bernard—good-morning, mother, dear.

gentola—good-morning, my son, a thousand kisses for my dear boy.

de l'ester—we, too, greet you, and regret that mentally you are so disturbed. pray console yourself; affairs seldom go so awry that they cannot be righted. soon yours will be so adjusted that you will not be subjected to interruptions, which are harmful to you and vexatious to us. your west window is not sufficiently shaded. be pleased to arrange it. now try to tranquillize yourself. join with us in invocation to the one who is the spirit of harmony; thus we also will grow harmonious.

infinite, divine intelligence of the universe, we, the children of thy love, aspire to grow into a more conscious realization that we are, because that thou art. as step by step, we strive to climb the ever ascending heights of progress, thou art our support. when, through our weakness and lack of wisdom we go astray, thou leadest us into straight paths. ever are we reaching toward thee, who art our father and our mother, and thou givest thy angels charge concerning us. so will it ever be, and lovingly we adore thee, in whom ever we will abide. amen, amen.

george, we are ready. nay, dear lad, you will require all your strength, for we are late and must journey quickly, but you shall remain by your mother's side. gen

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tola̤, previous to these visits to ento you could not have conceived an idea of the rapidity with which we are traversing space.

gentola—no, and i cannot yet realize it. we must be moving with the velocity of lightning, still i perceive but a slight sensation of motion. it seems as though we are nearly stationary, while space glides away from us. as i grow accustomed to this sensation, i, too, at times lose consciousness of time and space.

de l'ester—to fully freed spirits this sensation is even less emphasized. this leads me to mention that, upon becoming wholly freed, spirits, as a rule, are not for a time able to recall vivid memories of their mortal existence. upon attempting to manifest through some sensitive almost invariably they are asked, "what is your name? where did you live? when did you die?" the spirit endeavors to place himself or herself en rapport with physical conditions involving time and space, and becomes too bewildered to give a correct reply. should some other spirit be present, as is usual, the bewildered one may be instructed as to how to make a proper statement. those who have made a study of the spiritual philosophy and phenomena possess some understanding of the process of communication between the two worlds, and though both their premises and conclusions may be faulty, such knowledge as they may have acquired will, when they exchange the physical for the spiritual, serve them well. not only will it prepare them for the surprises in store for them, but also for a more intelligent and intelligible return into the conditions of their mortal existence.

gently, gently george, we must not forget that neither your sister or bernard are as strong as some time they will be.

there are our friends awaiting us. lohaû, ēmentos.

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ah, zenesta̤, you are ever punctual, and you, humboldt and bruno, shame us for our late arrival. it seems very ungallant to say that gentola̤ belated us.

gentola—nevertheless it is true, and i beg your indulgence. i am learning that things temporal are likely to conflict with things spiritual, and this morning i have had an unpleasant demonstration of the fact. however, i believe that it was less my fault than my misfortune to be unprepared at the appointed time.

de l'ester—as we, the jury, are in possession of the facts, we unanimously pronounce you not guilty, and now we will proceed to the department we visited yesterday. here is the venerable antiquary still patiently poring over the story of the da̤-hûlos.

zenesta—i sympathize with the earnest, gentle looking man, for i recall having passed many days and sleepless nights in similar undertakings. for many minds there is a peculiar fascination in striving to translate an unknown language. i well remember what delight it once afforded me, and the charm of it yet clings to me. but here is our geologist who will afford you further instruction in relation to these gems.

hugh miller—madame, we first will observe this magnificent collection of sapphires which are so varied in their hues, so large and beautifully cut that they challenge our highest admiration.

gentola—they are indeed wonderfully beautiful gems. it is a delight to only look at them. you say that oriental rubies are a species of sapphire. why, i supposed that all sapphires were blue. and this, you say, is an oriental amethyst, which also is of the sapphire family. i fear that you think me, as indeed i am, very ignorant in this direction.

hugh miller—my dear madame, we do not expect you

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to be learned as to the varieties or qualities of these collections of gems; i am only concerned in instructing you for a purpose. the blue varieties are the true sapphires, as they alone possess both quality and color. they bear to both the oriental amethyst and ruby the same relation that the true white diamond bears to stones off color.

gentola—pardon me if i am interrupting you. here is a gem—that one resting on the white cushion—that is so large, so radiantly beautiful, that one can imagine it of celestial origin. is it not a true sapphire? yes? ah, i thought so; it possesses such a living radiance. since i have learned that gems are both spirit and matter, i shall admire them all the more. how very lovely those rainbow-hued gems are; are they not opals?

hugh miller—yes, they are opals, in whose depths the spirit of the gem glows like fire. some persons regard these gems as uncanny. some time i will tell you something uncanny concerning them. no, not now; it would be unwise. a sober-minded scientist would declare that it is through the arrangement of the silicious matter largely composing these gems that the iridescent effects are produced. such an assertion would be but part of a fact. spirit is infinite in its modes of expression, and were it withdrawn from those gems, bits of flint would be quite as valuable as those glowing, scintillating jewels, which are lovely enough to adorn the crown of an empress. now, madame, what do you suppose these green gems are? emeralds? no, they are beryls; and these are aqua marines; they are of the same family, the aqua marines being the transparent variety. yes, both are pretty stones. in this adjoining compartment is an admirable collection of—but perhaps you know what they are.

gentola—from their color i should think that they are topazes. i do not greatly admire yellow jewels.

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hugh miller—do not make the mistake of thinking that all topazes are yellow, for there are other colors of the same gem, but the pellucid yellow stone is considered the most desirable variety. these are garnets, and are fine specimens of the stone. here are deep red ones holding in their hearts imprisoned flames and yellow stones like bits of sunshine. and here are green, brown and black varieties, all more or less attractive and useful for various purposes. the next compartment contains carbuncles and some of them are beautiful enough to grace a coronet. yes, there is a resemblance between the carbuncle and the red garnet, but their qualities are dissimilar.

you have been shown this collection of jewels as a demonstration of their existence on this planet, and be assured that the entoans, like our earth peoples, regard them with high favor. for lack of time we cannot critically examine this wonderfully fine and comprehensive collection of stones and minerals, whose exact counterparts are portions of earth's treasures.

you express surprise that this enormously valuable collection is not better protected against evil-minded persons. perhaps inidora̤ or genessano may enlighten us as to that and other features pertaining to this department.

inidora—previous to the death of our father, he made known to my brother and me that he possessed a large and valuable collection of jewels which were the accumulations of generations of both his and our mother's ancestry, and that some of them, through certain associations, were especially prized. the ruby which gentola̤ held in her palm belonged to our dear mother, who received it as a bridal gift from her mother, and it was worn sometimes on the arm or bosom, but generally as a brow ornament. our maternal grandparents possessed a remarkably fine collection of gems, which, at their death, our dear

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mother, who was their only child, inherited, and as with our father gem collecting was a passion, and as he also had inherited many rarely fine gems, it came about that at his death my brother and i found ourselves possessed of these joint accumulations of ento's most beautiful and valuable jewels. as neither my brother or i desired to marry, we entered into an agreement concerning them that was mutually satisfactory.

i need not more than refer to the desires and plans of our parents to found at camarissa̤ a great galarēsa̤ which should be of lasting benefit to the children of ento. but i may say that our minds were as one in our desire to carry out their wishes, and that we might speedily accomplish our purpose, we resolved that our vast inheritance should be devoted to accomplishing the object so near our hearts. as we were young and inexperienced, we counselled with our supreme ruler, tyvon oiranza̤, who was a man of most generous views, and he encouraged and aided us in various ways. so with the enthusiasm of youth and with ample means at our command, we began to prepare for the inception of our work, and soon, to our boundless joy, we saw our cherished plans taking form. as the massive walls began to rise, our hearts were filled with exultation and as the great structure assumed proportions and the various outer departments began to environ it, we grew so excited, so absorbed, that we scarcely ate or slept. day and night we counselled together and planned for the glory and usefulness of the institution which for all time should stand as a reminder of our honored and adored parents. as though it were but yesterday, i recall the last conversation between my brother and myself relating to this galarēsa̤. the day had been sultry and the darkening clouds gave intimation of a storm, but in our eagerness to hasten the work we had labored until the day was nearly

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ended, and as we slowly walked toward our nearby home, the lurid sun was dropping below the further shore of indoloisa̤'s quiet waters. suddenly genessano passed an arm about my shoulders, and in a voice tremulous from emotion, said, "inidora̤, what if death should come to one or both of us ere our work shall be completed? may andûmana̤ preserve us, for what should i do shouldst thou be taken and i left? should i be taken, thy wisdom would suffice for thy needs, but i, alas! i dare not further speak of it."

as we gazed into each others' startled faces tears filled our eyes, and sadly, silently, we entered our home, the dread shadow of phra (death) falling over our hearts like a pall. but i strove to be courageous, and at once set about arranging our affairs so that should phra, at an untimely hour, claim me, genessano would understand my wishes which i well knew he would make his own. ere long genessano was left to execute our mutual wishes which he did with faithfulness and zeal. heavy hearted he labored until death claimed him, and to others was left the fulfillment of our plans. that they did so faithfully and efficiently no one can question.

concerning the security of the gems, i have only to say that the galarēsa̤ and all pertaining to it belongs to the peoples of ento and they are not so foolish or so evil minded as to despoil their own possessions.

de l'ester—gentola̤, the time allotted for this series of object lessons has expired, and to the galarēsa̤ and our friend the antiquary who is tranquilly dozing, we will say au revoir.

