioness gave her a squelching look, and lifting up her nose, walked away, saying calmly,   \\break Yes, just look at that beautiful collection.   \\break What are they?   \\break Foxes!   \\break I've only one,   \\break but remember, that one is a Lion.   \\break Quality is better than quantity.   ") 
( worldfact_00006 "After a century of rule by France,   \\break Algeria became independent in 1962.   \\break The surprising first round success of the fundamentalist FIS party in December 1991 balloting caused the army to intervene,   \\break crack down on the FIS, and postpone the subsequent elections.   \\break The FIS response has resulted in a continuous low-grade civil conflict with the secular state apparatus,   \\break which nonetheless has allowed elections featuring pro-government and moderate religious-based parties.   \\break FIS's armed wing,   \\break the Islamic Salvation Army, dissolved itself in January 2000 and many armed insurgents   \\break surrendered under an amnesty program designing to promote national reconciliation.   \\break Nevertheless,   \\break some residual fighting continues.   \\break Other concerns include large-scale unemployment and the need to diversify the   \\break petroleum-based economy.   ") 
( worldfact_00007 "The hydrocarbons sector is the backbone of the economy,   \\break accounting for roughly 52% of budget revenues,   \\break 25% of GDP,   \\break and over 95% of export earnings.   \\break Algeria has the fifth-largest reserves of natural gas in the world   \\break and is the second largest gas exporter;   \\break it ranks fourteenth for oil reserves.   \\break Algiers efforts to reform one of the most centrally planned economies in the Arab world stalled in 1992   \\break as the country became embroiled in political turmoil.   \\break Burdened with a heavy foreign debt,   \\break Algiers concluded a one-year standby arrangement with the IMF in April 1994 and the following year signed onto a   \\break three-year extended fund facility   \\break which ended 30th April 1998.   \\break Some progress on economic reform,   \\break Paris Club debt reschedulings in 1995 and 1996,   \\break and oil and gas sector expansion contributed to a recovery in growth since 1995.   \\break Still, the economy remains heavily dependent on volatile oil and gas revenues.   \\break The government has continued efforts to diversify the economy by attracting foreign and domestic investment outside the energy sector,   \\break but has had little success in reducing high unemployment and improving living standards.   ") 
( worldfact_00013 "Angola is an economy in disarray because of a quarter century of nearly continuous warfare.   \\break Despite its abundant natural resources,   \\break output per capita is among the world's lowest.   \\break Subsistence agriculture provides the main livelihood for 85% of the population.   \\break Oil production and the supporting activities are vital to the economy,   \\break contributing about 45% to GDP and 90% of exports.   \\break Notwithstanding the signing of a peace accord in November 1994,   \\break violence continues,   \\break millions of land mines remain, and many farmers are reluctant to return to their fields.   \\break As a result,   \\break much of the country's food must still be imported.   \\break To take advantage of its rich resources   \\break gold,   \\break diamonds, extensive forests,   \\break Atlantic fisheries, and large oil deposits   \\break Angola will need to implement the   \\break peace agreement and reform government policies.   \\break Despite the increase in the pace of civil warfare in late 1998,   \\break the economy grew by an estimated 4% in 1999.   \\break The government introduced new currency denominations in 1999, including a one and five kwanza note.   \\break Expanded oil production brightens prospects for 2000,   \\break but internal strife discourages investment outside of the petroleum sector.   ") 
( worldfact_00021 "Following independence from Spain in 1816, Argentina experienced periods of internal political conflict   \\break between conservatives and liberals   \\break and between civilian and military factions.   \\break After World War two,   \\break a long period of Peronist dictatorship was followed by a military junta that took power in 1976.   \\break Democracy returned in 1983,   \\break and four free elections since then have underscored Argentina's progress in democratic consolidation.   ") 
( worldfact_00030 "Australia has a prosperous Western-style capitalist economy,   \\break with a per capita GDP at the level of the four dominant West European economies.   \\break Rich in natural resources,   \\break Australia is a major exporter of agricultural products,   \\break minerals, metals, and fossil fuels.   \\break Commodities account for 57% of the value of total exports,   \\break so that a downturn in world commodity prices can have a big impact on the economy.   \\break The government is pushing for increased exports of manufactured goods,   \\break but competition in international markets continues to be severe.   \\break While Australia has suffered from the low growth and high unemployment characterizing the OECD countries in the early 1990's   \\break and during the recent financial problems in East Asia,   \\break the economy has expanded at a solid 4% annual growth pace in the last five years.   \\break Canberra's emphasis on reforms   \\break is a key factor behind the economy's resilience to the regional crisis   \\break and its stronger than expected growth rate.   \\break Growth in 2000 will depend on key international commodity prices,   \\break the extent of recovery in nearby Asian economies,   \\break and the strength of US and European markets.   ") 
