AsIsatdowntoapoorly—equippedluncheon—tableonboardtheAustro—OrientlinerFranzJoseph，Imournedinmyheart（andImaysayincidentallyinotherportionsofmyinternaleconomy）thecomfortandgastronomicluxuryoftheKingandEmperorHotelatTrieste。Abriefcomparisonbetweenthemenusofto—day’slunchandyesterday’swillaffordtothereaderastrikingobject—lesson：
Trieste。Steamer。
Eggsalacocotte。Scrambledeggsontoast。
Stewedchicken，withpaprika。jColdchicken。
DevilledslicesofWestphalianhamColdham。
（boiledinwine）。Bismarckherrings。
Tunnyfish，pickled。Stewedapples。
Rice，burstincream。Swisscheese。
Guavajelly。
Consequence：YesterdayIwaswellandhappy，andlookedforwardtoagoodnight’ssleep，whichcameoff。To—dayIamdullandheavy，alsorestless，andIamconvincedthatatsleeping—timemyliverwillhaveitallitsownway。
ThejourneytoRagusa，andthencetoPlazac，iswritlargewithapigmentofmiseryonatleastonehumanheart。Letasilencefalluponit！InsuchwiseonlycanJusticeandMercyjoinhands。
Plazacisamiserableplace。Thereisnotadecenthotelinit。ItwasperhapsonthisaccountthatthenewKing，Rupert，haderectedfortheallegedconvenienceofhisguestsofthePressaseriesoflargetemporaryhotels，suchaswereinevidenceattheSt。LouisExposition。Hereeachguestwasgivenaroomtohimself，somewhatafterthenatureofthecribsinaRowtonhouse。FrommyfirstnightinitIamabletospeakfromexperienceofthesufferingsofaprisonerofthethirdclass。Iam，however，boundtosaythatthediningandreceptionroomswere，thoughuncomfortablyplain，adequatefortemporaryuse。Happilyweshallnothavetoenduremanymoremealshere，asto—morrowwealldinewiththeKingintheStateHouse；andasthecuisineisunderthecontrolofthatcordonbleu，GastondeFauxPas，whosolongcontrolledthegastronomic（wemightalmostsayGastonomic）destiniesoftheRoisdesDiamantsinthePlaceVendome，wemay，Ithink，lookforwardtonotgoingtobedhungry。Indeed，theanticipationsformedfromasurveyofourmeagresleepingaccommodationwerenotrealizedatdinnertimeto—night。Toourintenseastonishment，anexcellentdinnerwasserved，though，tobesure，thecolddishespredominated（athingIalwaysfindbadforone’sliver）。Justaswewerefinishing，theKing（nominated）cameamongstusinquiteaninformalway，and，havingbiddenusaheartywelcome，askedthatweshoulddrinkaglassofwinetogether。Thiswedidinanexcellent（ifrathersweet）glassofCliquot’93。KingRupert（nominated）thenaskedustoresumeourseats。Hewalkedbetweenthetables，nowandagainrecognizingsomejournalisticfriendwhomhehadmetearlyinlifeinhisdaysofadventure。Themenspokentoseemedvastlypleased——withthemselvesprobably。
Prettybadformofthem，Icallit！Formyself，IwasgladIhadnotpreviouslymethiminthesamecasualway，asitsavedmefromwhatI
shouldhavefeltahumiliation——thebeingpatronizedinthatpublicwaybyaprospectiveKingwhohadnot（inaCourtsense）beenborn。
Thewriter，whoisbyprofessionabarrister—at—law，issatisfiedatbeinghimselfacountygentlemanandheirtoanhistoricestateintheancientcountyofSalop，whichcanboastalargerpopulationthantheLandoftheBlueMountains。
EDITORIALNOTE。——Wemustaskourreaderstopardonthereportinyesterday’spapersentfromPlazac。Thewriterwasnotonourregularstaff，butaskedtobeallowedtowritethereport，ashewasakinsmanofKingRupertoftheBlueMountains，andwouldthereforebeinapositiontoobtainspecialinformationandfacilitiesofdescription\"frominside，\"asheputsit。Onreadingthepaper，wecabledhisrecall；wecabledalso，incasehedidnotobey，tohavehisejectmenteffectedforthwith。