we now will view camarissa̤, so that you may form an idea of its extent, its architecture and other features. observe this slope largely is devoted to detached private residences, and that the wide, beautifully paved streets in

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tersect at right angles. at each intersection is a statue or group of statuary, or a fountain, or column, or other ornamental feature. this group of heroic size represents genessano allis immo and his wife, through whom this great city honors itself by bearing her name. these statues are faithful representations of two of the most admirable spirits i ever have met. yes, genessano is very like his father, and inidora̤ resembles his mother, who is a marvellously lovely woman.

from the slopes eastward the city extends about ten english miles, but from its northern to its southern limit is quite twenty english miles. being the head of the irrigating and waterways system, naturally a large population has centred here and it is, with the exception of one other, the most populous and wealthy city of ento. the population is about one million seven hundred thousand, and it is the greatest manufacturing and commercial city on the planet.

beneficent, indeed, was the conception and execution of the system which has recovered for the uses of the people lands which long ago would have become deserts. the system now extends more than four thousand miles, and rapidly is progressing toward encircling the planet. on our planet the undertaking would not be considered feasible, but with the means at command of the entoans, it is not now regarded as extraordinary. with them the science of engineering in all its expressions is far in advance of what is known of it on earth. then, too, they so well understand the energies of electricity and vibration that, if they desired, they might shatter their planet into fragments. looking along the waterway we see lofty columns whose massive bases are of stone, but the columns are of a metal known to the entoans as flaûen. it is very light and very ductile. as yet it is unknown on earth. the

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elements do not corrode it, and it is a non-conductor of electricity, which renders it suitable for this and some other purposes. those columns are used as electric light towers, and so high is the illuminating power that it well nigh turns night into day. electricity as an illuminant and for all possible purposes is so cheaply procured as to be within the means of all requiring its use. throughout the irrigated belt and on most portions of ento there are stations where thoroughly trained persons attend to the production and distribution of electric currents, and so valued is life that accidents are of very rare occurrence.

were we not obliged to hasten our movements, we would take you through some of those stately as well as through some of those less pretentious residences. as you perceive there are no mean or squalid homes. nowhere on ento are there impoverished persons, and everywhere there is cleanliness, comfort and more or less of the elegancies of culture. ento has progressed beyond the crime of privileged classes, those generators of debauchery and poverty. industry is made obligatory upon all able to work and few, excepting the very aged, are unable to labor. right living engenders health and aside from their dread of death which depresses them mentally, consequently physically, the entoans live righteously and enjoy length of days.

no, there are no jails, penitentiaries, or almshouses. those whom age, accident, disease or other causes have rendered helpless, are cared for, not as paupers, but as hapless children of andûmana̤ for whom it is a pleasure and a duty to provide. alcohol in its various forms is a commercial commodity, but drunkenness is forbidden and unknown. chastity is universal. polygamous relations do not exist. official corruption or betrayal of a trust are reckoned as heinous crimes against society, and no one

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seems inclined to sin in either direction. have i answered all your questions?

gentola—yes, all that occur to me at this time, and while paying close attention to your replies i have been gazing at this great and beautiful city and those wonderful air transports, rising like huge birds, then moving away so steadily, so noiselessly, save for that singing sound which is rather agreeable. i am curious to see their mechanism, but first allow me to see more of camarissa̤. when all those great light towers are ablaze, from this elevation the view must be magnificent. you have said that some time i should see ento by night. pray do not forget your promise.

with all my heart i wish that some of our earth architects might see some of those grandly beautiful temples and public buildings. i miss one feature of our temple architecture, which is the spire, but i consider those great shining domes with their delicate ornamentation, far more beautiful.

what flower lovers the entoans must be. wherever we have gone there is such an exquisite display of blooms that constantly i am wishing that i might carry some of them home with me, and really it seems odd that i cannot.

see that great vessel coming so swiftly along the waterway and what a swarm of smaller ones go darting along the street canals. de l'ester, how are they propelled?

de l'ester—by an electric appliance. on ento an understanding of the science of mechanics is far in advance of the same on earth. you may have observed that in persons who have lost or never have possessed the sense of sight, there is an abnormal development of other senses, for nature ever is striving to maintain an equilibrium. thus, the entoans, whose religious beliefs have for so long stood as an impassable barrier between them and an

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understanding of certain sciences, notably of astronomy and to a degree of geology, have developed in other directions.

you have expressed a desire for a closer view of the air transports, so we will visit yonder station. i will assist you. look downward now. is not camarissa̤ a wonderfully beautiful city? ah me, it will be a long time before earth will possess a city so free from the blemishes of poverty and degradation. the architecture, the statues, fountains and other features form such a harmonious and charming picture that one is constrained to admire the genius and culture of a people capable of presenting such fine effects. i have said that the entoans make small use of more than two motive powers. i must correct that statement, for, to a very considerable extent, for certain purposes, they also use compressed and liquefied air. we now will descend to the station. none of our present party are learned as to electrical appliances, but we may enlighten you a little. one of a line of transports is about to rise, and it is laden with passengers and merchandise. stored electricity is the motive power of this and of most air transports, but all are provided with generators, to if necessary, increase the supply. it is not advisable to attempt a detailed description of the form and dimensions of this transport, which is one of average size, but i shall call your attention to its principal features. you perceive that underneath and running its entire length is a cylindrical shaft of the metal known as flaûen. around it, arranged spirally, are huge flaûen fans, which are set in motion by the swift revolutions of the screw like cylinder. at the rear is a fan shaped flaûen structure, which presently you will see revolving with tremendous velocity. across the front is this great horizontal flaûen rod, which is held in place by strong metal sockets, in which

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it revolves. the ends or arms of the rod, extending on either side, are surrounded by vossala̤a̤ (climbers). when the transport rises you will better understand this part of its mechanism. all transports are cigar shaped, so that they may offer slight resistance to the atmosphere and when they alight, those compressed air cylinders prevent concussion.

the doorways are being closed. from the windows the passengers call info oovista̤a̤ (adieus) and now the transport is about to rise. now the fan encircled, cylindrical shaft and the arms of the vossala̤a̤ begin to revolve, the climbers, like great wings, open out and the transport, with long sweeping undulations rises, rises, and at an altitude of a thousand or more feet, goes eastward.

to at all understand the construction of these truly wonderful air carriers one must be versed in both mechanics and electrical engineering, and we are not learned in either of them. do not make the mistake of thinking that spirits know everything; we know only what we have learned, and we are and ever will be students in a school which never graduates its pupils.

another transport is about to rise and we will be invisible passengers. all aboard, friends. now we rise for a hundred feet or so; now we dip a little; again we rise, and with an undulating movement we have ascended far above camarissa̤, which sits among the shining waters and under the silvery mist veiling, but not concealing its beauties.

genessano—gentola̤, let me ask you to turn your gaze toward the galarēsa̤. is not it a grandly beautiful structure? and even at this distance, you may perceive the majestic form and benignant face of my father smiling us a farewell.

gentola—it is indeed grandly beautiful. its lofty, cream-tinted walls surmounted by those magnificent

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statues, and its great, shining dome towering toward the blue sky, present a most charming spectacle. i clearly perceive the statue of your father, whose majestic form and benignant face will retain a place in my memories of ento.

de l'ester—the leaves of the climbers and the fans of the cylindrical shaft are revolving with tremendous velocity, and the transport is moving through the air, nearly a hundred miles an hour; yet one perceives only a slight vibration. the entire mechanism is under perfect control of the engineer and his assistants, and not for a moment do they relax their alert attention to their duties. the passengers, who appear quite at their ease, converse or gaze from the windows at the widespread panorama. we will repair to the rear platform, which will afford us a finer view. no, accidents scarcely ever occur to these aërial conveyances.

gentola—how marvellous this all is. this swiftly moving transport, like a great bird flying through the air, and yonder wonderful system of irrigation and waterways on which vessels great and small are passing in all directions. at night, when those great light towers illumine cities, towns and country, the scene must be enchanting. two features of ento strike me forcibly. one is the universally apparent prosperity of its peoples, the other is the architecture of cities, towns and country places. even the country houses are picturesque and very pretty. i do not recall that i have seen one squalid, mean dwelling. i shall not soon forget the first time i stood in the court of honor of the white city of our world's fair. it looked so familiar, so like some scenes that some time, somewhere, i had beheld, that a sense of bewilderment came over me, and for a time i thought that i must have dreamed of some similar scene. then you, de l'ester, spoke to me, and i

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recalled that on ento i had beheld structures and scenes similar to, but far more beautiful than those presented by the court of honor. no, i do not as distinctly remember these ento experiences as i remember some dreams which really sometimes come true.

bruno—by some persons dreams are regarded as the reflex of incidents and impressions of waking hours, and frequently they are the result of more or less related and distorted images, which from time to time are impressed upon the animal soul, or so termed objective consciousness. but there are dreams and dreams. a genius, so called, is a sensitive whose waking dreams are the conceptions of exalted spirit minds, reflected or projected upon his or her aura, which, like a mirror, receives the impression and in turn reflects it upon the brain of the sensitive. to the great poet sensitive come the words and rhythm of songs which stir the hearts of the world. to the great sculptor comes a waking dream of beauty, and from marble he releases a form so flawless that through centuries it commands the adoring admiration of artistic souls. to the great painter comes a conception of enchanting scenes or of forms and faces whose witchery enthralls all beholders. to the great architect, the true builder, come ideals so exalted that neither human intelligence or human hands have yet executed them. ask the great architect and builder of your time, if he has even once succeeded in embodying his highest ideal of his art, and i do not hesitate in saying that he will answer no, no.

