July 29, 2025 • 10 mins
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Chapter eight. Good morning, as long as it lasts, plain
talk from Master Coldsoll, wonders of Goggleland. We enter the
city of the Micamenkes brief description of it. Are approach
to the royal palace Queen Galaxa and her crystal throne.
Master cold Sol's tears. I don't think the darkness lasted
(00:23):
over three hours. Perhaps it was longer, but Master cold
Sooll was obliged to shake me gently. Ere he could
rouse me now, little Baron, said he, after he had
wished me a good morning, with the usual as long
as it lasts tacked on to it. If thou art
quite willing, I'll conduct THEE to the court of our
gracious Mistress, Queen Galaxa. Our wise men have often discoursed
(00:44):
to her concerning the upper world and the terrible sufferings
of its people, exposed as they are, to be frozen
by the pitiless cold and then burned by the scorching
rays of what they call their sun. And she will
no doubt aim to be pleased at say of THEE,
although I must warn THEE that thou art most uncomely,
that thou seems so black and hard to me, scarcely
(01:07):
to be human by rather a bit of living earth
or row. I greatly fear me that thou wilt make
our people extremely vain by comparison, thy four footed companion.
We know well by sight, having often seen his petrified
image in the rocks of the dark chambers of our world.
Master cold Sol said I, as we walked along. When
(01:28):
thou givest to know me better, thou wilt find me
more commonly. And although I shall not be able to
show THEE my heart, I hope to be able to
prove to THEE and Thine that I have such a thing,
no doubt, no doubt, little baron, exclaimed Master cold Sol.
But be not offended. It is not more pleasant for
me to tell THEE these disagreeable things that it is
(01:48):
for THEE to hear them. But I am paid to
do it, and I must earn my wage. Vanity grows
apace in our world, and I prick its bubbles whenever
I see them. To my great wonder, I now discover
that the world of the Macamenke's had its lakes and
rivers like our own, only of course they were smaller
and mirror faced, being never visited by the faintest Zephyr.
(02:09):
To my question as to whether they were peopled with
living things, Master cold Sol informed me that they literally
swarmed with the most delicious fish, both in scales and shells.
But think not, little Baron. He added, that we of
Goggleland have no other food than such as we draw
from the water. For in our gardens grow many kinds
(02:30):
of delicate vegetables, springing up in a single night, almost
as light as foam and just as white. But we
are small eaters, little Barren, and rarely find it necessary
to put to death a large shellfish. We merely lay
hold of his great claw, which he obligingly drops into
our hand, and forthwith sets about growing another. But tell me,
(02:53):
I pray, Master cold Sol said, I where ye find
the silk to weave such soft and beautiful so stuff
as that thy garment is fashioned from. In this underworld
of ours, little Baron replied Master Coldzall, there are many
vast recesses not reached by the river light, and in
these dark chambers flit about huge night moths, like restless
(03:17):
spirits forever on the wing. But of course they are not,
for we find their eggs glued against the rocky sides
of these caverns, and co let them carefully. The worms
that are hatched from them spin huge cocoons, so large
that one may not be hidden in my hand. And these, unwound,
give unto our looms all the thread they need. And
(03:41):
the beautiful wood, I continued, which I see about me,
carved and fashioned into so many articles. Whence comes it
from the quarries, answered Master Coldzall quarries, I repeated, wonderingly,
Why yes, little Baron, said he, For we have quarries
of wood, as no doubt the hst quarries of stone.
(04:02):
Our wise men tell us that, thousands and thousands of
years ago, vast for us grown in your world, were
in the upheavals, and falling in of the Earth's crust,
thrust down into ours, the gigantic chunks watched closely together
and standing in a bolt upright, just as they grew.
