A Strange Warning
The first day of the grand celebration dawned clear and bright. The
Emerald City had never seemed more sparkling or fair. Flags fluttered
from every tower and turret of the palace; each house wore a garland
of flowers and flaunted a dozen silken banners in the fresh spring
breeze. The streets were alive with Ozma's subjects suitably costumed
for the big parade, and when, shortly after noon, the Royal Visitors
began to arrive, the castle bells broke into a joyous tolling, the
hundred bands struck up the Oz National Anthem and the magnificent and
beautiful floats began to swing into line.
The Scarecrow's address of welcome at the City Gates had been greeted
with wild enthusiasm and applause, and now, happy but somewhat
breathless, the indefatigable Straw Man mounted on the Saw Horse was
leading the illustrious Guests into the City, where they were to join
the Royal Procession and proceed in triumph to the West Gardens of
the park. What shouts and cheers went up from the happy throngs as
that impressive company in their glittering coaches or riding their
favorite steeds moved majestically through the emerald-studded streets
of the capital. Directly following the Scarecrow, all in red and
wearing her tallest ruby crown, was Glinda the Good Sorceress of the
South, her swan-drawn chariot seeming to float by itself. Marching
cheerfully after the Ruler of the Quadlings came Nick Chopper the
Nickel Plated Emperor of the Winkies, polished to the highest degree
but democratically afoot, marching in the center of his ten splendid
uniformed Winkie Guards. A few steps behind the Tin Woodman, and
prancing along in hardly restrained exuberance, was the Giant Horse,
proudly bearing Joe King and Queen Hyacinth, King and Queen of the
Gillikens. And Highboy not only carried his own head high, but he had
elevated his sovereigns above everyone else in the procession so that
none could miss the happily smiling rulers of the North.
A dazzling blue dragon had pulled the coach of King Cheeriobed, Queen
Orin and Prince Philador all the way from Sapphire City, and an
eye-filling sight was the Royal Family of the Munchkins. Kabumpo, the
Elegant Elephant, resplendent in his jeweled robe, swayed haughtily
along after Cheeriobed's blue coach, waving his trunk in a dignified
way to his friends in the crowd. In the canopied seat on his back rode
Prince Pompadore and Peg Amy of Pumperdink, easily the handsomest young
couple in Oz.
Peering mischievously out the side of his gaily painted jinrikisha was
the merry Red Jinn, himself, and no one could view the rotund little
Wizard of Ev without feeling happier. Jinnicky's body was a great
red jar. He wore the lid for a hat and when he grew bored or sleepy
he would simply retire into himself like a turtle. But now he did
not feel at all like retiring and was showering ginger cookies right
and left and simply beaming with interest and jollity. The King and
Queen of Ragbad rolled briskly along in their shabby but comfortable
open coach. With them were Prince Tatters, Urtha, his flowery little
Princess, and Grandpa, an old Soldier with a wooden leg, who had gone
through many wars and hardships for the sake of his country. But the
shout that greeted the Yellow Knight was loudest and longest of all.
The Prince of Corumbia had lived in the Emerald City for many years as
Sir Hokus of Pokes, before he was disenchanted and became the young and
charming husband of Princess Marygolden of Corabia. Sir Hokus rode
the Comfortable Camel, and Camy, who had also spent part of his life
in the capital, came in for his full share of the cheering. Princess
Marygolden was mounted on Stampedro, the Knight's great stamping war
horse, and Stampedro was a sight to make any little boy's heart beat
faster.
Ato, King of the Octagon Isles, and Samuel Salt, a reformed Pirate, now
Royal Discoverer and Explorer for the Crown, traveled together in Ato's
Octagon Chariot drawn by eight prancing black horses with eight footmen
in eight-sided hats on the high seat behind his merry little Majesty.
Roger, the Read Bird, perched proudly on the King's shoulder, reading
out the signs and street names as they bowled merrily over the gold
paving stones, and chuckling to himself in eight different languages.
