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 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 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 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 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.