The Day of Resis

by Lillian Frances Mentor

“We had been here but a short time when one of the men discovered a hole in the side of the mountain. Ten men were sent to explore the vast cave which this opening led into. At the end of three days they returned and told us that an immense lake of water had stopped their further progress, and that they had returned for boats. These were made, and with them the men again started. Many times did the sun rise and set before they again returned, but at last they came with a story which made us all joyful. They had crossed the lake but had been lost on the opposite shore, and had wandered for many days until they saw a ray of light and making for it found an opening which led into a beautiful country, stretching far to the west and north. They explored a part of the country, finding numerous lakes and rivers, and then returned to tell of the wonderful hidden land.

“After a consultation it was determined to pass through the mountains and take up a permanent abode beyond. Preparations were made and together we started. The lake was crossed, the opening found and we reached the country which was to be the scene of our remaining life and death. Our numbers were taken, and it was found that during the two years’ march to this land we had lost more than half of our band. But three thousand and two hundred remained of the six thousand and six hundred which had started from Egypt. Fifteen hundred of those remaining were men, the women and children having succumbed more readily to the hardships of the journey.

“A site for a city was picked out and a part of the country cultivated. Our land abounded in wild animals and fruits so we were well-provided with food. A quarry of beautiful hard stone was found and we determined to build our city of this. The architects drew up the plans for the city and work was commenced. The Temple, which when finished will be the grandest which the world has ever known, will stand in the northern end of the city on a slight eminence. The streets are to be broad and paved. At frequent distances will be squares for public amusement, and parks for recreation will be placed conveniently near the city. We made two discoveries which have helped us in the manufacture of necessary implements and added to our comfort. A mine of gold was found, and in a cavern through which the wind rushes like a blast from a mountain of snow we found a lake of pure ice. This ice was of great thickness and it took us a great while to cut through it. We have also a mountain of iron, a field of diamonds and a forest of wood so hard that we find great difficulty in cutting it. On blocks of this wood I am now inscribing the infant history of our country.

“I am growing very old. My people have increased rapidly and great work has been done. The City and Temple are fast nearing completion; most of the streets are paved with hard stone and cultivated fields are about us; we have measured the length and breadth of our country and find that it is nearly three hundred miles square. We have driven the wild animals from our cultivated land into a section near the mountains, and at the border of this vast land of jungle and forest we are building a wall fifty feet high to keep the animals within bounds. We also built a stone viaduct to cross the lake in the cavern and several across the river which flows at the base of the southern mountains. During the building of these viaducts hundreds were engaged in keeping the laborers furnished with meat, the animals being skinned and dressed for food in the cavern. The inhabitants who died during the first twenty years of our settlement here were embalmed, and their bodies placed in the niches of the rock in the cavern. After this date the dead were cremated and this is now a law. I am now ninety years old and we have been in this country fifty years. The city and country has been named “ON,” in honor of me, because I led the people to it, and I have been the people’s chosen King since we left Egypt. I have laid down the laws which are to govern the people for all time. These laws I have made simple and just, guarding against any contingency or cause for dissension, profiting by the experiences of other countries. I have tried to formulate laws which will not allow of jealousies or covetousness.

“Again, the laws are aimed to make a race of people grand in physical strength and beautiful in moral character. All are equal in the eyes of the law. All are made to work at the different vocations. All are furnished with the same provisions and raiment. The best artisans have laid down rules to be followed by the people in architecture, sculpture, painting, and in the making of ornaments. The best agriculturists, the foremost of our quarrymen and miners have made new inventions and laid down rules which will lighten and facilitate their labors.

“To the religion taught by the Israelites I have added nothing. From their teachings I learned that they expected to have the Son of their God visit them at some future time. They also taught us that there was a great and eternal hereafter which was to be entered into after death, and I have made this hereafter so bright and beautiful that my countrymen will hail with delight their day of death. I have also made it possible to stop the over-increase of our people by a certain law. To guard against intemperate habits of any kind, by which so many diseases and so much unhappiness are brought into the world, I have established a law that all dying because of intemperance or over-indulgence in any of the necessary things of life will enter into everlasting punishment. I have made the delights of our future life so bright that my people will guard against everything which might bring on disease and premature death. Already the effects of these laws have been seen, for disease is passing away and my people are striving in every way to live until their day of death.

“I alone of the many Kings who are to follow me am allowed to reign for so many years. I have given myself the right to reign thus long because I wish to have my laws well-established before abdicating in favor of another. I have found that some of the laws first laid down were defective and by still retaining my sceptre I have been able to correct them. To the High Priest I have given certain knowledge which is denied the remainder of the people, and this knowledge is to be guarded by him as a sacred commandment to be imparted only to his successor.

“The language of my forefathers I have changed but little. I have added some few words from the language of the Israelites and a few from the Syriac. I have made the language as simple as possible as well as the hieroglyphics. The history of the reign of each King shall be inscribed on tablets of wood and placed in the secret chamber of the Temple but the people are to know nothing of their former history. This is done to keep them from knowing anything of the outside world. I wish them to believe that the world is bounded by the mountains which enclose their country; for thus believing they will remain together and will never undertake needless excursions into other countries, which would result in war and bloodshed. I wish them to be a peaceable, law-abiding people believing that they are the people and that theirs is the only country.

“I have fitted to the opening in the mountain a stone turning on pivots and opening by a secret spring, of which I alone know the secret. Those who fitted the stone were forbidden to speak of it and they have long since died, and the laws forbidding access to the inscribed history have been so well kept that none of my countrymen to-day are aware of the existence of an outside world.

“This is not a history, but a simple outline of the events which led to our emigration, the long journey, and the discovery of the country and the laws which I have made. I have inscribed this during my few leisure hours more for recreation than aught else. The history of our people and country will be found inscribed on the King’s tablets.