Путешествие в Страну Оз
24. The Birthday Celebration
"ThencametheservantsoftheRoyalPalace,inalongline,andbehindthemallthepeoplejoinedtheprocessionandmarchedawaythroughtheemeraldgatesandoutuponthebroadgreen.
Herehadbeenerectedasplendidpavilion,withagrandstandbigenoughtoseatalltheroyalpartyandthosewhohadtakenpartintheprocession.Overthepavilion,whichwasofgreensilkandclothofgold,countlessbannerswavedinthebreeze.Justinfrontofthis,andconnectedwithitbyarunwayhadbeenbuiltabroadplatform,sothatallthespectatorscouldseeplainlytheentertainmentprovidedforthem.
TheWizardnowbecameMasterofCeremonies,asOzmahadplacedtheconductoftheperformanceinhishands.Afterthepeoplehadallcongregatedabouttheplatformandtheroyalpartyandthevisitorswereseatedinthegrandstand,theWizardskillfullyperformedsomefeatsofjugglingglassballsandlightedcandles.Hetossedadozenorsoofthemhighintheairandcaughtthemonebyoneastheycamedown,withoutmissingany.
ThenheintroducedtheScarecrow,whodidasword-swallowingactthatarousedmuchinterest.AfterthistheTinWoodmangaveanexhibitionofSwingingtheAxe,whichhemadetowhirlaroundhimsorapidlythattheeyecouldscarcelyfollowthemotionofthegleamingblade.