( worldfact_00046 "The small, essentially private enterprise economy is based primarily on agriculture,   \\break agro-based industry, and merchandising, with tourism and construction assuming greater importance.   \\break Sugar, the chief crop,   \\break accounts for nearly half of exports, while the banana industry is the country's largest employer.   \\break The government's tough austerity program in 1997 resulted in an economic slowdown that continued in 1998.   \\break The trade deficit has been growing, mostly as a result of low export prices for sugar and bananas.   \\break The new government faces important challenges to economic stability.   \\break Rapid action to improve tax collection has been promised,   \\break but a lack of progress in reining in spending could bring the exchange rate under pressure.   \\break The tourist and construction sectors strengthened in early 1999,   \\break leading to a preliminary estimate of revived growth at 4%.   ") 
( worldfact_00060 "Possessing large and well-developed agricultural, mining, manufacturing, and service sectors,   \\break Brazil's economy outweighs that of all other South American countries and is expanding its presence in world markets.   \\break In the late eighties and early nineties, high inflation hindered economic activity and investment.   \\break The Real Plan, instituted in the spring of 1994,   \\break sought to break inflationary expectations by pegging the real to the US dollar.   \\break Inflation was brought down to single digit annual figures,   \\break but not fast enough to avoid substantial real exchange rate appreciation during the transition phase of the Real Plan.   \\break This appreciation meant that Brazilian goods were now more expensive relative to goods from other countries,   \\break which contributed to large current account deficits.   \\break However,   \\break no shortage of foreign currency ensued because of the financial community's renewed interest in Brazilian markets as inflation rates stabilized   \\break and the debt crisis of the eighties faded from memory.   \\break The maintenance of large current account deficits via capital account surpluses became problematic as investors became more risk averse to emerging market exposure   \\break as a consequence of the Asian financial crisis in 1997   \\break and the Russian bond default in August 1998.   \\break After crafting a fiscal adjustment program and pledging progress on structural reform,   \\break Brazil received a $41.5 billion IMF-led international support program   \\break in November 1998.   \\break In January 1999,   \\break the Brazilian Central Bank announced that the real would no longer be pegged to the US dollar.   \\break This devaluation helped moderate the downturn in economic growth in 1999   \\break that investors had expressed concerns about over the summer of 1998.   \\break Brazil's debt to GDP ratio of 48% for 1999   \\break beat the IMF target and helped reassure investors that Brazil will maintain tight fiscal and monetary policy even with a floating currency.   \\break The economy is expected to push growth up to 3% in 2000.   ") 
( worldfact_00063 "The economy, one of the most prosperous in the Caribbean,   \\break is highly dependent on tourism, which generates an estimated 45% of the   \\break national in   \\break come.   \\break An estimated 350,000 tourists, mainly from the US, visited the islands in 1997.   \\break In the mid-1980's, the government began offering offshore registration to companies wishing to incorporate in the islands,   \\break and incorporation fees now generate substantial revenues.   \\break An estimated 250,000 companies were on the offshore registry by yearend 1997.   \\break The adoption of a comprehensive insurance law in late 1994, which provides a blanket of confidentiality with   \\break regulated statutory gateways for investigation of criminal offenses,   \\break is expected to make the British Virgin Islands even more attractive to international business.   \\break Livestock raising is the most important agricultural activity;   \\break poor soils limit the islands ability to meet domestic food requirements.   \\break Because of traditionally close links with the US Virgin Islands,   \\break the British Virgin Islands has used the dollar as its currency since 1959.   ") 
