Thithercamebyvariousrailsofsteepgradient，bytimber—shootsandcable—rails，byaerialcablesandprecipitatingtubes，wealthfromovergroundandunderit；forasourLandisallmountains，andasthesetoweruptotheclouds，transporttotheseashallbeeasyandoflittlecostwhenoncethemachineryisestablished。Aseverythingofmuchweightgoesdownward，thecarsofthemaintunneloftheportshallreturnupwardwithoutcost。Wecanhavefromthemountainsaheadofwaterundergoodcontrol，whichwillallowofendlesshydraulicpower，sothatthewholeportandthemechanismofthetowntowhichitwillgrowcanbeworkedbyit。
\"Thisworkcanbeputinhandatonce。Sosoonastheplaceshallbeperfectlysurveyedandtheengineeringplansgotready，wecanstartonthemaintunnel，workingfromthesea—levelup，sothatthecostofthetransportofmaterialwillbealmostnil。Thisworkcangoonwhilstthefortsarebuilding；notimeneedbelost。
\"Moreover，mayIaddawordonNationalDefence？Weare，thougholdinhonour，ayoungnationastoourplaceamongstGreatPowers。Andsowemustshowthecourageandenergyofayoungnation。TheEmpireoftheAirisnotyetwon。Whyshouldnotwemakeabidforit？Asourmountainsarelofty，soshallwehaveinitialpowerofattackordefence。Wecanhave，inchosenspotsamongsttheclouds，depotsofwaraeroplanes，withwhichwecandescendandsmiteourenemiesquicklyonlandorsea。WeshallhopetoliveforPeace；butwoetothosewhodriveustoWar！\"
ThereisnodoubtthattheVissarionsareawarlikerace。AsI
spoke，Teutatookoneofmyhandsandheldithard。TheoldVoivode，hiseyesblazing，roseandstoodbesidemeandtooktheother。Thetwooldfighting—menofthelandandtheseastoodupandsaluted。
Thiswasthebeginningofwhatultimatelybecame\"TheNationalCommitteeofDefenceandDevelopment。\"
Ihadother，andperhapsgreater，plansforthefutureinmymind；
butthetimehadnotcomefortheirutterance。
Tomeitseemsnotonlyadvisable，butnecessary，thattheutmostdiscretionbeobservedbyallourlittlegroup，atalleventsforthepresent。ThereseemstobesomenewuneasinessintheBlueMountains。ThereareconstantmeetingsofmembersoftheCouncil，butnoformalmeetingoftheCouncil，assuch，sincethelastoneatwhichIwaspresent。Thereisconstantcomingandgoingamongstthemountaineers，alwaysingroups，smallorlarge。TeutaandI，whohavebeenaboutverymuchontheaeroplane，havebothnoticedit。
Butsomehowwe——thatis，theVoivodeandmyself——areleftoutofeverything；butwehavenotsaidasyetawordonthesubjecttoanyoftheothers。TheVoivodenotices，buthesaysnothing；soIamsilent，andTeutadoeswhateverIask。SirColindoesnotnoticeanythingexcepttheworkheisengagedon——theplanningthedefencesoftheBlueMouth。Hisoldscientifictrainingasanengineer，andhisenormousexperienceofwarsandsieges——forhewasfornearlyfiftyyearssentasmilitaryrepresentativetoallthegreatwars——
seemtohavebecomedirectedonthatpoint。Heiscertainlyplanningitalloutinawonderfulway。HeconsultsRookealmosthourlyonthemaritimesideofthequestion。TheLordHighAdmiralhasbeenawatcherallhislife，andveryfewimportantpointshaveeverescapedhim，sothathecanaddgreatlytothewisdomofthedefensiveconstruction。Henotices，Ithink，thatsomethingisgoingonoutsideourselves；buthekeepsaresolutesilence。
WhatthemovementgoingonisIcannotguess。ItisnotliketheuneasinessthatwentbeforetheabductionofTeutaandtheVoivode，butitisevenmorepronounced。Thatwasanuneasinessfoundedonsomesuspicion。Thisisapositivething，andhasdefinitemeaning——
ofsomesort。Weshall，Isuppose，knowallaboutitingoodtime。
