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