Midas
3 of the 7 encyclopedias on this shelf carry an entry for Midas. Both are reproduced below, so you can see where they agree and where they differ.
Aiton's Encyclopedia (1910)
mi'das, in Greek mythology, a king of Phrygia. He was the son of Gordius, the same who tied the Gordian Knot, and of Cybele. Dionysus, the god, being under obligations, offered to grant Midas any request he might ask. Midas in his greed requested that whatever he touched might turn to gold. The request was granted. Midas found, however, that, when he undertook to drink, a cataract of gold poured from a golden cup. If he undertook to eat he found a lump of gold in his mouth. Even his clothing turned into golden armor. In his distress he begged the god to take back his gift. Dionysus told him to bathe in the river Pactolus. This he did. The sands of the river were celebrated ever afterwards for shining gold, and became the source of Croesus' wealth. Midas was called upon to decide whether the pipes of Pan or Apollo were the sweetest. He was unwise enough to decide the contest in favor of Pan; whereupon Apollo, as a punishment, gave Midas a pair of ass's ears. These he concealed from even his wife. His barber discovered the fact, and, being unable to keep a secret entirely to himself, ran and whispered it into a hole in the ground. A clump of reeds sprang up and whispered the secret abroad to the winds. The winds told it everywhere. Nathaniel Hawthorne has related the story of Midas in his Wonder Book under the title of The Golden Touch.
1000 Classical Characters (1900)
A king of Phrygias, son of Gordius or Gorgias . According to some traditions, in the early part of his life he found a treasure, to which he owed his greatness and opulence. He showed hospitality to Silenus, in return for which Bacchus permitted him to choose whatever recompense he pleased. He demanded of the god that whatever he touched might be turned into gold. His wish was granted, but when the very food which he attempted to eat became gold in his mouth he prayed Bacchus to revoke the favor, and he was ordered to wash himself in the river Pactolus, the sands of which were turned into gold by the touch of Midas. Afterward, in consequence of maintaining that Pan was superior to Apollo in singing and playing the flute, he had his ears changed into those of an ass by the god.
Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)
in Greek legend, a King of Phrygia, son of Gordius and Cybele, and pupil of Orpheus. For his kindness to Silenus he was promised by Dionysus whatever he should ask, and in G E C C A B H D la F MICROSCOPE A. Body E. Drawtube B. Stage F. Mirror C. Adjustments G. Eyepiece D. Substage containing H. Objective Condenser, Diaphragm, Stops, and Color Screens his folly he asked that everything he touched should become gold; but, as the very food he touched was at once changed into gold, he was soon fain to implore the god to take back his fatal gift. He was told to bathe in the sources of the Pactolus, and from that day to this its sands have yielded grains of gold. There are also several other legends concerning him .