PINOCCHIO MAKES HIS FIRST ADDRESS
The next day was a splendid one. The sky was a clear blue, the earth
was green and fresh. Thousands upon thousands shouted with joy.
Pinocchio was to be crowned king and emperor.
He had carefully prepared the royal address, and came proudly forward
mounted upon a large elephant, towering above his people. The trumpets
sounded, the drums beat, the children rolled on the ground. At a signal
from the master of ceremonies all was still. Even the birds ceased to
sing. A troop of monkeys, leaping about in the trees, paused to listen.
The emperor spoke as follows:
Ministers of Africa, officers of the army, chiefs and underchiefs,
servants and slaves, men, women, and children, all, beloved subjects,
listen to the voice of your emperor!and Pinocchio looked around at
the multitude.
We, Pinocchio the First, speak to you, and bring to you the word of
peace and of love. A new day is about to open to you. Rejoice, O
people! We have concluded to bring happiness to every heart and riches
to every home. We shall not reveal all the plans which, in time, we
hope to see carried out. We shall begin very modestly. Our first gift
to you, O people, is Time. Time is very valuable. We have a great deal
of it in store. Our kingdom is rich in Time; therefore we have decreed
to give each of you as much Time as you want. How can we be more
generous!
Behold the bright sun in the clear blue sky! There is not its equal
anywhere else in the world. Kings are proud of it. We, your emperor and
ruler, have decreed that every one of you, our faithful subjects, may
enjoy the sunlight free of any charge, without tax or duty. Can we be
more unselfish?
You hear the song of the birds, the voices of the animals, the
rustling of the leaves in the wind! These also we give you to enjoy at
your leisure, and without expense.
There is one thing, however, that needs our special notice, and this
we shall now bring to your attention. Remember, we shall enforce with
all our power this law we are about to propose.
Here Pinocchio placed his hand upon his breast and looked toward the
sky.
We will never introduce into our kingdom that shameful system which
brings sorrow to many countries known to us. We speak of the horrible
scheme called Compulsory Education! What a disgrace it is, beloved
subjects, to see so many bright, intelligent children seated for hours
and hours before books which ruin their eyesight! The eye is a precious
jewel, and it is improved, not by books, but by looking here and there,
above and below, everywhere and anywhere, as the butterflies and the
birds do. Let us teach our children as nature teaches us. Let us burn
our books and our schools. Do not drive our dear little ones to silly
words and cruel numbers. It makes our heart bleed to see parents call
their children from some pleasant game and shut them up in ugly
schoolrooms.
At this point Pinocchio was so moved that he had to stop. He looked
around at the many mothers, and saw them wipe the tears from their
eyes. Proud of the impression his words had made on these kind hearts,
he went on in a tone so pathetic that it touched even the elephant
which carried him.
These are gentle tears, dear subjects, and they show how noble are
your hearts. You love your children. We ourselves will never see them
suffer. No, a thousand times no! We are not so cruel as to tear you
away from your dear ones. They may continue to roll upon the grass,
free as the birds that fly. They are free to hunt for crickets, to
steal birds nests, to bite and to kick each other, to run and play in
the fields and woods with the monkeys.
We consider these exercises very necessary, and whenever the grave
affairs of the state will permit we will visit you and encourage these
sports. You perceive that in this matter you owe much to your emperor,
who was made to go to school, and who saw the evils of education. Alas!
too many of his young companions were completely ruined so far as their
eyes and brains were concerned.
Officers and soldiers, ministers of the crown, beloved subjects, we,
Pinocchio the First, Emperor and King, ask you to shout with all the
breath in your lungs: Down with Compulsory Education! Down with the
school!
A deafening roar, louder than thunder, arose from the people: Down
with Compulsory Education! Down with the school!
This speech was followed by a review of the troops, which lasted till
night.
Emperor Pinocchio, tired but satisfied, then returned in state to the
royal palace.