be assured that all so called geniuses are sensitives, whose births were not of yesterday, for to spirit there is neither beginning or ending.

ento's fine architecture is the result of impressions received not only from exalted ento spirits, but also from spirits of other planetary spirit realms. as there can be

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but one mind in the universe, all its expressions must vibrate in harmony with either its major or its minor chords; thus, the architects, designers and other artists who spoke into form and color, your beautiful white city, were as truly inspired as were some of olden times, who declared, thus "saith the lord."

de l'ester—below us is gandûlana̤'s shining waters, extending from north to south, a little more than one hundred miles. from its western to its eastern shore its length is quite sixty miles. you perceive that its outline is nearly oval, and that at intervals its shores are dotted with towns and villages, whose inhabitants are engaged in the various pursuits of well conducted communities. in the larger towns are manufacturing and commercial interests, but residents of the villages are engaged in cultivating the surrounding lands. for the convenience of transportation and for the retention of the yearly over-flow, ento's lakes and rivers have been greatly enlarged; thus, the depth of gandûlana̤ loisa̤ nearly equals that of indoloisa̤. ento's atmosphere being extremely humid, and the rain and snowfall of both the northern and southern hemispheres being very heavy, since time immemorial it has been necessary to provide means of protection against the annual inundation, which comes and goes with phenomenal rapidity.

all over the cultivated portions of the planet are artificial lakes of considerable extent, which really are storage receptacles, at times, of much needed water. what were the principal causes leading to the aridity of the equatorial lands? we have informed you that largely it was through the levelling of the planet, which led to extreme porosity of the soil. but another factor contributed to the calamity. previous to and for centuries after the establishment of the national religion, the entoans were so unwise as to, for

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various purposes, denude the equatorial forests. in time they perceived their error, and during later centuries they have been endeavoring to restore them, thereby increasing the rainfall and oxygenating the impoverished atmosphere. yes, we know that ages ago the equatorial regions were traversed by mountain ranges that now are mere vestiges of their once lofty grandeur, and where now are desert lands, were lakes and abounding water courses. once gandûlana̤ loisa̤ was one of a series of great fresh water lakes, extending far toward the northeast, but for many an ento century previous to the inception of the irrigating and waterways system it had been an ever lessening and isolated lake. since then it has been greatly deepened. naturally, the equatorial lands have suffered from the levelling process to a greater degree than have the lands of the temperate and colder regions. the temperature of the equatorial regions being high, induces rapid evaporation, and the soil to a great depth being very porous, it so quickly absorbs water that the flood of to-day is the drought of to-morrow. thus the necessity of water storage is apparent.

beneath us is the eastern shore of gandûlana̤ loisa̤, which marks the boundary line between the provinces of ondû and of wya̤mo. camarissa̤, the capital city of ondû, is a little south of the equatorial line, which at this moment we have crossed, and now the transport is descending to the large town on the lake shore. down, down, we are dropping. how carefully the descent is regulated, and with what precision the transport alights upon the platform. gentola̤, observe the passengers as they descend from the transport.

gentola—that is what i am doing. that magisterial looking personage, wearing a white robe, bordered with purple, has exceedingly fine eyes, so large, so brilliant, so

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full of expression. and that swarthy gentleman, robed in dark blue, with gold embroidered collar and sleeves, is a very striking figure. what a number of passengers there are. some are very dark complexioned, others less so, and here are two men and a woman, who are blue eyed, very fair complexioned, and they have the loveliest blonde hair, waving quite to their shoulders. i must say that of all the entoans i have seen, not one could be called ill-favored, and very few less than handsome. then their sincere and gentle expression, their nobility of carriage and pensive gravity of manner inspire me with both admiration and sympathy, especially so, since i have come to understand their hopeless religious belief.

yes, i greatly admire the clothing worn by both men and women. the robes worn by those gentlemen add much to the grace and dignity of their appearance, but the robes worn by the women, to my mind, are still more admirable. they are not so voluminous as to conceal the outlines of the form, and at the waist line they are loosely confined by beautiful girdles of various designs and materials. as to fabrics, style of cut, and ornamentation, there is much diversity, but all are more or less attractive, and certainly they must be comfortable. no, i have not on ento seen one shabbily clothed person, which is more than i can say of our planet, for among the many millions of earth there are multitudes of poor, degraded, wretched beings, whose poverty, misery and rags are a continual protest against the selfish inhumanity of those of higher estate. it seems strange that although the peoples of our planet for the most part believe in a continuity of existence, they live as though the present existence is the end of all. each man's hand is against his brother, and among nations the struggle for place and power drenches our world with blood and our prisons, almshouses, asylums for

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the insane are filled with criminals and other unfortunates. compared with the gentle, civilized, unbelieving entoans, we are uncivilized, believing savages. i no longer wonder that to the spirit worlds our planet is known as the sorrowful star.

de l'ester—patience, patience, gentola̤. although the contrast between ento's and earth's social conditions is very marked, evolution means progress, and slowly, but surely, the peoples of our planet are emerging into higher conceptions of truth. inevitably, a period will arrive when the surface of earth will have become as level as is the surface of ento. just so surely a period will arrive when the unequal social conditions of earth will be a thing of the past, and there will be a universal recognition of the rights of all. what is it, genessano?

genessano—i wish gentola̤ to observe the person who, at this moment, is ascending the steps of the transport. he is a priest of the inner sanctuary of the temple zim. one of those with whom the gods commune. one whom we would term a sensitive. accompanying him are several novices, who have not yet made vows of consecration. i recall days of long ago, when as youths, inidora̤ and i knelt before priests of this order, receiving from them instruction relating to our religion. to us they then appeared too holy to share the common fate of andûmana̤'s other children. indeed, outside of their order, no one ever learns of their death. they disappear and no one questions as to what has become of them. knowing this, our boyish imagination invested them not only with uncommon sanctity, but, as did our parents, with a certain mystery. you have become aware that usually spirits can read the thoughts of mortals, and thus i can say that, as a rule the priesthood of ento, especially the sensitive priests, serve sincerely their conception of the infinite one. it

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may interest you to learn that the ento name of this order is oimû vosten-da̤ fanûlista̤, which in your language, de l'ester says, would mean "consecrated to the mystery." it is true that they are consecrated to a mystery which they wholly misunderstand. being sensitives, they commune with spirits on a level with or possibly above the level of their own spiritual evolvement, who still cling to and encourage them in an observance of the old superstitions.

for the reason that a peculiar qualification is requisite, the number of priests admitted into this order is quite limited. of course, we understand that the qualification is the sensitive condition.

de l'ester—friends, as the transport is about to rise, we will embark. george, george, you are incorrigible. gentola̤, if you lend yourself to participation in his mischievous pranks you will demoralize those staid entoans. by your touches on his face and hands, you have so disconcerted that official that he has quite forgotten the dignity of his position. it is amusing to see him turning this way and that, in a vain quest for the person who has taken such uncourteous liberties. gentola̤, with all your gravity you, too, are inclined for a bit of fun.

gentola—it is the old story: george did tempt me and i weakly yielded. that official looked so serene and so very dignified that i felt a strong desire to startle him. his expression of dismay as he looked at his hands and rubbed his face and found no one near him, who could have touched him, was most laughable. he still looks disturbed and thoughtful. if he could hear me, i would ask his pardon.

george—upon my word, i think he might hear you. i perceived that he is a very sensitive person, else i should

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not have asked you to touch him. shall we test him, de l'ester?

de l'ester—not now. the transport is rising and we must not delay our journey. we will remain on the balcony, so that gentola̤ and bernard may view the country.

we still are passing in a direction north of east, and across the province of wya̤mo, which is more extensive than is ondû. you perceive that the surface of the country grows a trifle more rugged, and now we are passing over the diamond bearing locality, spoken of by inidora̤. though unlearned in the sciences of civil and hydraulic engineering, one realizes the wonderful skill through which this vast area of irrigation and navigation is controlled, so that even during the season of floods, no disasters occur. the elevation we are crossing is a vestige of an ancient mountain range. not seriously interfering with the system, it was because of its picturesqueness, left undisturbed. its length is about one hundred miles and at intervals there are natural rifts through which this waterway and canals have been carried. later you will observe that ento's waterways are double; that is, there is the waterway proper and its feeder, which at times furnishes such supplies of water as may be needed to keep the main waterway at a proper depth. yes, the feeder is for small vessels navigable, but as you will see a large portion of the system, you will better understand this matter. you perceive that the height is clothed with verdure and dotted with residences, istoira̤s and other structures. how prolific this region is, yet not so very long ago it was nearly a desert. now its large population obtains from its rich lands not only ample sustenance for themselves, but great quantities of grains, vegetables and fruits are exported to other localities. all manner of tropical fruits are

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grown, and i can assure you that some varieties are very like some fruits grown in our own tropical countries. i know your fear of ridicule through making such statements. do not concern yourself. your astronomers and other scientists of less than half a century hence, will have obtained information concerning ento that now they do not even dream of.