Inthemeantimewegoonwithourwork。HappilythewholeBlueMouthandthemountainsrounditareonmyownproperty，theportionacquiredlongagobyUncleRoger，exclusiveoftheVissarionestate。
IaskedtheVoivodetoallowmetotransferittohim，buthesternlyrefusedandforbademe，quiteperemptorily，toeveropenthesubjecttohimagain。\"Youhavedoneenoughalready，\"hesaid。\"WereItoallowyoutogofurther，Ishouldfeelmean。AndIdonotthinkyouwouldlikeyourwife’sfathertosufferthatfeelingafteralonglife，whichhehastriedtoliveinhonour。\"
Ibowed，andsaidnomore。Sotherethematterrests，andIhavetotakemyowncourse。Ihavehadasurveymade，andontheheadofittheTunneltotheharbourisbegun。
BOOKVIII：THEFLASHINGOFTHEHANDJAR
PRIVATEMEMORANDUMOFTHEMEETINGOFVARIOUSMEMBERSOFTHENATIONAL
COUNCIL，HELDATTHESTATEHOUSEOFTHEBLUEMOUNTAINSATPLAZACON
MONDAY，AUGUST26，1907。
（WrittenbyCristoferos，ScribeoftheCouncil，byinstructionofthosepresent。）
WhentheprivatemeetingofvariousMembersoftheNationalCouncilhadassembledintheCouncilHalloftheStateHouseatPlazac，itwasasapreliminarydecidedunanimouslythatnoworhereafternonamesofthosepresentweretobementioned，andthatofficialsappointedforthepurposesofthismeetingshouldbedesignatedbyofficeonly，thenamesofallbeingwithheld。
Theproceedingsassumedtheshapeofageneralconversation，quiteinformal，andthereforenottoberecorded。Thenettoutcomewastheunanimousexpressionofanopinionthatthetime，longcontemplatedbyverymanypersonsthroughoutthenation，hadnowcomewhentheConstitutionandmachineryoftheStateshouldbechanged；thatthepresentformofrulingbyanIrregularCouncilwasnotsufficient，andthatamethodmoreinaccordwiththespiritofthetimesshouldbeadopted。TothisendConstitutionalMonarchy，suchasthatholdinginGreatBritain，seemedbestadapted。Finally，itwasdecidedthateachMemberoftheCouncilshouldmakeapersonalcanvassofhisdistrict，talkoverthematterwithhiselectors，andbringbacktoanothermeeting——or，rather，asitwasamended，tothismeetingpostponedforaweek，untilSeptember2nd——theopinionsandwishesreceived。Beforeseparating，theindividualtobeappointedKing，incasethenewideashouldprovegratefultothenation，wasdiscussed。TheconsensusofopinionwasentirelytotheeffectthattheVoivodePeterVissarionshould，ifhewouldacceptthehighoffice，beappointed。Itwasurgedthat，ashisdaughter，theVoivodinTeuta，wasnowmarriedtotheEnglishman，RupertSentLeger—
—calledgenerallybythemountaineers\"theGospodarRupert\"——asuccessortofollowtheVoivodewhenGodshouldcallhimwouldbeathand——asuccessorworthyineverywaytosucceedtosoillustriousapost。Itwasurgedbyseveralspeakers，withgeneralacquiescence，thatalreadyMr。SentLeger’sservicestotheStateweresuchthathewouldbeinhimselfaworthypersontobeginthenewDynasty；butthat，ashewasnowalliedtotheVoivodePeterVissarion，itwasbecomingthattheelder，bornofthenation，shouldreceivethefirsthonour。
THESAME——Continued。
TheadjournedmeetingofcertainmembersoftheNationalCouncilwasresumedintheHalloftheStateHouseatPlazaconMonday，September2nd，1907。Bymotionthesamechairmanwasappointed，andtheruleregardingtherecordrenewed。
ReportsweremadebythevariousmembersoftheCouncilinturn，accordingtotheStateRoll。Everydistrictwasrepresented。ThereportswereunanimouslyinfavouroftheNewConstitution，anditwasreportedbyeachandalloftheCouncillorsthattheutmostenthusiasmmarkedineverycasethesuggestionoftheVoivodePeterVissarionasthefirstKingtobecrownedunderthenewConstitution，andthatremaindershouldbesettledontheGospodarRupert（themountaineerswouldonlyreceivehislawfulnameasanalternative；