At least, so we find them when we have dug
away the harlen clay that has shut them in these
(04:25):
many ages. But see, little Baron, that we are now
entering the city yonder is the royal Palace. Will t
walk with me thither? Ah, dear friends, would that I
could make you see this beautiful city of the underworld,
just as it showed itself to me. Then spread out
so gloriously beneath the glittering domes and vaulted corridors, from
which poured down upon the exquisitely carved and polished entrances
(04:49):
to the living chambers of this happy folk, a flood
of white light, apparently more dazzling than our noonday sun,
so strangely beautiful that many times I paused to gaze
upon it. Young and all, all clad in the same
gracefully flowing garbs of silk, now purple, now royal blue,
and now rich vermilion, were hurrying hither and thither, each
(05:12):
armed with the inevitable black fan, and the baby face
of each aglow with life and sweet content, while a
hundred fountains springing from crystal patients glistened in the dazzling
white light, and ten times a hundred flags amid gonflungs,
hung listless but rich and splendor from invisible wires. Strange
(05:33):
music came floating along from the gracefully shaped barges with
silken awnings, which were gliding noiselessly over the surface of
the winding river. The oars, stirring the waters until the
wake seemed a path through molten silver. As vulgar and
I followed Master Cold Soul along the streets of polished marble.
It was not long before a crowd of Micaminke's was
(05:55):
at our heels, whispering all sorts of uncomplimentary things about us,
mingled with not a few fits of suppressed laughter. The
court depressor reproved them sternly. Cease your ill timed mirth,
said he, and go about her business. Must I pause
until you a gruesome tale to check your foolish gaiety?
(06:18):
No ye nought that all silly mirth does quicken your
hearts and make them run down just so much sooner.
At these words of Master Coal's Soul, they fell back
and put an end to their giggling. But it was
only for a moment, and by the time we reached
the portal of the Royal Palace, a still louder and
noisier crowd was close behind us. Master Coal's Soul suddenly halted, and,
(06:39):
drawing forth a huge pocket handkerchief, began to weep furiously.
It was not without its effect, and from that moment
I could see that the Micamenkes were inclined to take
a more serious view of my arrival and their city,
although it was only cold Soul's presents that kept them
from bursting out into fits of violent laughter. Above the
(07:02):
portals of the Queen's palace there were large openings hewn
in the rock for the purpose of admitting light into
the royal apartments. But these windows, if they may be
called such, were hung with silken curtains of delicate colors,
so that the light which entered the throne room was
tempered and softened. The room itself was likewise hung with
silken stuffs, which gave it a look of oriental splendor.
(07:25):
But never, in my travels amongst strange peoples of far
away lands, had my eyes ever rested upon iny work
of art that equaled the crystal throne upon which sat
galaxa queen of the Macaminkis. In the upper world, most
diligent search had never been able to unearth a piece
of rock crystal more than about three feet in diameter.
(07:47):
But here in Queen Galaxis thrown four glorious columns at
least fifteen feet in height and at their base three
feet in diameter, shot up in matchless splendor, their lower
parts shut in spangles of gold that glittered with ever
varying hues as a different light fell upon them. The
cross pieces and pieces making up the back and arms
(08:09):
had been chosen on account of the exquisitely beautiful hair
and needle shaped crystals of other metals which they enclosed.
A silken boldishing of rare beauty covered in the throne,
and from its edges dropped heavy cords and tassels of
rich color and the perfection of human handicraft as to
the fineness and finish. At the foot of the throne
(08:32):
sat the young Princess Cristelina, and standing behind her and
engaged in combing her long silken tresses, was her favorite
waiting maid, Damoiselle Glowstone. While rounded about in files and
group wise stood lords and ladies, courtiers and counselors by
the dozen. As master coldsall advanced to salute the queen.
(08:53):
A throng of the idlers who had followed at our heels,
crowded into the inter room with loud outbursts of laughter.
The court depressor was greatly incensed, and turning upon the throng,
he began weeping again. With wonderful energy. But I noticed
that it was nothing but sound. Not a tear fell
to obscure the crystal clearness of his eyes. Then he
(09:16):
began chanting a sort of song which was intended to
have a depressing influence on the wild mirth of the
Mica Minkey's. I can only recollect one verse of this
solemn chant of the court depressor. It ran as follows,
weep mac A monkey's weep, Oh weep for the eyeless
man in the City of Light, for the mouthless man,
in Plenty's Powers, for the earless man, in Music's realm,
(09:40):
for the noseless man, in the Kingdom of Flower, weep
Mica Monkey's weep, oh weep. The thing only laughed alouder,
crying out, nay, Master cove soul, And we will not
weep for them, weep for them thyself. At last, Queen
Galaxa raised the slender golden wand tipped with a diamond
(10:00):
point that lay within her hand, and instantly a hush
came upon the whole place, while every eye was riveted
upon bulgar and me. End of Chapter eight
Chapter eight. Good morning, as long as it lasts, plain
talk from Master Coldsoll, wonders of Goggleland. We enter the
city of the Micamenkes brief description of it. Are approach
to the royal palace Queen Galaxa and her crystal throne.