our journey of to-day embraces a portion of the irrigating and waterways system, which is continuous toward the east. i have mentioned that the system is about 1,400 english miles wide, and that at this time it is more than 4,000 miles long. understand that i now am speaking of the system embracing the equatorial desert lands, and other arid lands adjacent, for, as you will have occasion to observe, irrigation is general all over the arable portions of the planet, and i do not wish to have you confound the general with the special system, which is a most scientific work and quite apart from ordinary methods of irrigation. the waterway which now is beneath us, runs in a straight line to loisa̤ taimon, which we are nearing. on its shores are many towns, villages and a not very extensive city, named gûlnoyas (crescent shaped). there is another city—but of that i shall not now speak. a feature of ento is that wherever there is a body or stream of fresh water, there the people congregate. thus, around taimon there is a dense population, many of whom farm the rich and fertile lands beneath us. next to death, the entoans dread isolation and darkness. by a residence in cities, towns and villages they escape both.

gentola—why is it that to-day we have seen no animals?

de l'ester—for the reason that ento's orientals seldom, if ever, eat meat. for other purposes they do not require animals. no, there are no positive religious restric

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tions relating to the eating of meat, but orientals do not seem to care for it, and then nearly all entoans shrink from taking life, even of animals.

climatic conditions on this, as on other planets, exercise a strong influence in the selection of human foods. in the colder regions an oleaginous diet is necessary. in temperate climes this requirement is less marked, and in oriental countries generally there is a positive aversion for animal food. aside from climatic influences there is another factor to be recognized. as humans evolve beyond the influence of the animal plane, they grow less inclined to kill that they may eat. this is a universal, though generally unrecognized law. in earlier ages, the entoans, to a greater extent than now, were meat eaters, and at present, in colder climes, the people consume larger quantities of various fishes, which rather illogically, they scarcely regard as meat. as air transports bear to them the products of all lands, they do so from choice.

yonder is taimon, the beautiful, reflecting in its placid depths, fleecy clouds and sapphire sky. that it might serve as part of the system centuries ago, it, like gandûlana̤ loisa̤, was greatly deepened; otherwise the huge vessels traversing the waterways could not ride on their waters. on your first visit to ento you saw in the distance something resembling railway cars. you now may have a closer view of ento's tuzamos, for yonder is a long train drawing into a station, nearby the transport station to which we are descending. those tramway carriages traverse a large portion of the planet, the motive power being electric. we will not await the landing of the transport, but will proceed to the tuzamo station, where doubtless we shall find matters of interest to you two voyagers. first, we will visit this telegraphic station where dispatches are being sent to and received from all portions

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of the planet. we are not learned in this marvel of atmospheric telegraphy, which is the system generally in use on ento. by means of this delicate mechanism, which appears so simple, but is so complex, messages instantaneously reach any designated point. the clumsier method of ground currents, still to a limited extent, connects rural istoira̤s with temples. not for many centuries have wires been used. ground currents superseded that system, which in turn has been set aside by the atmospheric system. we have informed you that the entire public service of ento is under the supervision and control of the general government, which holds all officials and employes to a strict account of their several duties. the general government not only controls, but also owns, the tuzamo system, the transport system, the irrigating and waterways system, the telegraphic and other systems in which the interests of all the peoples are concerned. the lands, too, are owned by the general government, and no proprietor occupies more than a specified acreage, which in no case exceeds the needs of his or her household. on occupied lands there is a rental, or taxation, which is so slight as to be far from oppressive, and the revenues derived from this and other sources are used for the support of the general government, and for the prosecution of enterprises for the general good. always, residences and other improvements, belong to the proprietor and may be sold or transferred.

bernard—mother, dear, although this spacious station and all pertaining to it is new to you and to me, and those people of various races are, in size, dress and other peculiarities, somewhat unlike our earth people, still there is such a strong, general resemblance to them and to this scene that i scarcely can realize that i am on another

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planet. then, look at those tuzamos, are not they in appearance, very like our railway cars?

de l'ester—certainly, their construction is similar to that of our railway cars, but if you will observe closely you will perceive that they present several striking differences. for instance, the driving wheels are enormously large, and there are three sets of truck wheels, the middle set running in the groove of the central rail, and the rails are not in sections, all being firmly welded into continuity, which greatly adds to their permanence and to the safety of those connected with the tuzamo service, or who travel in those elegantly appointed carriages. genessano, can you inform us as to when tuzamos first came into use on ento?

genessano—i am not quite certain, but inidora̤ may know. inidora̤, ino intessa̤ varo mûya̤ tuzamos inga fosdû?

inidora—at the time of the establishment of the national religion they were known, for in the sacred writings they are referred to, and not as though they then were a modern invention. i recall that during my mortal existence i saw pictured representations of those ancient conveyances, which were quite unlike these admirably constructed and artistically finished carriages.

george—i have been looking about the city and if you are through with your observation of the tuzamos, i can promise gentola̤ and bernard a view of something that may interest them.

de l'ester—come, friends, and learn what our enterprising englishman has discovered. gentola̤, allow me to assist you. ah, a temple, and how beautiful it is. in form it is perfectly circular, with great flights of steps surrounding about two-thirds of its circumference. it is built of white marble, and from base to dome its walls are

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so covered with intricate and delicate sculpture that it presents the appearance of beautiful filmy lace. george, this will interest more than gentola̤ and bernard, for this is the first time that inidora̤, genessano or i have seen this somewhat noted temple soya̤von telissa̤. (name of andûmana̤'s cup bearer.) gentola̤, you will attempt a description of its interior, but as you are not apt at estimating dimensions, i will say that its diameter is about one hundred and twenty feet, and that its height from the floor to the apex of the dome is quite one hundred feet. you now will proceed.

gentola—though it is not so spacious or so magnificent as some of the temples of camarissa̤, to my mind it is the most beautiful temple i ever have seen. the walls are marvels of decoration in tinted woods, paintings and sculpture, which i cannot attempt to describe. the seats are arranged as in an amphitheater, thus affording a full view of the altar, which is in the centre of the temple and directly under the dome. the altar of pure white marble is circular in form, and it rises tier above tier to a height, i should say, of thirty feet, and is surmounted by a wonderfully lovely life-size female figure, whose marble lips are parted by a smile of adorable sweetness. the three tiers are supported by flower-wreathed marble columns and male and female forms, their drapery falling about them in such filmy folds that it seems as though a breath of air might stir it.

each tier of the altar is sculptured in designs of grains, fruits and flowers, so delicate, so exquisite, that one scarcely can believe it the work of mortals. on the lower tier are great golden bowls filled with grains and fruits, and the air is perfumed with the fragrance of flowers, whose yellow and crimson blooms are in vivid contrast with the snowy altar and its adornments. the floor is a mosaic,

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realistically representing the azure sky, and radiating from the base of the altar of sun rays in shades of red and yellow. the temple is lighted through the great crystal dome, whose blended sun-rays, falling downward onto the whiteness of the altar, produce an indescribably beautiful and peculiar effect. over the temple entrances are inscriptions which you, zenesta̤, will be kind enough to translate into my language.

zenesta hao—i shall do so with pleasure. over the eastern entrance is inscribed, "to andûmana̤, the supreme one, who giveth life and all that is." over the northern entrance i read, "divine messengers of andûmana̤, we implore you to bear to him our ceaseless supplications for prolonged life." over the southern entrance is a prayer which is the keynote of all ento prayers. "sorrowfully, but submissively, we yield ourselves to thy decrees, oh thou who at thy pleasure createst and destroyest."

gentola̤, you have come to realize that love of life is the dominant desire of my people, and i who remember the desolation which death brought into my own mortal existence can well understand their ever increasing dread of the certain approach of the unseen, relentless god phra (death).

observe that the western doorway opens into a lofty and wide hallway, leading to the residence of the high priest and his attendant priests and priestesses. it now is on the stroke of the noon hour, and in all the temples of ento prayers and offerings will be made to andûmana̤ and his messengers. you now will resume your descriptive remarks.

gentola—in the gallery over the western doorway male and female voices, accompanied by the low tones of a voûhoida̤ (resembles a pipe organ) chant softly and continuously. now the wide doors slide into the wall, and

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six boys clothed in red garments enter, bearing golden bowls filled with grain. they are followed by six girls clothed in yellow, who bear golden trays of various fruits. ranging themselves around the altar, these children place upon it the bowls of grain and trays of fruit, and retire backward a short distance. now six youths and as many maidens approach; the youths bear vases of red, the maidens, vases of yellow blooms, which also are placed on the altar, and all retire to near where the children with an expectant air are standing. quietly the worshippers have entered, and the chanting of the singers and the strains of the voûhoida̤ have grown so mournfully pathetic that i cannot refrain from tears.

now the music swells into fuller tones, and with stately tread a majestic looking priest advances through the western doorway. he is clothed in a rich silken red robe, and around his head, holding back from his forehead his dark, abundant, waved hair is a gold fillet ornamented with red jewels. over his forehead the fillet supports a sun of red and yellow jewels which are dazzling in their splendor. in his left hand he carries a long golden rod tipped with a sun of red and yellow jewels. as he approaches the altar the people rise, and with bowed heads stand motionless. attending him are priests and priestesses robed in red and yellow, wearing gold fillets adorned with red and yellow jewelled suns which gleam against their dusky hair. now the high priest raises the sun tipped rod toward the dome. the attendant priests and priestesses with uplifted hands bend low before the altar. the people still stand with bowed heads, and the voûhoida̤ seems to be murmuring a wordless prayer as he passes around the altar, touching with the rod each bowl and vase. having made the circuit of the altar he bends low toward the east, the north, the south, and the west, and

