A Satanic smile covered the features of Blackana as he assured me that the earth does know of these things, and has known of them for ages, but is too well pleased with them to offer serious opposition.
In disgust I turned from Blackana and saw that Mr. World and Miss Church-Member had reached the suburbs of the Wizard City where they read this unexpected notice over a large brazen gate:
NONE ADMITTED EXCEPT THEY TO WHOM THE PORTER OPENETH.
“Ah! all our toil may be in vain,” sighed Miss Church-Member.
They stood for a brief time in a quandary, discussing how one may know whether or not the Porter will open the gate. Finally the stalwart Porter approached them and spoke: “With what motive and for what purpose would ye enter?”
Mr. World, with native tact, was ready with an answer: “I am in full sympathy with the work done in this city and have with me my friend who is still a member of a church standing along the King’s Highway.”
The Porter advanced with graceful bearing and bowed to Miss Church-Member. “Perchance,” said he, “you have come to receive some new ideas for the benefit of the church?”
“You have surmised it,” she blushingly replied. “The church to which I belong is sadly behind the age in its methods of work. I am hoping that the inventive genius of this city can give me some features new and attractive, that I may, in my missionary work, help to introduce them into antiquated churches.”
“Yours is a worthy mission,” politely said the Porter, “and I herewith hand you a card which will admit both of you into the department of the city, number seven hundred and seventy-seven.”
Instantly the gate flew wide open, and the happy couple passed through joyfully. They walked by the many fairy-like buildings, closing their eyes to all the special scenes so that they might give their first attention to the department indicated by the Porter.