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 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 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 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 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 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.