Well, at the appointed time and place the people assembled. The four-hundred members of the Council of State occupied favoured seats in front of the platform, while many thousands of the citizens filled the stalls and ample galleries. It was an impressive scene. The meeting once called to order, “Music, such as heard outside of Eurania or heaven was never, burst upon the ear.”
That’s Leo’s, but I shall be more prosy and more brief.
When the last strains of music had died away, and the applause ceased, the chairman arose, and after giving a brief but comprehensive review of the national traditions, the discoveries and events that led to these unparalleled adventures, he re-read the commission under which Amoora Oseba acted, and impressed upon the audience the importance of the report from the lips of Eurania’s most gifted son, and the world’s most intrepid explorer.
The chairman said, in opening the proceedings, that while little real attention had been given to the vague traditions that had floated down the centuries, there had always been a feeling among the Shadowas that they were in a most peculiar situation, and that science would some time solve the mystery that seemed to hang over them.
He said, since the dawn of civilisation there was an “absolute knowledge” that they were on the inner surface of a hollow planet, and there was a vague belief that there were like beings on the outer surface.
He explained that, through the enterprise of the Council of State, and the intrepidity of Amoora Oseba and his brave comrades, that question, the most momentous in the long history of Cavitorus, it was hoped, had been solved, and they had met to hear a report on that most interesting matter.
He said, as the Committee had given the most careful attention to the books, maps, charts, and globes brought by the returned party, and having had the generous assistance of Oseba himself, and Leo Bergin, a native of the upper world, they had familiarized themselves somewhat with the geography, history, customs and manners of the various nations of the upper world, by the assistance of the views to be presented, a fair understanding would be easily reached. Then, too, as the press had been generous and enterprising, he thought the people were quite prepared for an intelligent appreciation of the gifted traveller’s oration. “Mr. Oseba, the father of the new philosophy,” said he, “will now speak to us, as to his children.”
However, as the people had requested that the poetess Vauline be permitted to ask for occasional explanations, this was provided for.
Here the record tells us—I have boiled out twenty pages of delightful “toffy”—that the chairman introduced Amoora Oseba as: “The most intrepid explorer the world ever knew,” at the same time inviting Leo Bergin and the other members of the returned party to the platform.