Master cold Sol's tears. I don't think the darkness lasted
(00:23):
over three hours. Perhaps it was longer, but Master cold
Sooll was obliged to shake me gently. Ere he could
rouse me now, little Baron, said he, after he had
wished me a good morning, with the usual as long
as it lasts tacked on to it. If thou art
quite willing, I'll conduct THEE to the court of our
gracious Mistress, Queen Galaxa. Our wise men have often discoursed
(00:44):
to her concerning the upper world and the terrible sufferings
of its people, exposed as they are, to be frozen
by the pitiless cold and then burned by the scorching
rays of what they call their sun. And she will
no doubt aim to be pleased at say of THEE,
although I must warn THEE that thou art most uncomely,
that thou seems so black and hard to me, scarcely
(01:07):
to be human by rather a bit of living earth
or row. I greatly fear me that thou wilt make
our people extremely vain by comparison, thy four footed companion.
We know well by sight, having often seen his petrified
image in the rocks of the dark chambers of our world.
Master cold Sol said I, as we walked along. When
(01:28):
thou givest to know me better, thou wilt find me
more commonly. And although I shall not be able to
show THEE my heart, I hope to be able to
prove to THEE and Thine that I have such a thing,
no doubt, no doubt, little baron, exclaimed Master cold Sol.
But be not offended. It is not more pleasant for
me to tell THEE these disagreeable things that it is
(01:48):
for THEE to hear them. But I am paid to
do it, and I must earn my wage. Vanity grows
apace in our world, and I prick its bubbles whenever
I see them. To my great wonder, I now discover
that the world of the Macamenke's had its lakes and
rivers like our own, only of course they were smaller
and mirror faced, being never visited by the faintest Zephyr.
(02:09):
To my question as to whether they were peopled with
living things, Master cold Sol informed me that they literally
swarmed with the most delicious fish, both in scales and shells.
But think not, little Baron. He added, that we of
Goggleland have no other food than such as we draw
from the water. For in our gardens grow many kinds
(02:30):
of delicate vegetables, springing up in a single night, almost
as light as foam and just as white. But we
are small eaters, little Barren, and rarely find it necessary
to put to death a large shellfish. We merely lay
hold of his great claw, which he obligingly drops into
our hand, and forthwith sets about growing another. But tell me,
(02:53):
I pray, Master cold Sol said, I where ye find
the silk to weave such soft and beautiful so stuff
as that thy garment is fashioned from. In this underworld
of ours, little Baron replied Master Coldzall, there are many
vast recesses not reached by the river light, and in
these dark chambers flit about huge night moths, like restless
(03:17):
spirits forever on the wing. But of course they are not,
for we find their eggs glued against the rocky sides
of these caverns, and co let them carefully. The worms
that are hatched from them spin huge cocoons, so large
that one may not be hidden in my hand. And these, unwound,
give unto our looms all the thread they need. And
(03:41):
the beautiful wood, I continued, which I see about me,
carved and fashioned into so many articles. Whence comes it
from the quarries, answered Master Coldzall quarries, I repeated, wonderingly,
Why yes, little Baron, said he, For we have quarries
of wood, as no doubt the hst quarries of stone.
(04:02):
Our wise men tell us that, thousands and thousands of
years ago, vast for us grown in your world, were
in the upheavals, and falling in of the Earth's crust,
thrust down into ours, the gigantic chunks watched closely together
and standing in a bolt upright, just as they grew.
