Twice-a-week plain dealer. (Cresco, Howard County, Iowa) 1895-1913, 1901-09-20
CHAPTER Nv.

ClA En- i W.
THE WELCOME OF FLORENCE.
The splendid city grew out OF the
sea as we approached, and to every
throb of the oars the shores leaped
nearer. saw the temple where had
been admitted first to manhood; saw
the pyramid in whose heart had been
initiated to the small mysteries; and
then (as the lesser objects became dis
cernible) / made out the house where
o father and mother had reared me.
and my eyes became dim as the mem
cries rose.
1t has been said that the great should
always collect dignity by keeping
those of lesser degree waiting their
pleasure, though for myself I must say
have always thought the stratagem
paltry and beneath me. Phorenice
also seemed of this Same opinion, for
Gas she herself told me later) at the
moment that Tob's galley was report
ed as having Its flank against the mar
BILE Of the royal quay, at that precise
moment did she start out from the pal.
ace. The gorgeous procession was al
ready marshalled, bedecked and watt
ing only for its chiefest ornament; and
as soon as she had mounted to her
steed, trumpets gave the order. and
the advance began.
Sitting in the doorway of q pavilion
by the waters edge, saw the soldiery
who formed the head of this vast con-
course emerge from the great broad
street where it left the houses. They
marched straight across to give me the
salute, and then ranged themselves on
the further side of the square. Then
came to the Mariners Guild, then more
soldiers, all making obeisance in their
turn, and passing on to make room for
others. Following were the mer-
chants, the tanners, the spear-makers
and all the other acknowledged guilds.
deliberately attired $50 it seemed to
mel that they might make a pageanti
and while most walked on foot, there
were some who proudly rode on beasts
which they had tanned into renderinR
| them this mental service.
But presently came the two wonders
OF all that dazzling spectacle. hon
out Of the eclipse of the houses there
swung into the open no Less beast
than huge bull mammoth The sight
had sufficient surprise in it almost to
make me start Many taIna during
my life had led hunts to kill the nam
moth, when herd of them had caided
some village or corn land under my
charge. I had seen the huge brutes In
the wild ground, shaggy, horrid. mon
strous; more fierce even than the cave
tiger or the cave-bear; most dangerous
beast of all that fight with man for
dominion of the earth, save only for a
few of the greater lizards. And here
was this creature, giant even among
mammoths, yet tame as any we'll
whipped slave, and bearing upon its
back a great half-castle OF gold,
stamped with the outstretched hand.
and bedecked with silver snakes. Its
| murderous tusks were gilded, its hairy
neck was garlanded with flowers, and
it trod on in the procession as though
assisting at such pageantry was the
beginning and end of its existence
Its tameness seemed a fitting symbol
of the masterful strength of this new
ruler of Atlantis.
simultaneously with the mammoth
there came into sight that other and
greater wonder, the mammoth's mis-.
tress, the Empress Phorenice. Tbs
beast took my eye at the first. from
its very uncouth hugeness, from its
show of savage power restraineds bu'
the lady who sat In the golden half
castle on Its lofty back quickly drew
away my gaze, and held 1t immovabk
from then onward with an infinite al
traction.
I stood TO my feet when the people
first shouted at Phorenice's approach
and remained in the porchway Of IN,
scarlet pavilion till her vast steed hat
halted,in the center Of the square, ant
then advanced across the pavement
| towards her.
ION your knees, my lord said ont
| of the chamberlains behind me, In ,
scared whisper.
Eat least with bent bead" urged an
| other.
1
| But l had my own notions OF VIVA
is due to ones own self-re spsct in the 8,
| matters, and l marched across the bar,
| open space with head erect, giving tn,
empress gaze for gaze. She was clear
~ summing me up. WAS frankly do
ing the like by her. Gods! but thos
| few short seconds made me see WON
an such as never imagined could hav
lived.
1 know l have placed it on recor,
earlier in this writing that, during al
the days of long official life, womel
have had no influence over me. But
have been quick to see that they oftel
had strong swaying power over tn
policies of others, and as consequence
have made it my business to stud
them even as ]. have studied men. Blu
this woman who sat under the sacre
snakes in her golden half-castle ON til
mammoth's back fairly baffied me. o
her thoughts could read no single sy'
liable. could see body, slight, suppl
and beautifully nodded; infgure rath
er small. Her face was most perfec
book of cleverness, yet she was fail
i too, beyond belief, with hair of love
1 " ruddiness, cut short in the new fash