( worldfact_00075 "After four years of solid macroeconomic performance,   \\break Cambodia's economy slowed dramatically in 1997 due to the regional economic crisis,   \\break civil violence, and political infighting.   \\break Foreign investment and tourism fell off.   \\break Also, in 1998 the main harvest was hit by drought.   \\break But in 1999,   \\break the first full year of peace in thirty years,   \\break progress was made on economic reforms   \\break and growth resumed at 4%.   \\break The long-term development of the economy after decades of war remains a daunting challenge.   \\break The population lacks education and productive skills, particularly in the poverty-ridden countryside,   \\break which suffers from an almost total lack of basic infrastructure.   \\break Recurring political instability and corruption within government   \\break discourage foreign investment and delay foreign aid.   \\break On the brighter side,   \\break the government is addressing these issues with assistance from bilateral and multilateral donors.   \\break So long as political stability lasts,   \\break the Cambodian economy is likely to grow at a respectable pace.   ") 
( worldfact_00077 "Because of its oil resources and favorable agricultural conditions,   \\break Cameroon has one of the best-endowed primary commodity economies in sub Saharan Africa.   \\break Still, it faces many of the serious problems facing other underdeveloped countries,   \\break such as a top heavy civil service and a generally unfavorable climate for business enterprise.   \\break Since 1990, the government has embarked on various IMF and World Bank programs designed to spur business investment,   \\break increase efficiency in agriculture,   \\break improve trade, and recapitalize the nation's banks.   \\break The government, however, has failed to press forward vigorously with these programs.   \\break The latest enhanced structural adjustment agreement was signed in October 1997;   \\break the parties hope this will prove more successful,   \\break yet government mismanagement and corruption remain problems.   \\break Inflation has been brought back under control.   \\break Progress toward privatization of remaining state industry should support continued economic growth in 2000.   ") 
( worldfact_00082 "The Cayman Islands were colonized from Jamaica by the British during the 18th and 19th centuries.   \\break Administered by Jamaica from 1863, they remained a British dependency after 1962 when the former became independent.   ") 
( worldfact_00086 "Chad,   \\break part of France's African holdings until 1960,   \\break endured three decades of ethnic warfare as well as invasions by Libya before a semblance of peace was finally restored in 1990.   \\break A transitional government eventually suppressed or came to terms with most political military groups,   \\break settled a territorial dispute with Libya on terms favorable to Chad,   \\break drafted a democratic constitution,   \\break and held multiparty presidential and National Assembly elections in 1996   \\break and 1997 respectively.   \\break In 1998 a new rebellion broke out in northern Chad,   \\break which continued to escalate throughout 1999.   \\break Despite movement toward democratic reform,   \\break power remains in the hands of a northern ethnic oligarchy.   ") 
( worldfact_00117 "The economy depends on agriculture and is highly vulnerable to climatic conditions,   \\break notably tropical storms.   \\break Agriculture, primarily bananas, accounts for 21% of GDP   \\break and employs 40% of the labor force.   \\break Development of the tourist industry remains difficult because of the rugged coastline,   \\break lack of beaches,   \\break and the lack of an international airport.   \\break Hurricane Luis devastated the country's banana crop in September 1995;   \\break tropical storms had wiped out one quarter of the crop in 1994 as well.   \\break The economy's recovery continued in 1998,   \\break fueled by increases in construction,   \\break soap production, and tourist arrivals.   \\break The government is attempting to develop an offshore financial industry in order to diversify the island's production base.   ") 
( worldfact_00127 "The discovery and exploitation of large oil reserves have contributed to dramatic economic growth in recent years.   \\break Forestry,   \\break farming, and fishing are also major components of GDP.   \\break Subsistence farming predominates.   \\break Although pre independence Equatorial Guinea counted on cocoa production for hard currency earnings,   \\break the deterioration of the rural economy under successive brutal regimes has diminished potential for agriculture led growth.   \\break a number of aid programs sponsored by the World Bank and the IMF have been cut off since 1993   \\break because of the government's gross corruption and mismanagement.   \\break Businesses, for the most part, are owned by government officials and their family members.   \\break Undeveloped natural resources include   \\break titanium,   \\break iron ore,   \\break manganese,   \\break uranium, and alluvial gold.   \\break The country responded favorably to the devaluation of the CFA franc in January 1994.   \\break Boosts in production, along with high world oil prices,   \\break should further stimulate growth in 2000.   ") 