WehavealsocabledMr。MordredBooth，thewell—knowncorrespondent，whowas，toourknowledge，inPlazacforhisownpurposes，tosendusfull（andproper）details。Wetakeitourreaderswillpreferagraphicaccountoftheceremonytoafarragoofcheapmenus，commentsonhisownliver，andabelittlingofanEnglishmanofsuchnoblecharacterandachievementsthatarisingnationhaschosenhimfortheirKing，andonewhomourownnationlovestohonour。Weshallnot，ofcourse，mentionourabortivecorrespondent’sname，unlesscompelledtheretobyanyfutureutteranceofhis。
FROM\"TheLondonMessenger。\"
THECORONATIONOFKINGRUPERTOFTHEBLUEMOUNTAINS。
（ByourSpecialCorrespondent，MordredBooth。）
PLAZAC，October17，1907。
Plazacdoesnotboastofacathedraloranychurchofsufficientdimensionsforacoronationceremonyonanadequatescale。ItwasthereforedecidedbytheNationalCouncil，withtheconsentoftheKing，thatitshouldbeheldattheoldchurchofSt。SavaatVissarion——theformerhomeoftheQueen。Accordingly，arrangementshadbeenmadetobringthitheronthewarshipsonthemorningofthecoronationthewholeofthenation’sguests。InSt。Sava’sthereligiousceremonywouldtakeplace，afterwhichtherewouldbeabanquetintheCastleofVissarion。TheguestswouldthenreturnonthewarshipstoPlazac，wherewouldbeheldwhatiscalledherethe\"NationalCoronation。\"
IntheLandoftheBlueMountainsitwascustomaryintheolddays，whentherewereKings，tohavetwoceremonies——onecarriedoutbytheofficialheadofthenationalChurch，theGreekChurch；theotherbythepeopleinaritualadoptedbythemselves，onmuchthesamebasisastheGermanicFolk—Moot。TheBlueMountainsisanationofstrangelyloyaltendencies。Whatwasathousandyearsagoistobeto—day——sofar，ofcourse，asispossibleunderthealteredconditionofthings。
ThechurchofSt。Savaisveryoldandverybeautiful，builtinthemannerofoldGreekchurches，fullofmonumentsofbygoneworthiesoftheBlueMountains。But，ofcourse，neitheritnortheceremonyheldinitto—daycancompareinsplendourwithcertainotherceremonials—
—forinstance，thecoronationofthepenultimateCzarinMoscow，ofAlfonsoXII。inMadrid，ofCarlosI。inLisbon。
ThechurchwasarrangedmuchafterthefashionofWestminsterAbbeyforthecoronationofKingEdwardVII。，though，ofcourse，notsomanypersonspresent，norsomuchindividualsplendour。Indeed，thenumberofthosepresent，outsidethoseofficiallyconcernedandthePressoftheworld，wasveryfew。
Themoststrikingfigurepresent——nexttoKingRupert，whoissevenfeethighandamagnificentman——wastheQueenConsort，Teuta。Shesatinfrontofasmallgalleryerectedforthepurposejustoppositethethrone。Sheisastrikinglybeautifulwoman，tallandfinely—
formed，withjet—blackhairandeyeslikeblackdiamonds，butwiththeuniquequalitythattherearestarsinthemwhichseemtotakevariedcolouraccordingtoeachstrongemotion。Butitwasnotevenherbeautyorthestarsinhereyeswhichdrewthefirstglanceofall。Thesedetailsshowedonscrutiny，butfromafarofftheattractivepointwasherdress。Surelyneverbeforedidwoman，besheQueenorpeasant，wearsuchacostumeonafestiveoccasion。