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now, with upturned face, he extends his hands toward the sun crowned dome, and his lips utter words that i do not understand. now as he turns toward the altar his dark hued face glowing with religious fervor, his luminous eyes shining with the brightness of the jewelled sun above his forehead, his majestic form towering above the low bending worshippers, one might imagine him a veritable god. zenesta̤, i beg of you to conclude the description of this scene.

zenesta hao—the sun is at its meridian, and its glowing radiance, falling through the red and gold of the dome, glorifies the snowy altar and the high priest, who with upraised arms reverently intones a prayer.

high priest—andûmana̤, onos zeloisa̤ noifen finos endessa̤ raos ta̤ valo, mûyen quandesta̤. raos ta̤ flûen, tsensen toivan oomii. neffan imha̤ vamûnya̤ ēdista̤ oimen. endemissa̤ kenoita̤ lotas talita̤ neffan doya̤ tēman gamina̤s dia̤a̤. ra̤û. ra̤û. ra̤û.

zenesta hao—the midday service is concluded, and to the tremulous tones of the voûhoida̤ and the low chanting of the singers, the high priest followed by his attendants and the offering bearers, retires through the western entrance. silently the worshippers have dispersed, and we are the sole occupants of the temple.

rendered into your language this is the sense of the high priest's closing prayer:

andûmana̤, we beseech thee to accept our humble offering and our reverent adoration, and we implore thee to bestow upon us thy most precious gift, lengthened life.

in this instance ra̤û signifies so be it.

gentola—inidora̤, i should think that this service would remind you of bygone days.

inidora—truly, it does, for my brother and i, with children of families attached to our parents' estate, were

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offering bearers of our home istoira̤, of which our father's brother foras immo, was priest. it was the ardent wish of our uncle, foras immo, that genessano should enter the priesthood, but my brother did not favor the idea, so it was abandoned. on our estate were a number of families whose co-operative labor afforded them more than an ample subsistence, and genessano and i, with their children, who were to us as brothers and sisters, attended the estate school, over which, for as long as his short life lasted, our beloved uncle foras presided.

de l'ester informs me that on your planet strange social distinctions prevail. that employer and employed occupy different social levels. since all are the children of the same creative power, how can that be?

gentola—for the reason that our people are yet very immature; they do not, as a rule, act justly; thus, there are various grades of society whose members may be worthy or the reverse. i regret to say that, on earth, frequently the accident of birth or the inheritance or accumulation of wealth, confers upon very unworthy persons high social distinction and power. i should like to know how this state of affairs compares with social conditions of ento.

zenesta hao—as de l'ester desires that i shall reply to your query, i shall say that with all entoans merit is the measure of men and women. i have learned that on your planet official position confers honor and dignity upon an incumbent. on ento it is the character and conduct of the incumbent that confers honor and dignity upon the office. on ento official position is regarded as a trust, and woe be to the man or woman weak or wicked enough to betray it. i may safely say that not within many centuries have men or women been base enough to, through official misconduct, forever set themselves apart as something to be shunned by right minded people. i also have

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learned that on your planet all persons are not equal before the laws of your various national governments. on ento, from the supreme ruler to the humblest citizen, all possess equal rights and all are held amenable to the written and unwritten laws and customs, recognized as being standards of right conduct. it is true that ento's supreme rulers, in a sense, are autocratic, their decisions confirming or annulling any law or usage deemed unsuited to conditions or times; but, whatever the laws may be, their observance applies to ruler and citizen with equal force.

of course, this state of society has not always existed; indeed, ento's historical records relate that, during many centuries preceding the establishment of the national religion, between nations whose rulers were cruel, ambitious men or women, there was continuous warfare, and thus the peoples were urged on to mutual destruction. finally, one foras ah-hû, of a far north land, gathered about him an immense army, with which he subdued all opposition and established absolute law and order. as he proceeded in his mission, the common people hailed him as their deliverer, as one sent by andûmana̤ to rescue them from extermination, but it took quite ten ento years to allay all disorder and to establish the government under one supreme ruler. thereafter, from time to time, insurrections occurred, but ere long unruly persons came to understand that the laws were for all, and that all must obey them. the reign of foras ah-hû was one of continuous effort for the rights of all peoples, and he lived to see the entoans united under one ruler, and at his death his eldest son, foras ah-hû, succeeded him as supreme ruler. emulating his father's admirable example, he established more firmly such laws and usages as were found to subserve the highest interests of the entire peoples. from that period onward, the

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entoans, under the protection and control of a firm but beneficent government, have continuously unfolded in their conceptions of all that pertains to the welfare of humanity, until in these days the expressions of their civilization give promise of a grand future. not yet have they conceived an idea of the impersonality of the infinite spirit. not yet have they learned the inestimable fact of their own immortality. but in thy time and way, oh thou infinitely supreme one, thou wilt bring them into a knowledge of the grandest of all truths, the continuity of life. friends, if i have spoken at too great length, you will pardon me. one thought so easily leads to another, and old memories, like ghostly shades, so clamor for recognition, that they, not i, must make my apology.

erinca̤ micana̤

de l'ester—make no excuses for having made us your debtors, but here is george, every line of his face suggesting that he has discovered something of interest.

george—i cannot say that i have made a discovery, but nearby is something that will interest gentola̤ and bernard.

de l'ester—lead the way and we will follow. ah, a fountain and the temple garden and conservatories. gentola̤, more than two years ago aaron poole drew for you a flowering vine he named enrica; look about you and learn if it may be one of this great variety of shrubs, plants and vines.

gentola—it is indeed; the moment we came here i noticed it draping that trellis and climbing up yonder wall. with its luxuriant foliage and profusion of pink blossoms, how very pretty it is. poole did not tell me that it was an ento vine, and when i questioned him he only said, "it is not of this planet."

de l'ester—that is just like him. i fancy that he thought to some time surprise you by showing you the original.

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george—he has promised to meet us here, for indeed it was here that he sketched the enrica vine which afterward he drew for gentola̤. always he is so prompt in his engagements that i am surprised that he has not yet arrived. while awaiting his coming we may look at this pretty fountain. the central figure of the group, holding aloft the cluster of rodels (the national flower) is very fine, indeed the entire composition of male and female figures is admirable. that sun illumined jet of water, thrown high into the air, thence felling downward envelops the group as with a shining veil. gentola̤, bernard, come and look into this basin.

bernard—mother, dear, as sure as anything these are gold and silver fishes. do not they exactly resemble those you have on earth? yes, they are larger, and their tails and fins are oddly shaped; otherwise the resemblance is very close.

de l'ester—lohaû, lohaû, ēmano poole. for some time george has been fretting and fuming over your late arrival; now he is so occupied as to be oblivious of your presence.

aaron poole—i greet you all, and i beg a thousand pardons for having kept you waiting.

george—aaron, i shall no longer hold you up to admiring worlds as a model of punctuality. you are a full hour late.

aaron poole—allow me to greet gentola̤, then i shall explain my delay. gentola̤, i rejoice that at last we meet face to face. although for nearly ten years we have held frequent converse, and your face has grown as familiar to me as is my own, only now you see me.

gentola—i am equally rejoiced that i can see you. ever since i have known you and some other spirit friends, i have been curious as to your and their appearance. i

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have thought of you and of them as one thinks of physical personalities. yet in some way i have formed nearly correct ideas of your and their forms and features. but i must say that you are taller than i had thought you might be.

aaron poole—my height is six feet and one inch, and that is nearly the height of a particular friend of yours who has been permitted to accompany me on this visit to ento. this way, my blond apollo.

gentola—well of all the wonders of this wonderful experience, this to me is the most surprising. will cox, you dear, dear boy. oh, i am so glad to see you. so, so glad, and to think that after all these years, we meet on the planet mars—i mean on the planet ento. george, do be quiet; i shall cry if i wish to. will, you dear boy, you are handsomer than you were in earth life. oh, i wish your mother could see you, your mother who so adored you, and who never ceases to mourn for you. while i laugh and cry, do tell me something of yourself. why, will, you, too, are crying. don't do that. i was so surprised that i—i forgot myself; but i won't cry any more, and you shall smile too. there, that is like yourself.

william cox—my dearest friend, let me call you lady sara, as i once did. i am so overjoyed to meet you, so glad, so thankful to the divine spirit that we both have learned that life is continuous. when at the home of mr. wicks we were about to part to meet no more on earth, you said, "oh, will, promise me that if you die before i do, and shall continue to exist, and can return to this world, that you will come to me to tell me if there is another life than this," how little i knew of what would come to me and to you, too, dear lady sara. when i passed to the spirit side and to my own place, almost my first earth memory was of my promise to you, and for your sake, and that you

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might be better able to comfort my dear, sorrowing mother, i, with the assistance of kind spirit friends, strove to reach your consciousness, and when, after two years, we succeeded, i wept for very joy. i should so like to talk with you indefinitely, but i must not abuse the special privilege of this visit to you. then, too, i am one of a band of spirits to whom has been assigned the accomplishment of a certain mission, and my leave of absence must not exceed the time specified. be assured, dear friend, that i never lose sight of you. your sorrows have been my own, and when bernard passed to our side of life, and your condition was so critical that we feared that you, too, might come before this mission should be accomplished, your friend will was one of many who sustained you with our strength until you regained composure and a degree of health.