( worldfact_00137 "Fiji, endowed with forest, mineral, and fish resources,   \\break is one of the most developed of the Pacific island economies,   \\break though still with a large subsistence sector.   \\break Sugar exports and a growing tourist industry are the major sources of foreign exchange.   \\break Sugar processing makes up one third of industrial activity.   \\break Roughly 300,000 tourists visit each year,   \\break including thousands of Americans following the start of regularly scheduled non stop air service from Los Angeles.   \\break Fiji's growth slowed in 1997 because the sugar industry suffered from low world prices and rent disputes between farmers and landowners.   \\break Drought in 1998 further damaged the sugar industry,   \\break but its recovery in 1999 contributed to robust GDP growth.   \\break Long-term problems include low investment and uncertain property rights.   ") 
( worldfact_00138 "Ruled by Sweden from the twelfth to the 19th centuries and by Russia from 1809,   \\break Finland finally won its independence in 1917.   \\break During World War two, it was able to successfully defend its freedom and fend off invasions by the Soviet Union and Germany.   \\break In the subsequent half century,   \\break the Finns have made a remarkable transformation from a farm forest economy to a diversified modern industrial economy;   \\break per capita income is now on par with Western Europe.   \\break As a member of the European Union,   \\break Finland was the only Nordic state to join the euro system at its initiation in January 1999.   ") 
( worldfact_00141 "France's economy combines modern capitalistic methods with extensive, but declining, government intervention.   \\break The government retains considerable influence over key segments of each sector,   \\break with majority ownership of railway,   \\break electricity, aircraft, and telecommunication firms.   \\break It has been gradually relaxing its control over these sectors since the early 1990's.   \\break The government is slowly selling off holdings in France Telecom,   \\break in Air France, and   \\break in the insurance, banking, and defense industries.   \\break Meanwhile, large tracts of fertile land,   \\break the application of modern technology,   \\break and subsidies have combined to make France the leading agricultural producer in Western Europe.   \\break Persistently high unemployment will continue to pose a major problem for the government;   \\break a 35 hour work week is being introduced.   \\break France has shied away from cutting exceptionally generous social welfare benefits   \\break or the enormous state bureaucracy,   \\break preferring to pare defense spending and raise taxes to keep the deficit down.   \\break France joined ten other EU members to launch the euro on first January 1999.   ") 
( worldfact_00183 "Hungary continues to demonstrate strong economic growth and to work toward accession to the European Union.   \\break Over 85% of the economy has been privatized.   \\break Foreign ownership of and investment in Hungarian firms has been widespread with cumulative foreign direct investment   \\break 21 billion dollars by 1999.   \\break Hungarian sovereign debt is now rated investment grade.   \\break GDP growth of 4% in 1999 will likely be matched or even exceeded in 2000.   \\break Inflation, while diminished, is still high at 10%.   \\break Economic reform measures include regional development,   \\break encouragement of small and medium size enterprises,   \\break and support of housing.   ") 
( worldfact_00196 "A failed 1916 Easter Monday Rebellion touched off several years of guerrilla warfare   \\break that in 1921 resulted in independence from the UK for the 26 southern counties;   \\break the six northern counties Ulster   \\break remained part of Great Britain.   \\break In 1948 Ireland withdrew from the British Commonwealth;   \\break it joined the European Community in 1973.   \\break Irish governments have sought the peaceful unification of Ireland and have cooperated with Britain against terrorist groups.   \\break a peace settlement for Northern Ireland, approved in 1998, has not yet been implemented.   ") 
( worldfact_00197 "Ireland is a small, modern, trade dependent economy   \\break with growth averaging a robust 9% in 1995.   \\break Agriculture, once the most important sector, is now dwarfed by industry, which accounts for 39% of GDP   \\break and about 80% of exports and employs 28% of the labor force.   \\break Although exports remain the primary engine for Ireland's robust growth,   \\break the economy is also benefiting from a rise in consumer spending   \\break and recovery in both construction and business investment.   \\break Over the past decade,   \\break the Irish government has implemented a series of national economic programs designed to curb inflation,   \\break reduce government spending, and promote foreign investment.   \\break The unemployment rate has been   \\break halved;   \\break job creation remains a primary concern of government policy.   \\break Recent efforts have concentrated on improving workers qualifications and the education system.   \\break Ireland joined in launching the euro currency system in January 1999 along with   \\break ten other EU nations.   \\break The construction and other sectors are beginning to press against capacity,   \\break and growth is expected to drop in 2000,   \\break perhaps by one percentage point.   ") 
