The three-dimensional, moving, talking, almost living picture, beingshown simultaneously in all the viewing areas throughout the innumerableplanets of the Galaxy, faded out and the image of an aged, white-beardedNorlaminian appeared and spoke in the Galactic language.
"As is customary, the showing of this picture has opened the celebrationof our great Galactic holiday, Civilization Day. As you all know, itportrays the events leading up to and making possible the formation ofthe League of Civilization by a mere handful of planets. The League nowembraces all of this, the First Galaxy, and is spreading rapidlythroughout the Universe. Varied are the physical forms and varied arethe mentalities of our almost innumerable races of beings, but inCivilization we are becoming one, since those backward people who willnot co-operate with us are rendered impotent to impede our progressamong the more enlightened.
"It is peculiarly fitting that the one who has just been chosen to headthe Galactic Council--the first person of a race other than one of thoseof the Central System to prove himself able to wield justly the vastpowers of that office--should be a direct descendant of two of therevered persons whose deeds of olden times we have just witnessed.
"I present to you my successor as Chief of the Galactic Council, RichardBallinger Seaton, the fourteen hundred sixty-ninth, of Earth."