oneandallsaidthathewouldbe\"Rupert\"tothemandtothenation—
—forever）。
Theabovematterhavingbeensatisfactorilysettled，itwasdecidedthataformalmeetingoftheNationalCouncilshouldbeheldattheStateHouse，Plazac，inoneweekfromto—day，andthattheVoivodePeterVissarionshouldbeaskedtobeintheStateHouseinreadinesstoattend。ItwasalsodecidedthatinstructionshouldbegiventotheHighCourtofNationalLawtoprepareandhaveready，inskeletonform，arescriptoftheNewConstitutiontobeadopted，thesametobefoundedontheConstitutionandProcedureofGreatBritain，sofarasthesamemaybeapplicabletothetraditionalideasoffreeGovernmentintheLandoftheBlueMountains。
Byunanimousvotethisprivateandirregularmeetingof\"VariousNationalCouncillors\"wasthendissolved。
RECORDOFTHEFIRSTMEETINGOFTHENATIONALCOUNCILOFTHELANDOF
THEBLUEMOUNTAINS，HELDATPLAZACONMONDAY，SEPTEMBER9TH，1907，TO
CONSIDERTHEADOPTIONOFANEWCONSTITUTION，ANDTOGIVEPERMANENT
EFFECTTOTHESAMEIF，ANDWHEN，DECIDEDUPON。
（KeptbytheMonkCristoferos，ScribetotheNationalCouncil。）
Theadjournedmeetingdulytookplaceasarranged。TherewasafullattendanceofMembersoftheCouncil，togetherwiththeVladika，theArchbishop，theArchimandritesofSpazac，ofIspazar，ofDomitan，andAstrag；theChancellor；theLordoftheExchequer；thePresidentoftheHighCourtofNationalLaw；thePresidentoftheCouncilofJustice；andsuchotherhighofficialsasitiscustomarytosummontomeetingsoftheNationalCouncilonoccasionsofgreatimportance。
Thenamesofallpresentwillbefoundinthefullreport，whereinaregiventheipsissimaverbaofthevariousutterancesmadeduringtheconsiderationofthequestionsdiscussed，thesamehavingbeentakendowninshorthandbythehumblescribeofthisprecis，whichhasbeenmadefortheconvenienceofMembersoftheCouncilandothers。
TheVoivodePeterVissarion，obedienttotherequestoftheCouncil，wasinattendanceattheStateHouse，waitinginthe\"ChamberoftheHighOfficers\"untilsuchtimeasheshouldbeaskedtocomebeforetheCouncil。
ThePresidentputbeforetheNationalCouncilthematterofthenewConstitution，outliningtheheadingsofitasdrawnupbytheHighCourtofNationalLaw，andtheConstitutionhavingbeenformallyacceptednem。con。bytheNationalCouncilonbehalfofthepeople，heproposedthattheCrownshouldbeofferedtotheVoivodePeterVissarion，withremaindertothe\"GospodarRupert\"（legally，RupertSentLeger），husbandofhisonlychild，theVoivodinTeuta。Thisalsowasreceivedwithenthusiasm，andpassednem。con。
ThereuponthePresidentofCouncil，theArchbishop，andtheVladika，actingtogetherasadeputation，wenttopraytheattentionoftheVoivodePeterVassarion。
WhentheVoivodeentered，thewholeCouncilandofficialsstoodup，andforafewsecondswaitedinrespectfulsilencewithheadsboweddown。Then，asifbyacommonimpulse——fornowordwasspokennoranysignalgiven——theyalldrewtheirhandjars，andstoodtoattention——withpointsraisedandedgesofthehandjarstothefront。
TheVoivodestoodverystill。Heseemedmuchmoved，butcontrolledhimselfadmirably。Theonlytimewhenbeseemedtolosehisself—
controlwaswhen，onceagainwithastrangesimultaneity，allpresentraisedtheirhandjarsonhigh，andshouted：\"Hail，Peter，King！\"
Thenloweringtheirpointstillthesealmosttouchedtheground，theyonceagainstoodwithbowedheads。