ShewasdressedinawhiteShroud，andinthatonly。Ihadheardsomethingofthestorywhichgoesbehindthatstrangecostume，andshalllateronsendittoyou。{2}
Whentheprocessionenteredthechurchthroughthegreatwesterndoor，thenationalsongoftheBlueMountains，\"Guideourfeetthroughdarkness，OJehovah，\"wassungbyanunseenchoir，inwhichtheorgan，supplementedbymartialinstruments，joined。TheArchbishopwasrobedinreadinessbeforethealtar，andclosearoundhimstoodtheArchimandritesofthefourgreatmonasteries。TheVladikastoodinfrontoftheMembersoftheNationalCouncil。A
littletoonesideofthisbodywasagroupofhighofficials，PresidentsoftheCouncilsofNationalLawandJustice，theChancellor，etc。——allinsplendidrobesofgreatantiquity——theHighMarshalloftheForcesandtheLordhighAdmiral。
Whenallwasreadyfortheceremonialactofcoronation，theArchbishopraisedhishand，whereuponthemusicceased。Turningaround，sothathefacedtheQueen，whothereonstoodup，theKingdrewhishandjarandsalutedherinBlueMountainfashion——thepointraisedashighpossible，andthendroppeddowntillitalmosttouchestheground。Everymaninthechurch，ecclesiasticsandall，wearthehandjar，and，followingtheKingbytheintervalofasecond，theirweaponsflashedout。Therewassomethingsymbolic，aswellastouching，inthistrulyroyalsalute，ledbytheKing。Hishandjarisamightyblade，andheldhighinthehandsofamanofhisstature，itovertoweredeverythinginthechurch。Itwasaninspiritingsight。Noonewhosawwilleverforgetthatnobleflashingofbladesinthethousand—year—oldsalute……
Thecoronationwasshort，simple，andimpressive。RupertkneltwhilsttheArchbishop，afterashort，ferventprayer，placedonhisheadthebronzecrownofthefirstKingoftheBlueMountains，Peter。
ThiswashandedtohimbytheVladika，towhomitwasbroughtfromtheNationalTreasurybyaprocessionofthehighofficers。A
blessingofthenewKingandhisQueenTeutaconcludedtheceremony。
Rupert’sfirstactonrisingfromhiskneeswastodrawhishandjarandsalutehispeople。
AftertheceremonyinSt。Sava，theprocessionwasreformed，andtookitswaytotheCastleofVissarion，whichissomedistanceoffacrossapicturesquecreek，boundedoneithersidebynoblecliffsofvastheight。TheKingledtheway，theQueenwalkingwithhimandholdinghishand……TheCastleofVissarionisofgreatantiquity，andpicturesquebeyondbelief。Iamsendinglateron，asaspecialarticle，adescriptionofit……
The\"CoronationFeast，\"asitwascalledonthemenu，washeldintheGreatHall，whichisofnobleproportions。Ienclosecopyofthemenu，asourreadersmaywishtoknowsomethingofthedetailsofsuchafeastinthispartoftheworld。
Onefeatureofthebanquetwasspeciallynoticeable。AstheNationalOfficialswereguestsoftheKingandQueen，theywerewaitedonandservedbytheKingandQueeninperson。Therestoftheguests，includingusofthePress，wereservedbytheKing’shousehold，nottheservants——noneofthatcultwerevisible——butbytheladiesandgentlemenoftheCourt。
Therewasonlyonetoast，andthatwasgivenbytheKing，allstanding：\"TheLandoftheBlueMountains，andmaywealldoourdutytotheLandwelove！\"Beforedrinking，hismightyhandjarflashedoutagain，andinaninstanteverytableatwhichtheBlueMountaineerssatwasringedwithflashingsteel。Imayaddparentheticallythatthehandjarisessentiallythenationalweapon。
IdonotknowiftheBlueMountaineerstakeittobedwiththem，buttheycertainlyweariteverywhereelse。Itsdrawingseemstoemphasizeeverythinginnationallife……