( worldfact_00207 "The island of Jersey and the other Channel Islands represent the last remnants of the medieval Dukedom of Normandy that held sway in both France and England.   \\break These islands were the only British soil occupied by German troops in World War two   ") 
( worldfact_00208 "The economy is based largely on international financial services,   \\break agriculture, and tourism.   \\break Potatoes, cauliflower, tomatoes, and especially flowers are important export crops, shipped mostly to the UK.   \\break The Jersey breed of dairy cattle is known worldwide and represents an important export income earner.   \\break Milk products go to the UK and other EU countries.   \\break In 1996 the finance sector accounted for about 60% of the island's output.   \\break Tourism, another mainstay of the economy,   \\break accounts for 24% of GDP.   \\break In recent years, the government has encouraged light industry to locate in Jersey,   \\break with the result that an electronics industry has developed alongside the traditional manufacturing of knitwear.   \\break All raw material and energy requirements are imported, as well as a large share of Jersey's food needs.   \\break Light taxes and death duties make the island a popular tax haven.   ") 
( worldfact_00237 "Despite its small size and limited natural resources,   \\break Liechtenstein has developed into a prosperous, highly industrialized, free enterprise economy   \\break with a vital financial service sector and living standards on a par with the urban areas of its large European neighbors.   \\break Low business taxes   \\break the maximum tax rate is 18%   \\break and easy incorporation rules have induced about 73,700 holding or so called letter box companies   \\break to establish nominal offices in Liechtenstein, providing 30% of state revenues.   \\break The country participates in a customs union with Switzerland and uses the Swiss franc as its national currency.   \\break It imports more than 90% of its energy requirements.   \\break Liechtenstein has been a member of the European Economic Area   \\break an organization serving as a bridge between European Free Trade Association   \\break EFTA   \\break and EU   \\break since May 1995.   \\break The government is working to harmonize its economic policies with those of an integrated Europe.   ") 
( worldfact_00240 "Founded in 963,   \\break Luxembourg became a grand duchy in 1815 and an independent state under the Netherlands.   \\break It lost more than half of its territory to Belgium in 1839, but gained a larger measure of autonomy.   \\break Full independence was attained in 1867.   \\break Overrun by Germany in both World Wars,   \\break it ended its neutrality in 1948 when it entered into the Benelux Customs Union   \\break and when it joined NATO the following year.   \\break In 1957, Luxembourg became one of the six founding countries of the European Economic Community   \\break later the European Union   \\break and in 1999 it joined the euro currency area.   ") 
( worldfact_00241 "The stable, high income economy features moderate growth,   \\break low inflation, and low unemployment.   \\break The industrial sector, until recently dominated by steel, has become increasingly more diversified   \\break to include chemicals, rubber, and other products. During the past decades,   \\break growth in the financial sector has more than compensated for the decline in steel.   \\break Services, especially banking,   \\break account for a growing proportion of the economy.   \\break Agriculture is based on small family owned farms.   \\break Luxembourg has especially close trade and financial ties to Belgium and the Netherlands,   \\break and as a member of the EU, enjoys the advantages of the open European market.   \\break It joined with ten other EU members to launch the euro on first January 1999.   ") 
( worldfact_00245 "Madagascar faces problems of chronic malnutrition,   \\break underfunded health and education facilities,   \\break a roughly 3% annual population growth rate, and severe loss of forest cover, accompanied by erosion.   \\break Agriculture, including fishing and forestry, is the mainstay of the economy, accounting for 34% of GDP   \\break and contributing more than 70% to export earnings.   \\break Industry features textile manufacturing and the processing of agricultural products.   \\break Growth in output in 1992 averaged less than the growth rate of the population.   \\break Growth has been held back by antigovernment strikes and demonstrations,   \\break a decline in world coffee demand,   \\break and the erratic commitment of the government to economic reform.   \\break Formidable obstacles stand in the way of Madagascar's realizing its considerable growth potential;   \\break the extent of government reforms, outside financial aid, and foreign investment will be key determinants.   \\break Growth should be in the 5% range in 2000.   ") 