i have learned that these friends have given you a new and i must say an appropriate name, but for the sake of old times and memories, to me you are lady sara, and when the hour of your coming to the spirit side shall arrive, i will be one of many loving friends to meet and greet you. some day my dear mother and other dear ones may learn of this meeting, and she and they will know that i love them always. now kiss me good-bye until we shall meet where not even a thin veil hides beloved faces from the gaze of lovelit eyes.

gentola—good-bye, will, good-bye, and watch out for me, for the years are falling away like beads off a broken string, and it will not be long before i shall come to the world of spirits. until then i may not again see your face, but i will not forget, no, i will not forget.

aaron poole—it was a little unfair to take you so by surprise, but will, dear fellow, insisted upon it. he was curious to learn if you would recognize him. you will be

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glad to know that he is very aspiring and ever ready to lend a helping hand, and that his progress is all that those who love him could desire.

floitza

now i shall tell you why my coming was so delayed. you all are aware that i have been on the spirit side nearly thirty years, and that at the time of my passing over i was a little under thirty years old. within a few following years, my dear parents also passed to the spirit side, my four brothers and two sisters, all younger than myself, surviving them. suddenly, this morning, my eldest brother also came. leaving him in the care of our parents and other loving ones, i have hastened here, but desire to as quickly as possible return to assist in restoring him to consciousness. gentola̤, you may not know that those who suddenly pass from the physical body require special treatment for restoration to a consciousness of their changed condition. the occasion of his sudden passing over was arterial suffusion of the brain, which almost instantaneously released him.

gentola̤, the special reason for my coming at this time is that we may select from this fine collection of plants a subject or two for illustration. you no doubt have recognized the enrica vine. i had thought to have the pleasure of showing it to you, but, as de l'ester would say, "l'homme propose, et dieu dispose," which perhaps is as true as many other aphorisms. now we will look about for a subject or two.

gentola—here is a pretty vine laden with pink blooms. is it too delicate for our purpose?

aaron poole—rather so; still i will sketch it. its name is ilsoimen galistan (bride of morning). as it is difficult to control we must select simple if less beautiful forms. here is a flowering shrub, the floitza, that i will venture to sketch. it is attractive, and its foliage and

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blooms are not at all complex in structure. yes, those are varieties of the same shrub, pink, purple, blue and white. we will attempt the blue variety. now we will look through the conservatories and you shall select the next subject.

gentola—dear me, there is such an endless variety, and all so pretty that i cannot decide; were it not so difficult to control me, i should select this lovely crimson flower, but the foliage is so extremely delicate that it is not to be thought of. george, you have mentioned a certain plant that i should like to see; then i will decide. ah, that is indeed a very attractive plant; looks as though it might be of the cactus family. aaron, what do you think of it? is it too complex for my poor ability?

aaron poole—i cannot quite determine, but we will try it. i shall have to ask one of our ento friends to give us the name of this plant. inidora̤, as you are something of a botanist, you may enlighten us.

inidora—it is ilno bersa̤. zenesta̤ says that in gentola̤'s language it would be hairy crawler. the habit of the plant is to crawl over rocks or any like support, though here it is trained over both a rockery and a low trellis.

aaron poole—this hairy crawler is ilno bersa̤, and the vine with its wealth of pink blooms is ilsoimen. the shrub is the blue floitza, a pretty name for a pretty shrub. with these three sketches for the present we will content ourselves.

now i must leave you, but as soon as my dear brother shall have regained consciousness and grown somewhat accustomed to his changed condition, i shall be free to again be with you. gentola̤, while all your dear ones are deeply interested in this mission, they long for its culmination, so that you may find leisure to receive them, for they, perhaps more than yourself, miss their former frequent com

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munion with you. with pleasure i shall bear to them your loving message. now, mes amis, au revoir.

hnobersa

de l'ester—gentola̤, these great conservatories, devoted to the special cultivation of these red and yellow blooms, furnishes the temple flower offerings, which, with the crystal sun of the dome, the mosaic sun radiating from the altar, and the red and yellow robes and ornaments of the high priest and his assistants, symbolize the imaginary abode of andûmana̤.

now, george, we will rise and move slowly around taimon, thus affording gentola̤ and bernard a view of the scenery and architecture of the many towns and villages beautifying its shores. gentola̤, again we have for you a surprise and the fulfillment of a promise, which we anticipate will add to your enjoyment of your visits to ento. bernard, dear boy, you are only strong enough to sustain yourself. allow george to assist your mother. is not it pleasure enough to journey by her side? ah, fond hearts, i understand, i understand.

gentola—i am sure that you do. never mind, dear lad, i will take the will for the deed. do not rise higher, friends, else i shall not see so clearly as you all do. what lovely views. certainly the architecture of those towns and villages is very beautiful. yonder is a long train of tuzamos rushing across the country, and see those huge vessels crossing the lake in all directions and coming and going on the waterway. to me those waterways are a source of continual wonderment. how were they excavated? how have the entoans found courage, endurance or means to accomplish such gigantic works?

de l'ester—to show you the process of excavation, which is so excellent as to not require extraordinary courage or endurance, will be the most satisfactory reply to your first two questions; as for the means required, the

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general government attends to that. i promise you that, a little later on, you shall observe the construction of a waterway.

gentola—i shall not forget to remind you of your promise. yonder is another pretty town, and there are one, two, three circular temples, and again it occurs to me that nowhere have i seen a spire.

de l'ester—the tall, pointed spire is not a feature of ento architecture. on our planet its origin dates back to a period when humanity was on a low animal plane. yes, the architecture of ento is exceedingly ornate; exteriorly, to my mind, it is used to excess, while interiorly, sculpture, carvings and mosaics produce wonderfully rich and beautiful effects. in some of the public edifices and sumptuous private residences which you yet will see there are mosaics so exceedingly fine that nowhere have we seen anything of the kind surpassing them. on certain edifices you have observed lofty towers of excellent design. they are not merely architectural features, but are towers of observation. not skyward, oh, no, but for horizontal distances.

you have been informed that their religion prohibits the entoans from attempting to learn aught concerning astranola̤, the imaginary realm beyond the clouds, wherein dwells their revered and feared gods and goddesses, so their telescopes, which are of great excellence, are used only for field purposes; that is, for observation of the annual floods and the like. but soon the radiance of their spirit world will penetrate their consciousness, and advanced spirits will be able to disabuse their minds of their fallacious beliefs relating to the here and the hereafter, and ere long, aided by enlarged telescopes, their learned ones will be gazing upon the wonder of myriad worlds, moving in stately grandeur through measureless space.

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extending from northward to southward is an elevation covered with great forest trees, undergrowth and vegetation. it is another mountain vestige, and once the waters of loisa̤ ta̤imon bathed its rocky base, but now a level stretch of some miles lies between it and the lake. look now far along the plateau toward the north, and tell us what you see.

gentola—afar off i see a great city, extending from the lake shore across the plain, up the slope, across the plateau, down its further side, and—that is as far as my vision reaches.

de l'ester—we will draw nearer. now what do you see?

gentola—i see a city so extensive, so marvellously beautiful, that i am almost persuaded that you have brought me into some spirit realm. never have i seen anything so grandly, so magnificently beautiful as yonder white and gold city, and this is the fulfillment of your promise to some time, somewhere, show me a city surpassing any city of earth. to, if possible, enhance its beauty, nature has luxuriantly draped sculptured walls and loftiest towers with wreaths of flower-laden vines, amid which are bees and birds innumerable, all adding their beauty to the enchantment of the scene. the streets are of great width and paved as smoothly as floors. there are no small, mean-looking houses, no evidences of poverty or degradation. with all my heart i wish that this city might be exhibited to our earth peoples as an example of what humanity may attain to. the streets are alive with people, and motor and tramway carriages are passing in all directions, yet there is very little noise and no apparent confusion. i should like to know why those tramway carriages are so noiseless.

de l'ester—i only can say that they are so scien

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tifically constructed that i cannot explain their mechanism. the tramway rails are welded into unbroken lines, which, at short intervals, rest on cushions of an elastic substance very like caoutchouc, which prevents noisy jolting and jarring. then, too, the speed of all manner of vehicles is carefully timed and regulated. unlike the immature peoples of our own immature planet, the entoans are exceedingly careful of their own and the lives and rights of others.

you perceive that all street intersections are spanned by elegantly constructed bridges, over which people and vehicles pass slowly and safely. no, the entoans are not indolent, but they are too wise to rush toward the undesired end of their existence. indeed, every possible precaution against injury or death is observed. no, owing to the annual inundation, underground transit is not feasible. yes, of course, the construction and maintenance of such public utilities is costly, but as ento has no wars, the governmental revenues are amply sufficient for all necessary purposes.

now we will descend to the lawn of yonder white golden-domed residence of the governor of this province of wya̤mo, whose capital is the white and gold city kûltymo tylû, which, in the english language would be elevated city. it is the largest, and to my mind, the most beautiful city of ento.

facing us is the governor's residence. to the right are the official departments. to the left is a spacious structure devoted to such amusements as entoans indulge in. yes, they dance, but in a rather serious fashion. the movements of the various dances are slow, graceful, stately and rhythmically in harmony with the musical measures, with which their forms, more than their feet, keep time. yes, the drama, too, finds its place among the amusements of the people, but its purpose is to instruct as well as to

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amuse. i scarcely know how to characterize the plays. certainly, they are not tragic, neither do they represent the serio-comic. i should say that they are more nearly on the plane of high comedy, and earth's pleasure loving peoples would consider them very tame. i can say for them that, in composition and representation, they are models of purity and of art. this is one of ento's finest official residences, and in every niche and angle of its massive walls are sculptured forms of divinities or of distinguished entoans, so finely executed as to command one's profound admiration. a grand flight of steps leads up to the spacious portico, whose lofty roof is supported by massive fluted marble columns, whose capitals are a strong reminder of the corinthian capital.