Weembarkedagainonthewarships——oneahuge，steel—platedDreadnought，uptodateineveryparticular，theotheranarmouredyachtmostcompleteineveryway，andofuniquespeed。TheKingandQueen，theLordsoftheCouncil，togetherwiththevarioushighecclesiasticsandgreatofficials，wentontheyacht，whichtheLordHighAdmiral，amanofremarkablymasterfulphysiognomy，himselfsteered。TherestofthosepresentattheCoronationcameonthewarship。Thelatterwentfast，buttheyachtshowedherheelsalltheway。However，theKing’spartywaitedinthedockintheBlueMouth。Fromthisanewcable—linetookusalltotheStateHouseatPlazac。Heretheprocessionwasreformed，andwounditswaytoabarehillintheimmediatevicinity。TheKingandQueen——theKingstillwearingtheancientbronzecrownwithwhichtheArchbishophadinvestedhimatSt。Sava’s——theArchbishop，theVladika，andthefourArchimandritesstoodtogetheratthetopofthehill，theKingandQueenbeing，ofcourse，inthefront。Acourteousyounggentleman，towhomIhadbeenaccreditedatthebeginningoftheday——allguestsweresoattended——explainedtomethat，asthiswasthenationalasopposedtothereligiousceremony，theVladika，whoistheofficialrepresentativeofthelaity，tookcommandhere。Theecclesiasticswereputprominentlyforward，simplyoutofcourtesy，inobediencetothewishofthepeople，bywhomtheywereallgreatlybeloved。
Thencommencedanotheruniqueceremony，which，indeed，mightwellfindaplaceinourWesterncountries。Asfaraseverwecouldseeweremassesofmenroughlygrouped，notinanyuniform，butallinnationalcostume，andarmedonlywiththehandjar。InthefrontofeachofthesegroupsorbodiesstoodtheNationalCouncillorforthatdistrict，distinguishablebyhisofficialrobeandchain。Therewereinallseventeenofthesebodies。Thesewereunequalinnumbers，someofthempredominatingenormouslyoverothers，as，indeed，mightbeexpectedinsomountainousacountry。Inalltherewerepresent，Iwastold，overahundredthousandmen。SofarasIcanjudgefromlongexperienceoflookingatgreatbodiesofmen，theestimatewasajustone。Iwasalittlesurprisedtoseesomany，forthepopulationoftheBlueMountainsisneveraccreditedinbooksofgeographyasalargeone。WhenImadeinquiryastohowthefrontierguardwasbeingforthetimemaintained，Iwastold：
\"Bythewomenmainly。But，allthesame，wehavealsoamaleguardwhichcoversthewholefrontierexceptthattoseaward。Eachmanhaswithhimsixwomen，sothatthewholelineisunbroken。Moreover，sir，youmustbearinmindthatintheBlueMountainsourwomenaretrainedtoarmsaswellasourmen——ay，andtheycouldgiveagoodaccountofthemselves，too，againstanyfoethatshouldassailus。
Ourhistoryshowswhatwomencandoindefence。Itellyou，theTurkishpopulationwouldbebiggerto—daybutforthewomenwhoonourfrontierfoughtofoldfordefenceoftheirhomes！\"
\"Nowonderthisnationhaskeptherfreedomforathousandyears！\"I
said。
AtasignalgivenbythePresidentoftheNationalCounciloneoftheDivisionsmovedforwards。Itwasnotanordinarymovement，butanintenserushmadewithalltheelanandvigourofhardyandhighly—