( worldfact_00247 "Landlocked Malawi   \\break ranks among the world's least developed countries.   \\break The economy is predominately agricultural, with about 90% of the population living in rural areas.   \\break Agriculture accounts for 37% of GDP   \\break and 85% of export revenues.   \\break The economy depends on substantial inflows of economic assistance from the IMF,   \\break the World Bank, and individual donor nations.   \\break The government faces strong challenges, e.g., to spur exports,   \\break to improve educational and health facilities,   \\break to face up to environmental problems of deforestation and erosion,   \\break and to deal with the rapidly growing problem of HIV   \\break AIDS.   ") 
( worldfact_00262 "Discovered by the Portuguese in 1505,   \\break Mauritius was subsequently held by the Dutch, French, and British before independence was attained in 1968.   \\break A stable democracy with regular free elections and a positive human rights record,   \\break the country has attracted considerable foreign investment and has earned one of Africa's highest per capita incomes.   \\break Recent protests over standards of living in the Creole community have slowed economic growth.   ") 
( worldfact_00288 "The Netherlands is a prosperous and open economy in which the government has successfully reduced its role since the 1980's.   \\break Industrial activity is predominantly in food processing, chemicals, petroleum refining, and electrical machinery.   \\break a highly mechanized agricultural sector employs no more than 4% of the labor force   \\break provides large surpluses for the food processing industry and for exports.   \\break The Dutch rank third worldwide in value of agricultural exports, behind the US and France.   \\break The Netherlands successfully addressed the issue of public finances and stagnating job growth   \\break long before its European partners.   \\break This has helped cushion the economy from a slowdown in the euro area.   \\break Strong 3.8% GDP growth in 1998 was followed by an only slightly lower 3.4% expansion in 1999.   \\break The outlook remains favorable,   \\break with real GDP growth in 2000 projected at 3.25%,   \\break along with a small budget surplus.   \\break The Dutch were among the first eleven EU countries establishing the euro currency zone on one January 1999.   ") 
( worldfact_00296 "The oil rich Nigerian economy, long hobbled by political instability, corruption,   \\break and poor macroeconomic management,   \\break is undergoing substantial economic reform under the new civilian administration.   \\break Nigeria's former military rulers failed to diversify the economy away from overdependence on the capital intensive oil sector,   \\break which provides 20% of GDP,   \\break 95% of foreign exchange earnings, and about 65% of budgetary revenues.   \\break The largely subsistence agricultural sector   \\break has not kept up with rapid population growth,   \\break and Nigeria, once a large net exporter of food,   \\break now must import food.   \\break In 2000,   \\break Nigeria is likely to receive a debt restructuring deal with the Paris club and a one billion dollars loan from the IMF,   \\break both contingent on economic reforms.   \\break Increased foreign investment combined with high world oil prices should push growth to over 5% in 2000.   ") 
( worldfact_00314 "The economy consists primarily of subsistence agriculture and fishing.   \\break The government is the major employer of the work force, relying heavily on financial assistance from the US.   \\break The population enjoys a per capita income of more than twice that of the Philippines and much of Micronesia.   \\break Long run prospects for the tourist sector have been greatly bolstered by the expansion of air travel in the Pacific and the rising prosperity of leading East Asian countries.   ") 
( worldfact_00325 "In 1998 the Philippine economy   \\break a mixture of agriculture, light industry, and supporting services   \\break deteriorated as a result of spillover from the Asian financial crisis and poor weather conditions.   \\break Growth fell to about negative point five percent in 1998 from 5% in 1997,   \\break but recovered to 2.9% in 1999.   \\break The government has promised to continue its economic reforms to help the Philippines match the pace of development in the newly industrialized countries of East Asia.   \\break The strategy includes improving infrastructure,   \\break overhauling the tax system to bolster government revenues,   \\break and moving toward further deregulation and privatization of the economy.   ") 
( worldfact_00327 "The inhabitants of this tiny economy   \\break exist on fishing,   \\break subsistence farming,   \\break handicrafts, and postage stamps.   \\break The fertile soil of the valleys produces a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, including citrus,   \\break sugarcane,   \\break watermelons, bananas, yams, and beans.   \\break Bartering is an important part of the economy.   \\break The major sources of revenue are the sale of postage stamps to collectors and the sale of handicrafts to passing ships.   ") 
