In the beginning it pleased Andûmana̤ that his children should be unlearned, beyond what might be necessary for self preservation and for their happiness, well knowing that knowledge acquired through laborious and painful experiences would be to them as valued treasures earned at great cost. Since remotest times these treasures have been accumulating, until now, we, who are the inheritors of all the past, are rich, not only in knowledge, but in memories of noble deeds of great and admirable men and women. On this commemorative occasion I shall attempt to repeat the story of one whose name ever will be set above and apart from all other names. It is the story of one whose deeds ever will call forth the loving homage due to an illustrious benefactor of Ento's children. It is the story of one of the greatest men of any time. To him not only do we owe the prosperity of our beautiful lands, but to Genessano Allis Immo and his most admirable wife, the Lady Camarissa̤, we also owe our love and gratitude for the creation of this, the greatest of Ento's institutions. True, ere even its foundations were laid, they were in the voiceless silence, but it was through their wise and generous munificence that means were provided wherewith their two sons, Inidora̤ and Genessano, might carry into effect their wishes, thus perpetuating the memory of their beloved parents and conferring upon the children of Ento an inestimable benefit.
Genessano Allis Immo's greatest achievement, which, as I have said, will set him above and apart from the renowned ones of the past, present and future, was his conception and execution of the Irrigating and Waterways System. It is a subject of history that many Ryzo-enteva̤a̤ (centuries) preceding the period in which Genessano Allis Immo's father, Apsidon Genessano Allis Immo, was governor of this province, Ondû (which then, as now, extended from the western shore of Indoloisa̤ to the eastern shore of Gandûlana̤ Loisa̤ and northward and southward from Bascama̤ Loisa̤ to Ta̤imon), not only this province, but the provinces of the entire central regions had, through the action of natural forces, grown more and more arid and unproductive, and that gradually, in despair of a betterment of their condition, multitudes had deserted homes and country for more hospitable regions. Eventually it became lamentably apparent that if the lands could not in some way be retrieved, at no very distant time the central regions must become entirely depopulated. The peoples who still tenaciously clung to homes and country, having, through no fault of their own, grown impoverished and unable to longer passively silently endure the hopeless situation, became not only discontented but to an extent rebellious against the ruling powers, ascribing to them lack of wisdom as well as lack of interest in the general welfare. At this critical juncture Apsidon Genessano Allis Immo passed into the silence, and his son Genessano Allis Immo became hereditary governor of Ondû.
At the very outset of his official career, two grave matters confronted him. Gradually, during the past centuries in Indoloisa̤'s basin had been deposited the disintegrated substances of the lessening mountain range and the wreckage of other parts carried into it by the annual floods. As its bed raised, its waters encroached upon the lands to the west and south and Genessano Allis Immo realized that this disastrous and alarming condition must be remedied. The other and more momentous matter was the ever increasing aridity of the lands of the central regions. Genessano, the wise one, rose equal to these perplexing conditions. Hastening to the capitol, he conferred with the supreme ruler, Tyvon Oiranza, and his Council of State, who, being impressed not only with the necessity for immediate and vigorous action, but by his comprehensive grasp of the very serious situation, at once issued a proclamation to the Rûha̤s (governors) of all the provinces, eminent engineers and other learned ones to immediately repair to the capitol in order that, if possible, their united wisdom and knowledge might find a solution of existing calamities. The congress being convened, Genessano Allis Immo addressed the assemblage. On this occasion it is not fitting to give more than the substance of his oration. Amid profound silence and strained attention he said: "Our gracious and Supreme Ruler has called to this congress those upon whom he relies, as being devoted to the interest of the peoples of our beloved Ento. Upon your combined wisdom and knowledge he also relies, as being the foundation upon which he hopes to build for the future prosperity and happiness of our children and their descendants. To the Rûha̤s of the several provinces of Ento I, your co-worker, offer a loving greeting. To you, the learned ones of Ento, I proffer my profoundest consideration. To you all it is known that Indoloisa̤'s waters encroach upon the lands along its western and southern shores. From an inconvenience this condition has grown into a menace. What shall be done to avert it? We rely upon your united wisdom and skill to find a remedy.
