The Wizard Of Oz, 15: The Discovery Of Oz, The Terrible

Hello there,

It's Mandy here.

Thanks for joining me tonight and welcome back to the world of L Frank Baum's Wizard of Oz.

We were talking last time of Baum's sympathies with the suffrage movement and his stories outside of Oz also contain feminist or egalitarian themes.

His Edith Van Dyne stories depict girls and young women engaging in traditionally masculine activities,

Including Aunt Jane's nieces and the Flying Girl and its sequel.

And his Bluebird books feature a girl sleuth.

Anyway,

We've reached chapter 15,

The Discovery of Oz the Terrible.

And in my opinion,

It's one of the most interesting chapters of the book.

Though before we go ahead,

Please feel free to make yourself really comfortable.

Sinking down into your chair or your bed,

Relaxing your hands,

Releasing your shoulders and softening your jaw.

That's great.

If you're feeling comfortable,

Then I shall begin.

The four travellers walked up to the great gate of the Emerald City and rang the bell.

It was opened by the same guardian of the gates they had met before.

What are you back again?

He asked.

I thought you'd gone to visit the Wicked Witch of the West.

We did,

Said the Scarecrow.

And she let you go again,

Asked the man in wonder.

She couldn't help it,

For she is melted,

Explained the Scarecrow.

Melted?

Well,

That is good news indeed,

Said the man who melted her.

It was Dorothy,

Said the Lion gravely.

Good gracious,

Exclaimed the man and bowed very low indeed before her.

Then he led them into his little room and locked the spectacles from the great box on all their eyes,

Just as he had done before.

They passed through the gate into the Emerald City and when the people heard from the guardian of the gates that they'd melted the Wicked Witch of the West,

They all gathered around the travellers and followed them in a great crowd to the Palace of Oz.

The soldier with the green whiskers was still on guard before the door,

But he let them in at once and they were again met by the beautiful green girl who showed each of them to their rooms at once so they might rest until the great Oz was ready to receive them.

The soldier had the news carried straight to Oz that Dorothy and the other travellers had come back again,

But Oz made no reply.

They thought the wizard would send for them at once,

But no.

They had no word from him the next day or the next or the next.

The waiting was tiresome and at last they grew vexed that Oz should treat them like this after sending them to undergo hardships.

So the Scarecrow at last asked the green girl to take another message saying if he didn't let them in to see him at once they would call the winged monkeys to help them and find out whether he kept his promises or not.

They were sent word to come to the throne room at four minutes after nine o'clock the next morning.

They passed the sleepless night each thinking of the gift Oz had promised to bestow on them.

Dorothy fell asleep only once and then she dreamed she was in Kansas where Aunt Em was welcoming her.

Promptly at nine o'clock the next morning the green whiskered soldier came and four minutes later they went to the throne room.

Of course each one of them expected to see the wizard in the shape he'd taken before and all were greatly surprised when they saw no one at all in the room.

They kept close to the door and close to one another for the stillness of the room was more dreadful than any of the forms they'd seen Oz take.

Presently they heard a voice seeming to come from somewhere near the top of the great dome.

I am Oz the great and terrible why do you seek me?

They looked around the room and still seeing no one Dorothy asked where are you?

I am everywhere answered the voice but to the eyes of common mortals I am invisible.

I will now seat myself on my throne that you may converse with me.

Indeed the voice seemed just then to come straight from the throne itself so they walked towards it and stood in a row.

We have come to claim our promise Oh Oz said Dorothy.

What promise asked Oz?

You promised to send me back to Kansas when the wicked witch was destroyed said the girl and you promised to give me brains said the scarecrow and you promised to give me a heart said the tin woodman and you promised to give me courage said the cowardly lion.

Is the wicked witch really destroyed asked the voice and Dorothy thought it trembled a little.

Yes she answered I melted her with a bucket of water.

Dear me said the voice how sudden well come to me tomorrow for I must have time to think this over.

You've had plenty of time already said the tin woodman angrily.

We shan't wait a day longer said the scarecrow.

You must keep your promises to us exclaimed Dorothy.

The lion thought it might be as well to frighten the wizard so he gave a large loud roar so fierce that Toto jumped away from him in alarm and tipped over the screen that stood in a corner.

As it fell with a crash they were filled with wonder for they saw standing in just the spot the screen had hidden a little old man with a bald head and a wrinkled face who seemed as much surprised as they were.

The tin woodman raising his axe rushed towards the little man and cried out who are you?

I am Oz the great and terrible said the little man in a trembling voice but don't strike me please don't and I'll do anything you want me to.

Our friends looked at him in surprise and dismay.

I thought Oz was a great head said Dorothy and I thought Oz was a lovely lady said the scarecrow and I thought Oz was a terrible beast said the tin woodman and I thought Oz was a ball of fire exclaimed the lion.

No you are all wrong said the little man meekly I have been making believe.

Making believe cried Dorothy are you not a great wizard?

Hush my dear he said don't speak so loud or you will be overheard and I should be ruined.

I'm supposed to be a great wizard and aren't you she asked not a bit of it my dear I'm just a common man.

You're more than that said the scarecrow in a grieved tone you're a humbug.

Exactly so declared the little man rubbing his hands together almost as if it pleased him I am a humbug.

But this is terrible said the tin woodman how shall I ever get my heart?

Or I my courage asked the lion or I my brains wailed the scarecrow wiping the tears from his eyes with his coat sleeve.

My dear friends said Oz I pray you not to speak of these little things think of me and the terrible trouble I'm in at being found out.

Doesn't anyone else know asked Dorothy No one knows it but you four and myself replied Oz I fooled everyone so long I thought I should never be found out.

It was a great mistake my ever letting you into the throne room.

