Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1914-05-02
The Gift of
Speech
CHAPTER I.

On one of the planets circling round
our own Suu there once dwelt a race IN
many ways unlike our own. The most
striking difference, however, lay in the
/ malLer in which those other beings
received the gift Of speech. They and
I not, as we 40, acquire this power or
j speaking gradually, but received it,
fully and entirely, at one moment. This
is on certain day, when large AID
beautiful moon, seen but ouce year,
rises Oh the far horizon. At the first
approach of this new luminary, the
boys and girls who in the last six
months have attained the age OF 1i-
teen, or who in the ensuing six months
,, will attain it, at once begin their pre-
paratiOn for a journey to the temple,
before whose altar they will first learn
to speak the thoughts which they hith-
erto possessed in silence. The sacred
moon shines in the heavens just long
enough to light their pilgrimage to the
temple and their return, gifted with
speech, to their homes, and then dis
appears for whole year. These jour
neys are always undertaken by night.
In the day time, they sleep in tents,
guarded by their fathers and mothers,
who invariably accompany them.
What makes the moment of learning
to speak particularly awful Is this:
the nature of the gift is determined by
the chara cter of the boy or girl receiv-
ing it. Those whose thoughts-thOse
thoughts unknown to any soul till now
have been idle, shallow, vain, bent
only upon trivial and fleeting things,
can find words that clothe such
thoughts, and no more. But, those, on
the other hand, whose previous inner
life has been lofty and pure, con-
slant aspiration towards higher and
nobler things, are allowed to enter the
innermost hall of the temple-the Hall
of Silver Speech.
On one occasion the moon of speech
shone with remarkable brilliance in
the heavens. The little band, in due
course, reached the temple. Here the
parents parted from their children. be-
ing accommodated with tents outside
the temple grounds, while the children,
received by the priests and priestesses
of the sacred building, were conducted
to chambers specially prepared tor
them. AS the journey always ended at
sunrise, the travellers slept until near
ly sunset, when they were awakened
by the sweetest chimes, taken to baths
of perfumed waters, and arrayed in
robes of soft and shining silk, and then
led, always In the silence they were
powerless to break, towards the temple
itself.
This was built of white marble, and,
like the Greek temples, had central
space unroofed. To this inner space
the youths and maidens were taken,
and here they knelt before the great
square altar Boys, dedicated to the
temple service from their childhood,
swung censers of incense until the
kneeling votaries we're almost hidden
by It's perfumed breath.
The foremost of the band was
Helione, the kings daughter. She was
taller than her companions by the
head, and fairer far than any Of the
ma1dens who bore her company.
The wondrous moon rose higher.
until it's rays poured down through
the opening above; the clouds OF in
cense gradually melted into thin air;
strange songs arose from hidden sing
ers; harp and flute, viol and dulcimer,
added their liquid strains. Then these
died away, and the youths and maidens
rose. The gift of speech was theirs!
That gift, so dangerous, even so fatal
at times, more frequently so useless,
but sometimes SO powerful and so
blessed, was theirs at last! With ears
opened and tongues Embossed they
sought the fathers and mothers who
s,si,,n, waitinsf beyond the temple
But the king and queen had to wait
long for Helione, for she was led at
once to the Hall of Silver Speech.
Leave your companions, Princess
Helione," said an old priest, taking her
hand II have that to show you no
other eyes may see."
He guided her to parapet overlook
ing the waters Of the sea, and babe her !
gaze steadily across them. She obeyed. |
After a time she saw that the brilliant |
rays of the new luminary were crossed !
by other rays, of pale. amethyst1ne !
tint which came, seemingly, from the
far horizon to where she stood. Turn
ng, to trace their further course, she !
observed that they were caught and !
by discs of brilliantly pol !
shed metal fastened to the temple !
walls.
Here you see, or rather you hear
the result of a lifetime's labor" said
the sage. These discs hold the slight
est vibrations of sound brought by |
these rays from far-off star Put
your ears, Princess, to disc after disc
and you shall hear the speech of that
star named by it's jewellers the EARTH
as plainly as if you stood upon it."
Helione shook back her long dark |
nair, and lead her ear to the disc near
est her. Her face grew pale as shs !
listened. !
Il hear terrible words she cried |
They tell of pain and death, blood |
she'd and bitter hate! knew not such !
things could bel"
THAT discs rays come from battle !
field" replied her mentor. TRY an {
0ther."
Helione moved towards the next, but |
shook her head as she heard. !
1T is but little better she told him.
I hear no more the cries of pain, but
wrath there is, and strife.'
That ray explained the priest,