trainedmen。Theycameon，notmerelyatthedouble，butasifdeliveringanattack。Handjarinhand，theyrushedforward。Icanonlycomparetheirrushtoanartillerychargeortoanattackofmassedcavalrybattalions。ItwasmyfortunetoseetheformeratMagentaandthelatteratSadowa，sothatIknowwhatsuchillustrationmeans。ImayalsosaythatIsawthereliefcolumnwhichRobertsorganizedrushthroughatownonitswaytorelieveMafeking；andnoonewhohadthedelightofseeingthatinspiringprogressofaflyingarmyontheirwaytorelievetheircomradesneedstobetoldwhatarushofarmedmencanbe。Withspeedwhichwassimplydesperatetheyranupthehill，and，circlingtotheleft，madearingroundthetopmostplateau，wherestoodtheKing。Whentheringwascomplete，thestreamwentonlappingroundandroundtillthewholetallywasexhausted。InthemeantimeanotherDivisionhadfollowed，itsleaderjoiningclosebehindtheendofthefirst。
Thencameanotherandanother。Anunbrokenlinecircledandcircledroundthehillinseemingendlessarray，tillthewholeslopesweremassedwithmovingmen，darkincolour，andwithcountlessglitteringpointseverywhere。WhenthewholeoftheDivisionshadthussurroundedtheKing，therewasamoment’shush——asilencesostillthatitalmostseemedasifNaturestoodstillalso。Wewholookedonwerealmostafraidtobreathe。
Thensuddenly，without，sofarasIcouldsee，anyfuglemanorwordofcommand，thehandjarsofallthatmightyarrayofmenflashedupwardasone，andlikethunderpealedtheNationalcry：
\"TheBlueMountainsandDuty！\"
Afterthecrytherewasastrangesubsidencewhichmadetheonlookerrubhiseyes。Itseemedasthoughthewholemassoffightingmenhadpartiallysunkintotheground。Thenthesplendidtruthburstuponus——thewholenationwaskneelingatthefeetoftheirchosenKing，whostoodupright。
Anothermomentofsilence，asKingRupert，takingoffhiscrown，helditupinhislefthand，and，holdinghisgreathandjarhighinhisright，criedinavoicesostrongthatitcameringingoverthatserriedmasslikeatrumpet：
\"ToFreedomofourNation，andtoFreedomwithinit，Idedicatetheseandmyself。Iswear！\"
Sosaying，he，too，sankonhisknees，whilstweallinstinctivelyuncovered。
Thesilencewhichfollowedlastedseveralseconds；then，withoutasign，asthoughoneandallactedinstinctively，thewholebodystoodup。Thereuponwasexecutedamovementwhich，withallmyexperienceofsoldiersandwar，Ineversawequalled——notwiththeRussianRoyalGuardsalutingtheCzarathisCoronation，notwithanimpiofCetewayo’sZuluswhirlingthroughtheopeningofakraal。
Forasecondortwothewholemassseemedtowritheorshudder，andthen，lo！thewholeDistrictDivisionsweremassedagainincompleteness，itsCouncillorsnexttheKing，andtheDivisionsradiatingoutwardsdownthehilllikewedges。
Thiscompletedtheceremony，andeverythingbrokeupintounits。
Later，IwastoldbymyofficialfriendthattheKing’slastmovement——theoathashesanktohisknees——wasaninnovationofhisown。AllIcansayis，if，inthefuture，andforalltime，itisnottakenforaprecedent，andmadeanimportantpartofthePatrioticCoronationceremony，theBlueMountaineerswillprovethemselvestobeamuchmorestupidpeoplethantheyseematpresenttobe。
TheconclusionoftheCoronationfestivitieswasatimeofunalloyedjoy。ItwasthebanquetgiventotheKingandQueenbythenation；
theguestsofthenationwereincludedintheroyalparty。Itwasauniqueceremony。Fancyapicnic—partyofahundredthousandpersons，nearlyallmen。Theremusthavebeenmadebeforehandvastandelaboratepreparations，ramifyingthroughthewholenation。Eachsectionhadbroughtprovisionssufficientfortheirownconsumptioninadditiontoseveralspecialdishesfortheguest—tables；butthecontributionofeachsectionwasnotconsumedbyitsownmembers。