Whenhehadquitemasteredhimself，theVoivodePeterVissarionspoke：
\"HowcanI，mybrothers，sufficientlythankyou，and，throughyou，thepeopleoftheBlueMountains，forthehonourdonetomethisday？
Inverytruthitisnotpossible，andthereforeIprayyoutoconsideritasdone，measuringmygratitudeinthegreatnessofyourownhearts。Suchhonourasyouoffertomeisnotcontemplatedbyanymaninwhosemindawholesomesanityrules，norisiteventhedreamofferventimagination。Sogreatisit，thatIprayyou，menwithheartsandmindslikemyown，toextendtome，asafurthermeasureofyourgenerosity，alittletimetothinkitover。Ishallnotwantlong，forevenalready，withtheblazeofhonourfreshuponme，IseethecoolshadowofDuty，thoughhissubstanceisyethardlyvisible。Givemebutanhourofsolitude——anhouratmost——ifitdonotprolongthisyoursessionunduly。Itmaybethatalessertimewillserve，butinanycaseIpromiseyouthat，whenIcanseeajustandfittingissuetomythought，Ishallatoncereturn。\"
ThePresidentoftheCouncillookedaroundhim，and，seeingeverywherethebowingheadsofacquiescence，spokewithareverentgravity：
\"Weshallwaitinpatiencewhatsoevertimeyouwill，andmaytheGodwhorulesallworthyheartsguideyoutoHisWill！\"
AndsoinsilencetheVoivodepassedoutofthehall。
FrommyseatnearawindowIcouldwatchhimgo，aswithmeasuredstepshepassedupthehillwhichrisesbehindtheStateHouse，anddisappearedintotheshadowoftheforest。Thenmyworkclaimedme，forIwishedtorecordtheproceedingssofarwhilstallwasfreshinmymind。Insilence，asofthedead，theCouncilwaited，nomanchallengingopinionofhisneighbourevenbyaglance。
AlmostafullhourhadelapsedwhentheVoivodecameagaintotheCouncil，movingwithslowandstatelygravity，ashasalwaysbeenhiswontsinceagebegantohamperthemovementwhichinyouthhadbeensonotable。TheMembersoftheCouncilallstoodupuncovered，andsoremainedwhilehemadeannouncementofhisconclusion。Hespokeslowly；andashisanswerwastobeavaluedrecordofthisLandanditsRace，Iwrotedowneverywordasuttered，leavinghereandtherespacefordescriptionorcomment，whichspacesIhavesincethenfilledin。
\"LordsoftheNationalCouncil，Archbishop，Vladika，LordsoftheCouncilofJusticeandofNationalLaw，Archimandrites，andmybrothersall，Ihave，sinceIleftyou，heldinthesolitudeoftheforestcounselwithmyself——andwithGod；andHe，inHisgraciouswisdom，hasledmythinkingtothatconclusionwhichwasfromthefirstmomentofknowledgeofyourintentpresagedinmyheart。
Brothers，youknow——orelsealonglifehasbeenspentinvain——thatmyheartandmindareallforthenation——myexperience，mylife，myhandjar。Andwhenallisforher，whyshouldIshrinktoexerciseonherbehalfmyriperjudgmentthoughthesameshouldhavetocombatmyownambition？Fortencenturiesmyracehasnotfailedinitsduty。
AgesagothemenofthattimetrustedinthehandsofmyancestorstheKingship，evenasnowyou，theirchildren，trustme。Buttomeitwouldbebasetobetraythattrust，evenbythesmallesttittle。
ThatwouldIdowereItotakethehonourofthecrownwhichyouhavetenderedtome，solongasthereisanothermoreworthytowearit。
Weretherenoneother，Ishouldplacemyselfinyourhands，andyieldmyselfovertoblindobedienceofyourdesires。Butsuchanonethereis；deartoyoualreadybyhisowndeeds，nowdoublydeartome，sinceheismysonbymydaughter’slove。Heisyoung，whereasI