observe this imposing entrance, whose rose tinted doors are framed in rose tinted woods, so highly, so exquisitely colored, that their beauty is but slightly enhanced by these very artistic carvings. we will now enter and afford you and bernard a view of the interior of the dwelling. this wide and deep hallway, with its broad staircase, leading upward to a second floor, thence to other floors and the domed roof, is very admirable. it is a composition of rose marble, onyx, carved, rose colored woods and mosaics so exquisitely beautiful, as to be incomparably artistic. it is well that the dainty blooms, child faces and lovely arabesques of the floor are protected by these fine rugs.

evidently the staircases are more for ornamentation than for use, for at the further end of the hallway is an elegantly appointed elevator, into which, at this moment, a stately looking gentleman is stepping. he is darraon olēva̤s, governor of wya̤mo, and as uninvited guests we will proceed to the dining hall of his excellency's residence. to do so we will pass through this panelled vestibule, whose ornamentation of inlaid fruits and flower designs, is indeed

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very fine. the light filtering through the large rose and opalescent crystal window irradiates it with a softened glow which is a fitting prelude to the rich coloring of the apartment beyond this sumptuous silken drapery. stand here, gentola̤, and attempt a short description of this immense, elliptically formed room and its appurtenances.

gentola—where shall i begin? with the floor? well, to my taste, it presents the most beautiful mosaic work i yet have seen. it is so exceedingly lovely that it seems a profanation to step on it. the field is opal tinted, and the border is very broad and rich, but not at all highly colored. from among its foliage and flowers, vines and delicately hued blossoms trail all over the field, and they are so realistic that they seem to be growing there.

at equal distances around the walls of the great room are wide panels of a wood resembling mahogany, but tinted a dull rose color. in the centre of each wide panel is a narrow fluted one of a lighter shade of rose colored wood, and all are carried up the walls and across the curved ceiling, where they meet under large rosettes of rose colored woods. in the centre of each rosette is a lighting apparatus, which is not at all like a chandelier, and which i am not competent to describe. i can only say that it is a combination of gold filigree work and many rose tinted crystal lilies inclosed in a gauzelike network of some transparent material.

de l'ester—you might add that when the electric light is turned on, the network forms a sort of halo about the flowers, whose pale rose tints lend a softened and beautiful effect, and i will add, that, in the near future, one of your inspired ones will invent a very similar electric appliance.

gentola—where the panels curve between the walls and ceiling there are great carved clusters of flowers and foliage,

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of woods of various colors and the shadings are so fine that the compositions are very beautiful and lifelike. between the panels, the walls are opalescent, and are adorned with paintings and handsome shelf-like projections, on which are the loveliest vases, statuettes and other bric-a-brac. at the west end of the room are two wide and lofty windows, over which falls exquisite lace and rich rose colored silken draperies, the borders ornamented with gold embroidery. between the windows is an immense buffet, built into the wall, which appears to be a combination of carved and inlaid woods, of precious metals and jewels. on its highly ornamental shelves are various wares, very like some of the fine wares we have on our planet, and there are goblets and other vessels of crystal that shine with the brilliancy of diamonds. some pieces are set with jewels of various colors, and they are exceedingly pretty. through the crystalline doors of its compartments i see vessels of gold, of silver and of a metal that appears to be enamelled in tints of pale, lustrous green. the latter are ornamented with stones of a deeper tint of green, and they are so beautiful that i should like to have one of them. as for the shapes of these many lovely things, i am surprised that they are so like the forms of earth's china, glass and other wares.

de l'ester—recall a lecture you heard in the galarēsa̤, in which it was stated that not only is art long, but that form in its manifold expressions is universal. it is the manifestation of a natural law, and in accordance with the degree of their evolvement, everywhere, not only humans, but all orders of life express it in finer or cruder fashion.

gentola—i believe that it is true, for through my limited observation of our moon, and my larger observation of ento's and earth's forms, whether natural or mechan

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ical, i have found startling resemblances; frequently exact likenesses of the forms of either planet.

to return to a further description of the buffet. its table of pearl tinted onyx, veined with palest green, is bordered by a luxuriant vine, whose leaves are composed of minute green stones, so shaded as to present a very natural effect. the vine and tendrils also are of stones, representing their brown and green tints. the large, purple clusters of fruit are of amethysts or similar stones. genessano says, that the vine is a talissa̤ fûena̤, but i should say, it is a veritable grape vine. anyway, it is very pretty, and its purple fruit suggests a question. do the entoans make wine and other intoxicants?

de l'ester—these ento friends, inidora̤, genessano and zenesta̤ ha̤o, say that, since time immemorial the entoans have used fermented and distilled liquors, but never as intoxicants, their sacred writings forbidding the abuse of any of andûmana̤'s gifts to his children. no, although of a wine drinking race, i never during my mortal existence, experienced a sense of intoxication. did mortals understand that drunkenness is not alone a benumbing of the senses, a more or less pronounced anaesthesia, but that gradually it occasions a separation between the ego and the animal soul or conscious self, and that continued excesses lead to a wider separateness, a final domination of the animal soul, and that when dissolution occurs, the alcoholized spirit body has become a fit tenement for its wretched occupant, in fear and horror they would recoil from a peril so deadly. these friends will verify my statement that on no other planet have we observed such a strong tendency toward drunkenness as exists on earth. why is this so? briefly then, the activities of heredity never fail, and some dominant primitive races of earth, having looked upon wine when it was red, transmitted the

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vicious tendency to their descendants, and they in turn to after generations unnumbered. certainly, it is true that, what are termed acquired tastes for this or that, are nearly, if not always based upon hereditary tendencies. now, pray proceed.

gentola—against the walls are many chairs of beautifully carved, rose tinted wood. the seats are not upholstered, but are of a highly polished, very pale rose tinted wood, and oddly enough they are held or rather they hang on pretty golden brackets projecting from the walls. there is no dining table or even one small one. on what is food served?

de l'ester—wait a little and you shall learn. in the meantime we will enter an adjoining room used for the storage of table and other appointments, which doubtless we will find attractive. you will please mention such as may interest you.

gentola—how very beautiful. what a wonderful collection. gold, silver, crystal and other lovely wares in endless profusion. evidently many of them are for decorative purposes. such a collection is enough to make one covetous. imagine me landing in my own home with one of these magnificent vases in my arms. not for a moment would any one believe that it came from the planet known to them as mars. neither would i believe it were i some one else.

again, i cannot refrain from a sense of surprise that i find here plates, pitchers, bowls, cups and saucers and all that constitutes an elaborate table service. and here are goblets, and a great variety of drinking glasses and other pieces of glassware, of such beautiful shapes and of such exceeding brilliancy that it is superior to any cut glass i ever have seen.

de l'ester—zenesta̤ says that in a province immedi

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ately south of ondû is a deposit of a peculiar sand especially adapted to the manufacture of this fine glass. although diligently sought for, nowhere else has a like deposit been discovered; hence, this ware is highly prized. observe this elaborate centre piece of gold, crystal and precious stones. it is a great, four handled bowl with a small, beautiful vase on either handle. the bowl is for fruit, the vases for flowers.

as your question relating to the serving of food is about to be answered, we will stand in this doorway, which, you perceive, is slightly above the level of the dining hall floor. observe that nearly the entire length of the floor is in two equal divisions, so nicely adjusted as not to be perceptible. now they separate, and noiselessly are drawn under this and the opposite apartments, and from below rises a sumptuously appointed table laden with viands of most tempting appearance. thus is your question answered.

observe that the floor on which the table rests is of highly polished, deeply tinted, rose colored wood, which exactly fits into the space left vacant by the withdrawal of the mosaic floor. yes, in most fine ento dwellings dining halls for special occasions are arranged in this manner. in ordinary dwellings dining room floors are stationary, as is the floor of the adjoining family dining room. now a very important looking person enters, takes a critical survey of the table, touches a button in the wall, and a number of attendants enter and quietly detach the seats from the walls and place them about the table. there are twenty covers, and evidently the repast is more of a luncheon than a dinner. observe the floral decorations. a centre piece, quite as beautiful as the one we have been admiring, is filled with golden hued fruit and sweet scented, creamy blooms, and at either end of the table are lovely vases filled with clusters of the same fragrant blossoms. though the

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food is generous in quantity and variety, the table is not overladen. there are breads of various kinds with dainty dishes of fruits and confections nice enough to tempt an epicure, but you will observe that there are no meats, save fishes, which are prepared as a salad. inidora̤, what is the name of this luscious looking fruit?

inidora—oonda̤ we name it. it is agreeably acidulous, of an aromatic flavor and grows only in tropical and in semi-tropical countries. gentola̤ may recall that in the vicinity of camarissa̤ and somewhat further northward there are many extensive plantations of low, wide spreading trees, wearing dark green, glossy foliage. those were oonda̤s lota̤s (oonda̤s trees) and these are their fruit and fragrant, lovely blooms. nay, you owe me no thanks.