Itwasevidentlyapartoftheschemethatallshouldderivefromacommonstock，sothatthefeelingofbrotherhoodandcommonpropertyshouldbepreservedinthismonumentalfashion。
Theguest—tablesweretheonlytablestobeseen。Thebulkofthefeasterssatontheground。Thetableswerebroughtforwardbythementhemselves——nosuchthingasdomesticservicewasknownonthisday——fromawoodcloseathand，wheretheyandthechairshadbeenplacedinreadiness。Thelinenandcrockeryusedhadbeensentforthepurposefromthehouseholdsofeverytownandvillage。Theflowerswerepluckedinthemountainsearlythatmorningbythechildren，andthegoldandsilverplateusedforadornmentweresuppliedfromthechurches。Eachdishattheguest—tableswasservedbythemenofeachsectioninturn。
Overthewholearrayseemedtobespreadanatmosphereofjoyousness，ofpeace，ofbrotherhood。Itwouldbeimpossibletoadequatelydescribethatamazingscene，awholenationofsplendidmensurroundingtheirnewKingandQueen，lovingtohonourandservethem。Scatteredaboutthroughthatvastcrowdweregroupsofmusicians，chosenfromamongstthemselves。Thespacecoveredbythistitanicpicnicwassovastthattherewerefewspotsfromwhichyoucouldhearmusicproceedingfromdifferentquarters。
Afterdinnerweallsatandsmoked；themusicbecamerathervocalthaninstrumental——indeed，presentlywedidnothearthesoundofanyinstrumentatall。OnlyknowingafewwordsofBalkan，Icouldnotfollowthemeaningsofthesongs，butIgatheredthattheywerealllegendaryorhistorical。Tothosewhocouldunderstand，asIwasinformedbymytutelaryyoungfriend，whostayedbesidemethewholeofthismemorableday，wewerelisteningtothehistoryoftheLandoftheBlueMountainsinballadform。Somewhereorotherthroughoutthatvastconcourseeachnotablerecordoftencenturieswasbeingtoldtoeagerears。
Itwasnowlateintheday。SlowlythesunhadbeendroppingdownovertheCalabrianMountains，andtheglamoroustwilightwasstealingovertheimmediatescene。Nooneseemedtonoticethecomingofthedark，whichstoledownonuswithanunspeakablemystery。Forlongwesatstill，theclatterofmanytonguesbecomingstilledintothewitcheryofthescene。Lowerthesunsank，tillonlytheruddinessoftheafterglowlittheexpansewithrosylight；thenthisfailedinturn，andthenightshutdownquickly。
Atlast，whenwecouldjustdiscernthefacesclosetous，asimultaneousmovementbegan。Lightsbegantoflashoutinplacesalloverthehillside。Atfirsttheseseemedastinyasglow—wormsseeninasummerwood，butbydegreestheygrewtillthespacewassetwithlittlecirclesoflight。Theseinturngrewandgrewinbothnumberandstrength。Flamesbegantoleapoutfrompilesofwood，torcheswerelightedandheldhigh。Thenthemusicbeganagain，softlyatfirst，butthenlouderasthemusiciansbegantogathertothecentre，wheresattheKingandQueen。Themusicwaswildandsemi—barbaric，butfullofsweetmelody。Itsomehowseemedtobringbeforeusadistantpast；oneandall，accordingtothestrengthofourimaginationandthevolumeofourknowledge，sawepisodesandphasesofbygonehistorycomebeforeus。Therewasawonderfulrhythmic，almostchoric，forceinthetimekept，whichmadeitalmostimpossibletositstill。ItwasaninvitationtothedancesuchasI
