Gentola—Where the panels curve between the walls and ceiling there are great carved clusters of flowers and foliage, 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 mechanical, 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 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 immediately 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.