amold。Heisstrongandbraveandtrue；butmydaysoftheusefulnessofstrengthandbraveryareover。Formyself，Ihavelongcontemplatedasthecrownofmylateryearsaquietlifeinoneofourmonasteries，whereIcanstillwatchthewhirloftheworldaroundusonyourbehalf，andbeacounsellorofyoungermenofmoreactiveminds。Brothers，weareenteringonstirringtimes。Icanseethesignsoftheircomingallaroundus。NorthandSouth——theOldOrderandtheNew，areabouttoclash，andweliebetweentheopposingforces。TrueitisthattheTurk，afterwarringforathousandyears，isfadingintoinsignificance。ButfromtheNorthwhereconquestsspring，havecrepttowardsourBalkansthemenofamightiercompositePower。Theirmarchhasbeensteady；andastheycame，theyfortifiedeverystepoftheway。Nowtheyareharduponus，andarealreadybeginningtoswallowuptheregionsthatwehavehelpedtowinfromthedominionofMahound。TheAustrianisatourverygates。BeatenbackbytheIrredentistsofItaly，shehassoenmeshedherselfwiththeGreatPowersofEuropethatsheseemsforthemomenttobeimpregnabletoafoeofourstature。Thereisbutonehopeforus——theunitingoftheBalkanforcestoturnamasterlyfronttoNorthandWestaswellastoSouthandEast。Isthatataskforoldhandstoundertake？No；thehandsmustbeyoungandsupple；
andthebrainsubtle，aswellastheheartbestrong，ofwhomsoeverwoulddaresuchanaccomplishment。ShouldIacceptthecrown，itwouldonlypostponethedoingofthatwhichmustultimatelybedone。
Whatavailwoulditbeif，whenthedarknessclosesoverme，mydaughtershouldbeQueenConsorttothefirstKingofanewdynasty？
Youknowthisman，andfromyourrecordIlearnthatyouarealreadywillingtohavehimasKingtofollowme。Whynotbeginwithhim？
Hecomesofagreatnation，whereintheprincipleoffreedomisavitalprinciplethatquickensallthings。Thatnationhasmorethanonceshowntousitsfriendliness；anddoubtlesstheveryfactthatanEnglishmanwouldbecomeourKing，andcouldcarryintoourGovernmentthespiritandcustomswhichhavemadehisowncountrygreat，woulddomuchtorestoretheoldfriendship，andeventocreateanewone，whichwouldintimesoftroublebringBritishfleetstoourwaters，andBritishbayonetstosupportourownhandjars。Itiswithinmyownknowledge，thoughasyetunannouncedtoyou，thatRupertSentLegerhasalreadyobtainedapatent，signedbytheKingofEnglandhimself，allowinghimtobedenaturalizedinEngland，sothathecanatonceapplyfornaturalizationhere。I
knowalsothathehasbroughthitheravastfortune，byaidofwhichheisbeginningtostrengthenourhandsforwar，incasethatsadeventualityshouldarise。WitnesshislateorderingtobebuiltnineotherwarshipsoftheclassthathasalreadydonesucheffectiveserviceinoverthrowingtheTurk——orthepirate，whicheverhemayhavebeen。HehasundertakenthedefenceoftheBlueMouthathisowncostinawaywhichwillmakeitstrongerthanGibraltar，andsecureusagainstwhateverusetowhichtheAustrianmayapplythevastforcesalreadygatheredintheBocchediCattaro。Heisalreadyfoundingaerialstationsonourhighestpeaksforuseofthewaraeroplaneswhicharebeingbuiltforhim。Itissuchamanasthiswhomakesanationgreat；andrightsureIamthatinhishandsthissplendidlandandournoble，freedom—lovingpeoplewillflourishandbecomeapowerintheworld。Then，brothers，letme，asonetowhomthisnationanditshistoryanditsfuturearedear，askyoutogivetothehusbandofmydaughterthehonourwhichyouwouldconferonme。ForherIcanspeakaswellasformyself。Sheshallsuffernothingindignityeither。WereIindeedKing，she，asmydaughter，wouldbeaPrincessoftheworld。Asitwillbe，sheshallbecompanionandQueenofagreatKing，andherrace，whichismine，shallflourishinallthelustreofthenewDynasty。