( worldfact_00349 "The inhabitants have traditionally earned their livelihood by fishing and by servicing fishing fleets operating off the coast of Newfoundland.   \\break The economy has been declining, however, because of disputes with Canada over fishing quotas and a steady decline in the number of ships stopping at Saint Pierre.   \\break In 1992, an arbitration panel awarded the islands an exclusive economic zone   \\break of 12,348 square kilometers to settle a longstanding territorial dispute with Canada,   \\break although it represents only 25% of what France had sought.   \\break The islands are heavily subsidized by France to the great betterment of living standards.   \\break The government hopes an expansion of tourism will boost economic prospects.   ") 
( worldfact_00367 "Singapore is blessed with a highly developed and successful free market economy,   \\break a remarkably open and corruption free business environment, stable prices,   \\break and the fifth-highest per capita GDP in the world.   \\break Exports, particularly in electronics and chemicals,   \\break and services are the main drivers of the economy.   \\break The government promotes high levels of savings and investment through a mandatory savings scheme and spends heavily in education and technology.   \\break It also owns government linked companies GLCs   \\break particularly in manufacturing that operate as commercial entities and account for 60% of GDP.   \\break As Singapore looks to a future increasingly marked by globalization,   \\break the country is positioning itself as the region's financial and high tech hub.   ") 
( worldfact_00371 "The bulk of the population depend on agriculture, fishing, and forestry for at least part of their livelihood.   \\break Most manufactured goods and petroleum products must be imported.   \\break The islands are rich in undeveloped mineral resources such as lead,   \\break zinc, nickel, and gold.   \\break Economic troubles in Southeast Asia led to a steep downturn in the timber industry,   \\break and economic output declined by about 10% in 1998.   \\break The government instituted public service pay cuts and other retrenchments.   \\break The economy partially recovered in 1999 on the strength of rising international gold prices and the first full year of the Gold Ridge mining operation.   \\break However, the closure of the country's major palm oil plantation in mid year cast a shadow over future prospects.   ") 
( worldfact_00381 "Economic activity is limited to commercial fishing.   \\break The proximity to nearby oil and gas producing sedimentary basins suggests the potential for oil and gas deposits,   \\break but the region is largely unexplored, and there are no reliable estimates of potential reserves;   \\break commercial exploitation has yet to be developed.   ") 
( worldfact_00384 "Military dictatorships promulgating an Islamic government have mostly run the country since independence from the UK in 1956.   \\break Over the past two decades, a civil war pitting black Christians and animists in the south against the Arab Muslims of the north   \\break has cost at least 1.5 million lives in war and famine related deaths,   \\break as well as the displacement of millions of others.   ") 
( worldfact_00430 "Great Britain, the dominant industrial and maritime power of the 19th century,   \\break played a leading role in developing parliamentary democracy and in advancing literature and science.   \\break At its zenith, the British Empire stretched over one fourth of the earth's surface.   \\break The first half of the twentieth century saw the UK's strength seriously depleted in two World Wars.   \\break The second half witnessed the dismantling of the Empire and the UK rebuilding itself into a modern and prosperous European nation.   \\break The UK currently is weighing the degree of its integration with continental Europe.   \\break A member of the EU, it chose to remain outside of the EMU for the time being.   \\break Constitutional reform is also a significant issue in the UK.   \\break Regional assemblies with varying degrees of power opened in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland in 1999.   ") 
( worldfact_00455 "Yemen,   \\break one of the poorest countries in the Arab world, reported strong growth in the mid 1990's with the onset of oil production,   \\break but was harmed by low oil prices in 1998.   \\break Yemen has embarked on an IMF supported structural adjustment program designed to modernize and streamline the economy,   \\break which has led to foreign debt relief and restructuring.   \\break Aided by higher oil prices in 1999,   \\break Yemen worked to maintain tight control over spending and implement additional components of the IMF program.   \\break The high population growth rate of 3.4% and internal political dissension complicate the government's task.   ") 
( worldfact_00456 "The territory of Northern Rhodesia was administered by the South Africa Company from 1891 until takeover by the UK in 1923.   \\break During the 1920's and 1930's, advances in mining spurred development and immigration.   \\break The name was changed to Zambia upon independence in 1964.   \\break In the 1980's and 1990's, declining copper prices and a prolonged drought hurt the economy.   \\break Elections in 1991 brought an end to one party rule,   \\break but the subsequent vote in 1996 saw blatant harassment of opposition parties.   ")