dome like a group of completely independent sculptures, but placed so as
to tell the combined story with a sort of native ease, not stressed or
artificial, yet seeming as natural and beautiful as water in its flowing
grace. Now I will endeavor to describe its content, though I realize
that in this case the picture must be worth many millions of words.

The center of the mural was its beginning, and there a man was standing
proudly upright, dressed in splendid clothes of fine linens. He held in
his hand a magnificent cup of gold with a row each of diamonds, rubies,
sapphires, and pearls running along its breadth. It contained a dark red
liquid, which appeared to be boiling, and the man was holding it out to
a fierce lion whose shoulders were four feet across and whose mouth was
like a cavern, with stalactites and stalagmites of the most terrifying
nature. With an evil glare in its eyes toward the man, the lion drank
thirstily from the cup. Around the man and the lion there was a ring of
blazing fire, leaping out of the dome like great pillars of flame,
entrapping them within its narrow circle. On the outside of the fire was
a group of mighty lizards and beasts, the smallest of which was larger
than several elephants. Their whole attention was paid to a great fight
in which they were engaged, yet their foe was naught but the reflections
of themselves on the great sea which surrounded the island that held
these strange sights. Several of them were dead or severely wounded at
having been accidentally mauled by their fighting brethren. Across the
ocean from the island there was another landmass, whose far edges were
not in sight. On it were many ape-men bowing down in worship of a
gigantic White Eagle which was soaring far above them with a multitude
of lords and ladies gripped in its massive talons. The lords were
dressed in silken robes and adorned with many pieces of fine jewelry,
and the ladies were clothed in skirts of crimson; both groups had upon
their faces looks of pleasure, and contempt towards those far below