hadneverbeforeheardinanynationoratanytime。Thenthelightsbegantogatherround。Oncemorethemountaineerstooksomethingofthesameformationasatthecrowning。Wheretheroyalpartysatwasalevelmead，withcrisp，shortgrass，androunditwhatonemightwellcalltheRingoftheNationwasformed。
Themusicgrewlouder。Eachmountaineerwhohadnotalittorchalreadylightedone，andthewholerisinghillsidewasagloryoflight。TheQueenrose，andtheKinganinstantafter。Astheyrosemensteppedforwardandcarriedawaytheirchairs，orratherthrones。
TheQueengavetheKingherhand——thisis，itseems，theprivilegeofthewifeasdistinguishedfromanyotherwoman。Theirfeettookthetimeofthemusic，andtheymovedintothecentreofthering。
Thatdancewasanotherthingtoremember，wonfromthehauntingmemoriesofthatstrangeday。AtfirsttheKingandQueendancedallalone。Theybeganwithstatelymovement，butasthemusicquickenedtheirfeetkepttime，andtheswingoftheirbodieswithmovementskeptgrowingmoreandmoreecstaticateverybeattill，intrueBalkanfashion，thedancebecameaveryagonyofpassionatemovement。
Atthispointthemusicsloweddownagain，andthemountaineersbegantojoininthedance。Atfirstslowly，onebyone，theyjoinedin，theVladikaandthehigherpriestsleading；theneverywherethewholevastcrowdbegantodance，tilltheeartharoundusseemedtoshake。
Thelightsquivered，flickered，blazedoutagain，androseandfellasthathundredthousandmen，eachholdingatorch，roseandfellwiththerhythmofthedance。Quicker，quickergrewthemusic，fastergrewtherushingandpoundingofthefeet，tillthewholenationseemednowinanecstasy。
IstoodneartheVladika，andinthemidstofthisfinalwildnessI
sawhimdrawfromhisbeltashort，thinflute；thenheputittohislipsandblewasinglenote——afierce，sharpnote，whichpiercedthevolumeofsoundmoresurelythanwouldthethunderofacannon—shot。
Ontheinstanteverywhereeachmanputhistorchunderhisfoot。
Therewascompleteandimmediatedarkness，forthefires，whichhadbynowfallenlow，hadevidentlybeentroddenoutinthemeasureofthedance。Themusicstillkeptinitsrhythmicbeat，butslowerthanithadyetbeen。Littlebylittlethisbeatwaspointedandemphasizedbytheclappingofhands——atfirstonlyafew，butspreadingtilleveryonepresentwasbeatinghandstotheslowmusicinthedarkness。Thislastedalittlewhile，duringwhich，lookinground，Inoticedafaintlightbeginningtostealupbehindthehills。Themoonwasrising。
AgaintherecameanotefromtheVladika’sflute——asinglenote，sweetandsubtle，whichIcanonlycomparewithanotefromanightingale，vastlyincreasedinpowers。It，too，wonthroughthethunderofthehand—claps，andonthesecondthesoundceased。Thesuddenstillness，togetherwiththedarkness，wassoimpressivethatwecouldalmosthearourheartsbeating。Andthencamethroughthedarknessthemostbeautifulandimpressivesoundheardyet。Thatmightyconcourse，withoutfuglemanofanysort，began，inlow，ferventvoice，tosingtheNationalAnthem。Atfirstitwasofsolowtoneastoconveytheideaofamightyassemblyofviolinistsplayingwiththemuteson。Butitgraduallyrosetilltheairaboveusseemedtothrobandquiver。Eachsyllable——eachword——spokeninunisonbythevastthrongwasasclearlyenunciatedasthoughspokenbyasinglevoice：
\"Guideourfeetthroughdarkness，OJehovah。\"
Thisanthem，sungoutoffullhearts，remainsonourmindsasthelastperfectionofaperfectday。Formyself，Iamnotashamedtoownthatitmademeweeplikeachild。Indeed，IcannotwriteofitnowasIwould；itunmansmeso！