Book VIII

THE FLASHING OF THE HANDJAR

PRIVATE MEMORANDUM OF THE MEETING OF VARIOUS MEMBERS OF THE NATIONAL
COUNCIL, HELD AT THE STATE HOUSE OF THE BLUE MOUNTAINS AT PLAZAC ON
MONDAY, AUGUST 26, 1907.
(Written by Cristoferos, Scribe of the Council, by instruction of
those present.)

When the private meeting of various Members of the National Council
had assembled in the Council Hall of the State House at Plazac, it
was as a preliminary decided unanimously that now or hereafter no
names of those present were to be mentioned, and that officials
appointed for the purposes of this meeting should be designated by
office only, the names of all being withheld.

The proceedings assumed the shape of a general conversation, quite
informal, and therefore not to be recorded. The nett outcome was the
unanimous expression of an opinion that the time, long contemplated
by very many persons throughout the nation, had now come when the
Constitution and machinery of the State should be changed; that the
present form of ruling by an Irregular Council was not sufficient,
and that a method more in accord with the spirit of the times should
be adopted. To this end Constitutional Monarchy, such as that
holding in Great Britain, seemed best adapted. Finally, it was
decided that each Member of the Council should make a personal
canvass of his district, talk over the matter with his electors, and
bring back to another meeting--or, rather, as it was amended, to this
meeting postponed for a week, until September 2nd--the opinions and
wishes received. Before separating, the individual to be appointed
King, in case the new idea should prove grateful to the nation, was
discussed. The consensus of opinion was entirely to the effect that
the Voivode Peter Vissarion should, if he would accept the high
office, be appointed. It was urged that, as his daughter, the
Voivodin Teuta, was now married to the Englishman, Rupert Sent Leger-
-called generally by the mountaineers "the Gospodar Rupert"--a
successor to follow the Voivode when God should call him would be at
hand--a successor worthy in every way to succeed to so illustrious a
post. It was urged by several speakers, with general acquiescence,
that already Mr. Sent Leger's services to the State were such that he
would be in himself a worthy person to begin the new Dynasty; but
that, as he was now allied to the Voivode Peter Vissarion, it was
becoming that the elder, born of the nation, should receive the first
honour.

THE SAME--Continued.

The adjourned meeting of certain members of the National Council was
resumed in the Hall of the State House at Plazac on Monday, September
2nd, 1907. By motion the same chairman was appointed, and the rule