At least, so we find them when we have dug
away the harlen clay that has shut them in these
(04:25):
many ages. But see, little Baron, that we are now
entering the city yonder is the royal Palace. Will t
walk with me thither? Ah, dear friends, would that I
could make you see this beautiful city of the underworld,
just as it showed itself to me. Then spread out
so gloriously beneath the glittering domes and vaulted corridors, from
which poured down upon the exquisitely carved and polished entrances
(04:49):
to the living chambers of this happy folk, a flood
of white light, apparently more dazzling than our noonday sun,
so strangely beautiful that many times I paused to gaze
upon it. Young and all, all clad in the same
gracefully flowing garbs of silk, now purple, now royal blue,
and now rich vermilion, were hurrying hither and thither, each
(05:12):
armed with the inevitable black fan, and the baby face
of each aglow with life and sweet content, while a
hundred fountains springing from crystal patients glistened in the dazzling
white light, and ten times a hundred flags amid gonflungs,
hung listless but rich and splendor from invisible wires. Strange
(05:33):
music came floating along from the gracefully shaped barges with
silken awnings, which were gliding noiselessly over the surface of
the winding river. The oars, stirring the waters until the
wake seemed a path through molten silver. As vulgar and
I followed Master Cold Soul along the streets of polished marble.
It was not long before a crowd of Micaminke's was
(05:55):
at our heels, whispering all sorts of uncomplimentary things about us,
mingled with not a few fits of suppressed laughter. The
court depressor reproved them sternly. Cease your ill timed mirth,
said he, and go about her business. Must I pause
until you a gruesome tale to check your foolish gaiety?
(06:18):
No ye nought that all silly mirth does quicken your
hearts and make them run down just so much sooner.
At these words of Master Coal's Soul, they fell back
and put an end to their giggling. But it was
only for a moment, and by the time we reached
the portal of the Royal Palace, a still louder and
noisier crowd was close behind us. Master Coal's Soul suddenly halted, and,
(06:39):
drawing forth a huge pocket handkerchief, began to weep furiously.
It was not without its effect, and from that moment
I could see that the Micamenkes were inclined to take
a more serious view of my arrival and their city,
although it was only cold Soul's presents that kept them
from bursting out into fits of violent laughter. Above the
(07:02):
portals of the Queen's palace there were large openings hewn
in the rock for the purpose of admitting light into
the royal apartments. But these windows, if they may be
called such, were hung with silken curtains of delicate colors,
so that the light which entered the throne room was
tempered and softened. The room itself was likewise hung with
silken stuffs, which gave it a look of oriental splendor.
(07:25):
But never, in my travels amongst strange peoples of far
away lands, had my eyes ever rested upon iny work
of art that equaled the crystal throne upon which sat
galaxa queen of the Macaminkis. In the upper world, most
diligent search had never been able to unearth a piece
of rock crystal more than about three feet in diameter.
(07:47):
But here in Queen Galaxis thrown four glorious columns at
least fifteen feet in height and at their base three
feet in diameter, shot up in matchless splendor, their lower
parts shut in spangles of gold that glittered with ever
varying hues as a different light fell upon them. The
cross pieces and pieces making up the back and arms
(08:09):
had been chosen on account of the exquisitely beautiful hair
and needle shaped crystals of other metals which they enclosed.
A silken boldishing of rare beauty covered in the throne,
and from its edges dropped heavy cords and tassels of
rich color and the perfection of human handicraft as to
the fineness and finish. At the foot of the throne
(08:32):
sat the young Princess Cristelina, and standing behind her and
engaged in combing her long silken tresses, was her favorite
waiting maid, Damoiselle Glowstone. While rounded about in files and
group wise stood lords and ladies, courtiers and counselors by
the dozen. As master coldsall advanced to salute the queen.
(08:53):
A throng of the idlers who had followed at our heels,
crowded into the inter room with loud outbursts of laughter.
The court depressor was greatly incensed, and turning upon the throng,
he began weeping again. With wonderful energy. But I noticed
that it was nothing but sound. Not a tear fell
to obscure the crystal clearness of his eyes. Then he
(09:16):
began chanting a sort of song which was intended to
have a depressing influence on the wild mirth of the
Mica Minkey's. I can only recollect one verse of this
solemn chant of the court depressor. It ran as follows,
weep mac A monkey's weep, Oh weep for the eyeless
man in the City of Light, for the mouthless man,
in Plenty's Powers, for the earless man, in Music's realm,
(09:40):
for the noseless man, in the Kingdom of Flower, weep
Mica Monkey's weep, oh weep. The thing only laughed alouder,
crying out, nay, Master cove soul, And we will not
weep for them, weep for them thyself. At last, Queen
Galaxa raised the slender golden wand tipped with a diamond
(10:00):
point that lay within her hand, and instantly a hush
came upon the whole place, while every eye was riveted
upon bulgar and me. End of Chapter eight
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