Last, but by no means least, came the King and Queen of Seebania, the
King's uncle, better known in the Emerald City as Unc Nunkie, and the
King's son Ojo. The King and Queen were seated sedately in the Silver
Coach of Seebania, but Ojo and his pet bear Snufferbux were proudly
mounted on the back of Roganda, Queen of the Unicorns. This handsome
snow white beast, who had happened to be visiting Ojo at the time,
could not only send her horn darting out like a lance, but could
blow it as well. The sound of its clear, bell-like notes made many a
trumpeter in Ozma's band turn round with surprise and envy. Drawn up
to meet her impressive visitors was Ozma herself. The Royal Float of
Her Imperial Highness was formed like a sea shell. On an uncut emerald
in the center sat the little Ruler of all the Ozians dressed in a
shimmering white robe, wearing her flashing emerald crown and never in
all the thousand years of her young life had this lovely young fairy
looked more beautiful. Also in white were her attendants, Dorothy,
Bettsy, and Trot, each wearing an emerald circlet and carrying a long
wand draped with spring flowers.
As the Scarecrow brought his bright cavalcade to a triumphant halt,
Ozma's float, drawn by the Hungry Tiger and the Cowardly Lion, swung
into place at the head of the line. The other Emerald City Floats,
first waiting for the Royal Equipages and mounts of the visitors to
pass, swept after them in a burst of music and color. The Wizard of
Oz had chosen a huge revolving green ball on which the nimble little
necromancer ably kept his balance as he propelled himself along. After
him came Jack Pumpkinhead, riding the Iffin. Herby, the Medicine Man,
clinging precariously to the Doubtful Dromedary's hump, the pills and
boxes in his medicine chest rattling like castanets, was another figure
of interest. The float of Notta Bit More represented a circus ring, and
the antics of the clown, Pigasus, Bob Up, Scraps, Hank and Grumpy, The
Patch Work Girl's bear, kept the onlookers in a gale of hilarity.
Tik Tok had rigged up a mechanical handcar, which he operated himself.
Benny, the live statue of a public Benefactor, who had come to Oz
from Boston, strode solidly along, an expression of pride and deep
satisfaction on his well-carved features. Beside Benny marched the
Soldier with Green Whiskers, looking neither to the left or right, as
became a man who represented in his own person the whole and entire
army of Oz. I have only mentioned the most outstanding of the Emerald
City paraders. Besides these, there were countless marchers and
hundreds of miniature castles, ships, huge make-believe sea serpents
and dragons, and in a blaze of color and harmony they wound through the
streets of the capital, ending up in the West Gardens of the palace,
where the boys and girls from Professor Wogglebug's Athletic College
distinguished themselves in a series of gymnastic displays and the
Scarecrow established an all-time record for pole vaulting.
By the time Ozma had awarded the cups and trophies, the sun had begun
to slip down behind the treetops, and in high spirits and with splendid
appetites the Royal Party and the Royal Guests turned toward the
castle. Here Tik Tok, who had hurried on ahead, nobly discharged his
duties as Master of Ceremonies. The Cowardly Lion did the honors for
the Four Footed visitors, leading each to an airy shower-equipped stall
in the Royal Stable, so they could rest and refresh themselves before
the Grand Banquet. And how shall I do justice to that dazzling affair?
For the first time in its history the magnificent Dining Hall was
filled to capacity. Easily as large as a city park, there was just
room for the two long, sparkling, flower-laden banquet tables, the
first for Ozma's courtiers and guests, the second for the palace pets
and visiting animals. The Scarecrow caused a roar of hilarity as the
diners took their places by donning a pair of dark spectacles to
prevent eye-strain from the flashing of so many jewels and crowns.
With each course of the long delicious dinner Ozma had a different
King, Queen, or Celebrity at her side, and so cleverly had it all been
arranged, each guest had the honor of sitting for a time beside the
Kingdom's Little Fairy Ruler. Soft music floated down from the balcony
where the Royal orchestra was concealed behind a bower of palms. The
bright robes and jewels of the banqueters and the emerald and silver
dinner service twinkled and sparkled in the magic glow of a thousand
candles. The hundred footmen were swift and skillful, the speeches were
short and merry, "and never," thought Dorothy, looking around with a
little thrill of satisfaction, "never has there been so grand and yet
delightful a party!"