gentola—i hear a sound as of sweet, low toned bells, and voices of persons coming nearer and nearer; and now they are entering preceded by a very tall, extremely handsome youth of bronze complexion, fine features, large, dark, brilliant eyes, blue-black, waving hair, held back by a gemmed fillet, and white teeth gleaming between his parted scarlet lips. as he approaches, bearing aloft a golden tray heaped high with oonda̤ blooms, he presents a picture of uncommon beauty. there are nine men and as many women, the latter clothed so beautifully in loose, graceful, white silken, gold embroidered robes that, henceforth, i shall detest the dress with which i have been accustomed to torment and disfigure myself. the important looking person seats the guests, and the youth crowns each one with a chaplet of oonda̤ blossoms. but two seats, one at either end of the table, are still vacant. again the sweet toned bells are sounding. the guests rise, and with a most graceful movement of their hands, salute a stately, handsome man and a very lovely woman, who with gracious smiles and graceful salutations, approach and take the vacant seats,

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and the guests resume theirs. now the youth approaches the host and hostess, tendering them chaplets of oonda̤ blossoms, which they receive and retain in their hands. inidora̤ will be kind enough to continue the description which to me grows somewhat unintelligible.

inidora—as a recognition of andûmana̤'s gift of this golden fruit to his children the annual feast of the oonda̤ is observed by all entoans. oonda̤ in your language would mean divine, and as it is the favorite fruit of the dwellers in astranola̤, it is thought to be appropriately named.

those who have this moment entered are the governor of wya̤mo, darraon olēva̤s and his wife, the lady noûnia̤. now the governor rises, and bearing aloft his chaplet, he approaches his wife and places it on her head, fervently praying: "andûmana̤, creator and giver of all good gifts even as i crown thy child with oonda̤ blooms, so crown thou her with the priceless blessing of a long and happy life;" and the guests respond, "ra̤û, ra̤û, ra̤û." now he kneels by the side of his wife, and as she places her chaplet on his head, with trembling lips she implores andûmana̤ to prolong the days of her beloved, and that they may be as full of the fragrance of noble deeds as are oonda̤ blooms full of the perfume of andûmana̤'s breath, and again the guests respond, "ra̤û, ra̤û, ra̤û."

de l'ester—we regret that we cannot devote further time to observation of this attractive festival, but affairs relating to our mission grow more pressing than you are aware of, and we must hasten our movements. we now will ascend to the upper floors. yes, the decorations and furnishings of these spacious apartments are of the best art productions of ento, and certainly they are beyond unfavorable criticism. you have learned that ento's textile fabrics are surpassingly excellent; so you are not surprised at the beauty of designs, coloring and quality of

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these draperies, rugs, upholstery and other appurtenances of this elegantly appointed residence. yes, in most ento residences, large or small, somewhat sumptuous furnishings are the rule, rather than exception. in arts and manufactures the entoans have progressed beyond the tawdry and mean, and all who so desire, may, at small cost, gratify cultivated tastes.

we now will go out on the balcony, george. yes, the dome balcony. do not you think that vil tylû (white city) would be as appropriate a name for this city as it was for your world's fair city? and now that we have fulfilled our promise, may we hope that you are not disappointed?

gentola—dear friends, the fulfillment of your promise exceeds my anticipations, and as i gaze in all directions i am filled with wonder and admiration for this extensive, this grandly beautiful white and gold city. the absence of all indications of poverty is in itself a charm, and it appears so immaculately clean and so new, that one might imagine it the creation of a very recent time.

genessano—on the contrary, previous to the inception of the irrigating and waterways system, it was a city of importance, and as now, the capital of wya̤mo. at the time that the proposed irrigating system was under consideration the then governor of wya̤mo was one of its most enthusiastic supporters and later an indefatigable worker who lived to see the system assume unlooked for proportions and incalculable beneficence. his successors followed his fine example, and a time arrived when the irrigated belt touched kûltymo's limit on the north, and you perceive that now it penetrates quite into the system. during later centuries the population has so increased as to necessitate encroachment upon the agricultural lands northward, and

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now in that direction the city's suburb is parallel with the northern shore of ta̤imon.

kûltymo tylû is favored beyond any city of our planet, for though it is within the equatorial zone, it is far enough northward to possess a moderately temperate and most salubrious climate. then northward, lake ta̤imon and the great waterway affords an outlet for shipping, passing not only in that, but in all directions, and cēhylû ooltēma̤h, rising in the far north, runs southward, pouring its immense volumes into the system, thus affording highways for vessels of the largest size. in the distance, and toward the northeast, is lake komû-tēlesa̤ (lake of springs) another considerable body of fresh water, and if you will look in that direction you will perceive that, through a continuation of the waterway, it communicates with ta̤imon, and that on its placid bosom vessels great and small are passing to and fro. later, through observation, you will learn that the waterways with their attendant feeders, directly or indirectly connect with nearly all the freshwater lakes and rivers of our planet, and that all within certain degrees of latitude are embraced by the system. thus, kûltymo tylû has at its doors extensive water transportation, added to which tûza̤mos and air transports bring it into ready communication with all portions of the planet, from whence it receives all manner of products. in turn kûltymo tylû exports immense quantities of manufactured goods and art wares, but its principal distinction is its great art school and library, to which come students from all over ento. i, like yourselves, am enchanted with the beauty of this white and gold city, which to me suggests a great white bird, its body resting on the broad plateau, the tip of one snowy wing touching ta̤imon, the other spreading toward the lovely valley insa̤lû, and the neck and head gracefully curv

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ing downward over the northern slope of the plateau, to drink of the shining, vivifying waters of the beneficent system. bernard, have you naught to say of this great city?

bernard—yes, aside from cities of our spirit world, i have seen none to compare with it. as my dear mother has said, the beauty of its architecture, its exceeding cleanliness and absence of poverty are its most attractive features, and i quite agree with her. but, genessano, you did not complete your simile; you forgot to give your bird a tail.

genessano—you are very right; i did forget. well, for my tailless bird i shall from among yonder gleaming, golden domes and snowy towers, whose symmetrical beauty is heightened by a southern background of fleecy clouds and azure sky, gather plumage as fine as that of alzoyta̤s, the sacred bird of astranola̤, whose wide-spreading wings over-shadow death's darkened realm.

gentola—i beg that you will not take offense at my boy's inconsiderate speech. during his earth life always he saw the droll side of things, and in that direction i do not find him changed.

bernard—mother, dear, i meant no offense; so genessano could take none.

genessano—that is as true as truth. bernard and i are as two opposing mirrors, each reflecting images upon the other's face; thus one never misunderstands the other's motives, and bernard's ever are kind. let this fraternal embrace assure you of our mutual good will.

de l'ester—we will rise to the upper balcony, from which we will command a still more extensive view of the city and its suburbs, and you, gentola̤, will give expression to whatever may impress you.

gentola—to me the extent of this city is surprising. eastward its limit is beyond my power of vision. south

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ward domes, turrets and lofty columns lose themselves amid the mists of the horizon. northward, for mile after mile, on the level; thence down the sloping plateau and across the far reaching plain, the white and gold wonder spreads itself. in that direction, in the middle of some of the wide streets, are canals, on which small boats, carrying passengers or freight, are passing to and fro. at intervals the canals are spanned by handsome bridges, over which a variety of vehicles are passing. toward the southwest ta̤imon, which you say is nearly twenty miles away, mirrors in its waters the great warehouses and manufactories which line its shores. it occurs to me to ask why chimneys are not features of ento architecture. even those great structures have none.

inidora—many centuries previous to my existence on ento electrical appliances had come into such general use that in all cities, towns, villages and pretentious country places, they almost were the sole agencies for heating, lighting, culinary and other purposes, and yet some families of the soûvannallos and of another race far southward, still adhere to ancient domestic usages. certainly they are the only entoans who persist in using fireplaces and chimneys, which no longer are features of ento architecture.

de l'ester—northward and southward, along the level of the plateau, and eastward and westward, toward insa̤lû-valley and lake ta̤imon, there are many stupendously tall and massive towers, whose average height is about one thousand feet, and whose bases seem substantial enough to support ento's satellites. the skill and daring involved in their construction is both admirable and surprising. in their interiors are elevators which carry to the height of their summits persons and things connected with their service. they are used for a system of electric lighting, and also as watch towers during the annual floods and on

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their summits are as fine observation telescopes as we have seen. yes, when those great towers are lighted, night is well nigh turned into day. how little the peoples of our planet yet comprehend what may be, and ere long will be, accomplished through the agency of electricity, whose civilizing power is illimitable. i should like to inform you as to one of its achievements, and at another time will do so.

you are exhausted, and we must hold you no longer. we will not come for you to-morrow morning, but at two o'clock in the afternoon. earlier we will be at da̤o to meet friends who are interested in our mission. yes, friends from ento's and other planetary spirit worlds. be patient; the time is near when you will see them as you see us. for yet a little while spirit forces will hold valloa̤ in her physical form, for it would not be well should she pass to the spirit side before all things are in readiness for the culmination of our mission.

friends, george, bernard and i will bear gentola̤ safely to her home; then i must go elsewhere, but to-morrow we all will meet at da̤o.

gentola̤, rest your right hand on george's shoulder. bernard, place your right arm about your mother and your left hand on my shoulder, and now for the sorrowful star, toward which this mighty magnetic current bears us with the velocity of thought, and here in your quiet room, where twilight shadows have fallen, we leave you until the morrow. bernard, make your adieu, for before she may be disturbed, i desire to see your mother recover herself. ah, that is well. yes, we still are here, and pleased that you so readily have regained your usual condition. as we have held you overlong to-day, i pray you, rest, rest, rest. now au revoir.