\"Thereforeonallaccounts，mybrothers，forthesakeofourdearLandoftheBlueMountains，maketheGospodarRupert，whohassoprovedhimself，yourKing。Andmakemehappyinmyretirementtothecloister。\"
WhentheVoivodeceasedtospeak，allstillremainedsilentandstanding。Buttherewasnomistakingtheiracquiescenceinhismostgenerousprayer。ThePresidentoftheCouncilwellinterpretedthegeneralwishwhenhesaid：
\"LordsoftheNationalCouncil，Archbishop，Vladika，LordsoftheCouncilsofJusticeandNationalLaw，Archimandrites，andallwhoarepresent，isitagreedthatweprepareatleisureafittingreplytotheVoivodePeterofthehistoricHouseofVissarion，statingouragreementwithhiswish？\"
Towhichtherewasaunanimousanswer：
\"Itis。\"Hewenton：
\"Further。ShallweasktheGospodarRupertoftheHouseofSentLeger，alliedthroughhismarriagetotheVoivodinTeuta，daughterandonlychildoftheVoivodePeterofVissarion，tocomehitherto—
morrow？Andthat，whenheisamongstus，weconferonhimtheCrownandKingshipoftheLandoftheBlueMountains？\"
Againcametheanswer：\"Itis。\"
Butthistimeitrangoutlikethesoundofagigantictrumpet，andthehandjarsflashed。
Whereuponthesessionwasadjournedforthespaceofaday。
THESAME——Continued。
September10，1907。
WhentheNationalCouncilmetto—daytheVoivodePeterVissarionsatwiththem，butwellback，sothatatfirsthispresencewashardlynoticeable。Afterthenecessarypreliminarieshadbeengonethrough，theyrequestedthepresenceoftheGospodarRupert——Mr。RupertSentLeger——whowasreportedaswaitinginthe\"ChamberoftheHighOfficers。\"HeatonceaccompaniedbacktotheHallthedeputationsenttoconducthim。AshemadehisappearanceinthedoorwaytheCouncillorsstoodup。Therewasaburstofenthusiasm，andthehandjarsflashed。Foraninstanthestoodsilent，withliftedhand，asthoughindicatingthathewishedtospeak。Sosoonasthiswasrecognized，silencefellontheassembly，andhespoke：
\"Iprayyou，maytheVoivodinTeutaofVissarion，whohasaccompaniedmehither，appearwithmetohearyourwishes？\"Therewasanimmediateandenthusiasticacquiescence，and，afterbowinghisthanks，heretiredtoconducther。
HerappearancewasreceivedwithanovationsimilartothatgiventoGospodarRupert，towhichshebowedwithdignifiedsweetness。She，withherhusband，wasconductedtothetopoftheHallbythePresident，whocamedowntoescortthem。InthemeantimeanotherchairhadbeenplacedbesidethatpreparedfortheGospodar，andthesetwosat。
ThePresidentthenmadetheformalstatementconveyingtothe\"GospodarRupert\"thewishesoftheCouncil，onbehalfofthenation，tooffertohimtheCrownandKingshipoftheLandoftheBlueMountains。ThemessagewascouchedinalmostthesamewordsashadbeenusedthepreviousdayinmakingtheoffertotheVoivodePeterVissarion，onlydifferingtomeetthespecialcircumstances。TheGospodarRupertlistenedingravesilence。Thewholethingwasmanifestlyquitenewtohim，buthepreservedaself—controlwonderfulunderthecircumstances。When，havingbeenmadeawareofthepreviousoffertotheVoivodeandthedeclaredwishofthelatter，herosetospeak，therewasstillnessintheHall。Hecommencedwithafewbrokenwordsofthanks；thenhegrewsuddenlyandstrangelycalmashewenton：
\"ButbeforeIcanevenattempttomakeafittingreply，IshouldknowifitiscontemplatedtojoinwithmeinthisgreathonourmydearwifetheVoivodinTeutaofVissarion，whohassosplendidlyprovedherworthinesstoholdanyplaceinthegovernmentoftheLand。I
fainwould……\"
HewasinterruptedbytheVoivodin，who，standingupbesidehimandholdinghisleftarm，said：