The Hungry Tiger had remembered the tastes and appetites of each of his
guests, and not only were they served with the same dainties enjoyed by
the Two Footed visitors, but every one had a special dish of his own.
Even the Dragon seemed to enjoy immensely his matches and mustard, then
called in a hoarse voice for three pails of hot coals, after which he
blew a whole series of smoke rings and went comfortably to sleep.
Dorothy and the Wizard had with due modesty accepted their medals for
their discovery of Oz and the whole company on its feet for this
impressive ceremony were suddenly startled by a shrill scream from the
Patch Work Girl.
"His beard! His beard! Look at his beard!" yodeled Scraps. (Yes,
I think "yodel" best describes the excited noise made by this
irrepressible maiden.)
"His beard, I said, it's turning RED!" At the word "beard" every eye
turned to the Soldier with Green Whiskers, for his beard was the
longest and most celebrated in Oz.
"Why, so it is!" exclaimed Dorothy in astonishment.
"Red?" choked the Solider, desperately clutching his famous whiskers.
"Oh! Oh! My beautiful green beard--it's red as fire. Oh! Oh! How can I
ever be the Soldier with Green Whiskers if my beard stays red? Who did
this? Wizard! Wizard, are you playing a trick on me?"
"Certainly not, Soldier. I'd be the last person to tamper with
your sacred beard. Quiet, please! Quiet! This is extremely odd and
disturbing." Jumping on his chair, the Little Wizard of Oz looked
anxiously around the room.
"Do they hurt? Are red whiskers painful?" asked Scraps, while the Royal
guests, hardly knowing whether to laugh or sympathize, gazed curiously
at the blazing beard of the Army of Oz.
"They--they hurt my feelings," blubbered the poor Soldier, holding out
his bristling whiskers in disgust. "I'll never get used to a red beard.
Never! Never!"
"Why not cut it off?" inquired Prince Pompadore, with some difficulty
controlling his chuckles.
"What? Cut off my beautiful whiskers? Why, why, I'd rather lose my
head," moaned the Soldier with a horrified shudder. "How would I look?
How would I fight? Oh! Oh! This is ridiculous!" Burying his face in
his napkin, Ozma's distracted army rushed violently from the room.
"Red-iculous, if you ask me," observed the Scarecrow in his droll voice.
"No, no, it's MAGIC!" muttered the Wizard, stepping briskly down from
his chair. "Wait, I must consult my book of red magic and portents."
"And I'll go with you," offered Jinnicky, rolling quickly out of his
cushioned seat. "You know RED magic is my specialty." So, arm in arm,
the Wizard of Oz and the Wizard of Ev bustled away together.
"Well, I can tell you what it means without consulting any books,"
said the Scarecrow as Ozma, looking rather troubled, again took her
place and motioned for the others to do the same. "It is a warning,"
declared the Scarecrow, raising his arm stiffly. "Someone is coming to
beard us in our den (pardon such an informal reference to your castle,
my dear,)" he made an apologetic little bow to Ozma and then continued
seriously, "a danger from without threatens the Kingdom of Oz."
"Who would dare threaten the sovereignty of our country?" demanded the
Yellow Knight, brandishing his sword.
"What's up? What's up?" neighed Highboy, elevating himself so suddenly
he cracked his head against the ceiling.
"You should know, being so high," chuckled the Scarecrow, who could not
resist a joke even when he was most serious. "But calm yourself, my
good horse, you are not in danger yet." Danger! The short, ugly word
dropped like a bomb into that gay and carefree assemblage. Dorothy,
with a little pang of dismay, saw the Cowardly Lion creeping under the
table, and feeling in her pocket for her handkerchief drew out instead
one of the Wizard's wishing pills. He had given it to her so she could
visit the corn ear palace of the Scarecrow the following week and do it
by simply wishing herself there instead of making the journey. Dorothy
fingered the pill thoughtfully for a minute or two, then with a sudden
quick motion popped the small tablet into her mouth.
"Whatever happens, help me to save Ozma and Oz," murmured Dorothy, and
swallowing the pill, she looked sharply around the room for further
signs of warning or disaster.