Usually I won't even see my subjects so they believe I am something terrible.

But I don't understand said Dorothy in bewilderment how was it that you appeared to me as a great head?

That was one of my tricks answered Oz.

Step this way please and I will tell you all about it.

He led the way to a small chamber in the rear of the throne room and they followed him.

He pointed to one corner in which lay the great head made out of many thicknesses of paper with a carefully painted face.

This I hung from the ceiling by a wire said Oz.

I stood behind the screen and pulled a thread to make the eyes move and the mouth open.

But how about the voice inquired Dorothy.

Oh I am a ventriloquist said the little man and I can throw the sound of my voice wherever I wish.

So you thought it was coming out of the head here are the other things I used to deceive you.

He showed the scarecrow the dress and the mask he'd worn when he seemed to be the lady and the tin woodman saw his terrible beast was nothing but a lot of skins sewn together with slats to keep their sides out.

As for the ball of fire the false wizard had hung that also from the ceiling.

It was really a ball of cotton but when oil was poured on it the ball burned fiercely.

Really said the scarecrow you ought to be ashamed of yourself.

I am I certainly am answered the little man but it was the only thing I could do.

Sit down please there are plenty of chairs and I will tell you my story.

So they sat down and listened while he told the following tale.

I was born in Omaha.

Why that isn't very far from Kansas cried Dorothy.

No but it's farther from here he said shaking his head.

When I grew up I became a ventriloquist and at that I was very well trained by a great master.

I can imitate any kind of bird or beast.

Here he mewed so much like a kitten that Toto pricked up his ears and looked everywhere to see where it was.

After a time continued Oz I tired of that I became a balloonist.

What is that asked Dorothy.

A man who goes up in a balloon on circus day to draw a crowd of people together and get them to pay to see the circus he explained.

Well one day I went up in a balloon and the ropes got twisted and I couldn't come down again.

It went way up above the clouds so far that a current of air struck it and carried it many many miles away.

For a day and a night I traveled through the air and on the morning of the second day I awoke and found the balloon floating over a strange and beautiful country.

It came down gradually and I was not hurt a bit but I found myself in the midst of a strange people who seeing me come from the clouds thought I was a great wizard.

Of course I let them think so because they were afraid of me and promised to do anything I wished them to.

Just to amuse myself and keep the good people busy I ordered them to build this city and my palace and they did it all willingly and well.

Then I thought as the country was so green and beautiful I would call it the Emerald City and to make the name fit better I put green spectacles on all the people so everything they saw was green.

But isn't everything here green asked Dorothy.

No more than in any other city replied Oz but when you wear green spectacles everything you see looks green to you.

The Emerald City was built a great many years ago but I was a young man when the balloon brought me but my people have worn green glasses on their eyes so long that most of them think it really is an Emerald City.

It certainly is a beautiful place abounding in jewels and precious metals and every good thing that's needed to make one happy.

I have been good to the people and they like me but ever since this palace was built I've shut myself up and wouldn't see any of them.

One of my greatest fears was the witches for while I had no magical powers at all I soon found out that the witches really were able to do magic.

There were four of them and they ruled the people who live in the north the south the east and the west.

Fortunately the witches of the north and south were good I knew they would do me no harm but the witches of the east and west were terribly wicked and had they not thought I was more powerful than they were they would have destroyed me.

As it was I lived in deadly fear of them so you can imagine how pleased I was when I heard that your house had fallen on the wicked witch of the east.

When you came to me I was willing to promise anything if you could do away with the other witch but now that you've melted her I'm ashamed to say I can't keep my promises.

You are a very bad man said Dorothy.

Oh no my dear I'm really a very good man but I'm a very bad wizard I must admit.

Can't you give me brains asked the scarecrow.

You don't need them you are learning something every day.

A baby has brains but it doesn't know much.

Experience is the only thing that brings knowledge and the longer you are on earth the more experience you are sure to get.

That may all be true said the scarecrow but I shall be very unhappy unless you give me brains.

The false wizard looked at him carefully.

Well he said with a sigh I'm not much of a magician as I said but if you will come to me tomorrow morning I will stuff your head with brains.

I cannot tell you how to use them however you must find that out for yourself.

Oh thank you thank you cried the scarecrow.

I will find a way to use them never fear.

But how about my courage asked the lion anxiously.

You have plenty of courage I am sure answered Oz.

All you need is confidence in yourself.

There is no living thing that is not afraid when it faces danger.

True courage is in facing danger when you are afraid and that kind of courage you have in plenty.

Perhaps I have but I'm scared just the same said the lion.

I shall really be very unhappy unless you give me the sort of courage that makes one forget he is afraid.

Very well I will give you that sort of courage tomorrow replied Oz.

How about my heart asked the Tim Woodman.

Why as for that answered Oz I think you are wrong to want a heart.

It makes most people unhappy.

If you only knew it you are in luck not to have a heart.

That must be a matter of opinion said the Tim Woodman.

For my part I will bear all the unhappiness without a murmur if you will give me the heart.

Very well answered Oz meekly.

Come to me tomorrow and you shall have a heart.

I've played wizard for so many years I may as well continue.

And now said Dorothy how am I to get back to Kansas?

We'll have to think about that replied the little man.

Give me two or three days to consider the matter and I'll try and find a way to carry you over the desert.

In the meantime you'll be treated as my guests and while you live in the palace my people will wait upon you and obey your slightest wish.

There's only one thing I ask in return for my help such as it is you must keep my secret.

They agreed to say nothing of what they'd learned and went back to their rooms in high spirits.

Even Dorothy had hoped that the great and terrible Humbug as she called him would find a way to send her back to Kansas and if he did she was willing to forgive him everything.

To be continued.