\"Donot，President，andLordsall，thinkmewantinginthatrespectofawifeforhusbandwhichintheBlueMountainsweholdsodear，ifIventuretointerruptmylord。Iamhere，notmerelyasawife，butasVoivodinofVissarion，andbythememoryofallthenoblewomenofthatnoblelineIfeelconstrainedtoagreatduty。WewomenofVissarion，inallthehistoryofcenturies，haveneverputourselvesforwardinrivalryofourlords。WellIknowthatmyowndearlordwillforgivemeaswifeifIerr；butIspeaktoyou，theCouncilofthenation，fromanothergroundandwithanothertongue。Mylorddoesnot，Ifear，knowasyoudo，andasIdotoo，thatofold，inthehistoryofthisLand，whenKingshipwasexistent，thatitwasruledbythatlawofmasculinesupremacywhich，centuriesafter，becameknownastheLexSalica。LordsoftheCounciloftheBlueMountains，IamawifeoftheBlueMountains——asawifeyoungasyet，butwiththebloodoffortygenerationsofloyalwomeninmyveins。
Anditwouldillbecomeme，whommyhusbandhonours——wifetothemanwhomyouwouldhonour——totakeapartinchangingtheancientcustomwhichhasbeenheldinhonourforallthethousandyears，whichisthegloryofBlueMountainwomanhood。Whatanexamplesuchwouldbeinanagewhenself—seekingwomenofothernationsseektoforgettheirwomanhoodinthestruggletovieinequalitywithmen！MenoftheBlueMountains，IspeakforourwomenwhenIsaythatweholdofgreatestpricethegloryofourmen。Tobetheircompanionsisourhappiness；tobetheirwivesisthecompletionofourlives；tobemothersoftheirchildrenisourshareoftheglorythatistheirs。
\"Therefore，Iprayyou，menoftheBlueMountains，letmebutbeasanyotherwifeinourland，equaltothemindomestichappiness，whichisourwoman’ssphere；andifthatpricelesshonourmaybevouchsafedtome，andIbeworthyandabletobearit，anexemplarofwoman’srectitude。\"Withalow，modest，gracefulbow，shesatdown。
TherewasnodoubtastothereceptionofherrenunciationofQueenlydignity。Therewasmorehonourtoherinthequick，fierceshoutwhicharose，andtheunanimousupwardswingofthehandjars，thaninthewearingofanycrownwhichcouldadorntheheadofwoman。
ThespontaneousactionoftheGospodarRupertwasanothersourceofjoytoall——afittingcorollarytowhathadgonebefore。Herosetohisfeet，and，takinghiswifeinhisarms，kissedherbeforeall。
Thentheysatdown，withtheirchairsclose，bashfullyholdinghandslikeapairoflovers。
ThenRupertarose——heisRupertnow；nolessernameisonthelipsofhispeoplehenceforth。Withanintenseearnestnesswhichseemedtoglowinhisface，hesaidsimply：
\"WhatcanIsayexceptthatIaminallways，nowandforever，obedienttoyourwishes？\"Then，raisinghishandjarandholdingitbeforehim，hekissedthehilt，saying：
\"HerebyIsweartobehonestandjust——tobe，Godhelpingme，suchaKingasyouwouldwish——insofarasthestrengthisgivenme。
Amen。\"
ThisendedthebusinessoftheSession，andtheCouncilshowedunmeasureddelight。Againandagainthehandjarsflashed，asthecheersrose\"threetimesthree\"inBritishfashion。
WhenRupert——IamtoldImustnotwritehimdownas\"KingRupert\"
untilaftertheformalcrowning，whichisordainedforWednesday，October16th，——andTeutahadwithdrawn，theVoivodePeterVissarion，thePresidentandCouncilconferredincommitteewiththePresidentsoftheHighCourtsofNationalLawandofJusticeastotheformalitiestobeobservedinthecrowningoftheKing，andoftheformalnotificationtohegiventoforeignPowers。Theseproceedingskeptthemfarintothenight。
FROM\"TheLondonMessenger。\"
CORONATIONFESTIVITIESOFTHEBLUEMOUNTAINS。
（FromourSpecialCorrespondent。）
PLAZAC，October14，1907。