"It is, alas, a woful, an overwhelming fact that gradually natural agencies have changed the surface of Ento, more especially the surface of the central regions, until now the soil is so arid and unproductive that poverty and consequent discontent of the peoples is leading to their depopulation. Is it possible for science, aided by self sacrifice, by unlimited means, by unremitting labor, to restore the vanquished fertility of the lands of the vast, desolated area? It is my thought by day, my dream of the night, as to how the glory, beauty and prosperity of past times may be restored to them. We know that ere long we must go into the silence, but Andûmana̤ will create, and others of his children will reap that which we shall sow. Teach us, ye wise and learned ones, that we may sow to be remembered as benefactors and not as foolish and unkind ones who have gone into the silence leaving a heritage of barren fields, of poverty and wretchedness." Genessano Allis Immo then laid before the congress his plans for deepening and confining the waters of Indoloisa̤ and also for the reclamation of the lands of the central regions. At first both plans were considered impracticable, but, after much thought and careful calculation, the Supreme Ruler and the entire Assemblage came to regard them favorably. The very necessities of the situation created in their minds and in the minds of the people a sort of enthusiasm and ere long the gigantic undertaking was inaugurated. Thus far the results have been beneficent beyond all expectation. Of that all are aware, but of the inevitable difficulties and discouragements attached to the earlier years of what, at the best, was considered a stupendous experiment, we can form no estimate. True, the people, understanding that upon its success depended their well being and that of their posterity, gave willing co-operation, but so many difficulties and exigencies occurred that many times Genessano's firm will and loving heart well nigh failed him. Then it was that his spouse, the amiable and lovely Camarissa̤, stood unswervingly by his side.
It is related that during this critical and trying period she gathered about her many women of lofty station, of youth and loveliness, and that she and they made it their duty to go among the laborers, bearing to them cordials and palatable viands and so cheering and encouraging them by their sympathy and gracious presence that the work progressed with such astonishing rapidity that at the end of mēos elipsa̤a (three years) the waters of the great storage reservoirs and of Bascama̤ Loisa̤, flowed southward, irrigating a considerable area of arid land, which burst into verdure and bloom as though newly touched by Andûmana̤'s creative hands. This demonstration so quickened the enthusiasm of all concerned that thereafter discouragements and uncertainty had not to be combated.
In planning the irrigating system, Genessana Allis Immo did not include possible waterways, much less our great system of waterways, but as the work progressed the necessity for providing further storage for the annual over-flow became apparent, and it was Genessano Allis Immo's comprehensive mind that conceived the idea of turning to advantage that which at first seemed a deplorable requirement. The idea once conceived, its utility was quickly perceived and with great determination and vigor the added enterprise was quickly under way. That it has been and ever will be of incalculable service and profit to Ento is obvious.
Toward the close of the seventh year (ofen elipsa̤a̤) the Irrigating and Central Waterways System reached Gandûlana Loisa̤, thence eastward through the province of Wya̤mo and onward the work has continuously been prosecuted. Ere Genessano Allis Immo passed into the silence, as the results of his grandly conceived and executed plans he beheld fertile fields yielding rich abundance and growing communities of industrious, contented people surrounding themselves with the luxuries and refinements of prosperous conditions. He lived to realize that even as a child nestles in the arms of its mother, so would the thirsty lands of his beloved Ento nestle in the encircling embrace of the life giving element. He lived to behold the infant city Camarissa̤ smiling downward upon the sparkling waters of the Central Waterway, with its many outreaching arms. He lived to see great vessels traversing the waterway between Camarissa̤ and Gandûlana̤ Loisa̤. He lived to see his adored wife, the Lady Camarissa̤, whose virtues and beauty were themes for poets, painters and sculptors, pass into the dread silence, while over her beloved form rained his and their two sons' woful tears. He yet lived to see the basin of Indoloisa̤ greatly deepened and confined by strong embankments and stronger walls. He lived until he arranged for the erection of this, the greatest of Ento's Galarēsa̤s, then with the quiet resignation of one who has wisely and lovingly fulfilled the will of Andûmana̤, he too was no more. Passing into the silence he left his two young sons to perpetuate his and their mother's name and honors. As Rûha̤ (governor) of Ondû, Inidora̤, the elder son, emulated the virtuous example of his revered father, and Genessano, the younger son, who in resemblance and characteristics was very like his father was his brother's inseparable companion. It is related of them that the life of one seemed inseparably involved in the existence of the other. As two vigorous saplings growing side by side, their leafy boughs so interlaced as to cast but one shadow, so were the lives of the two youths interblended. The thought of one was the thought of both. The desire of either one found fullest response in the heart of the other. It was the will of Andûmana̤ that Inidora̤ while yet in early manhood should cease to exist. His brother Genessano, bereaved and inconsolable, unable to endure the despair of knowing that no more should he behold the dear face and form of the brother he loved so well, that nevermore should he hear the voice that was to him as sweetest music, also soon passed into the silence from whence, alas, cometh no faintest whisper of our lost, our beloved dead.
Being the last representatives of their direct family line, and dying unwedded, the title and office of governor reverted to the general government, whose Supreme Ruler was Vestamon Oiranza̤, whose father, Tyvon Vestamon Oiranza̤, had recently passed into the silence.
This great Galarēsa̤ was only well begun when the deaths of Inidora̤ and Genessano left to others the completion of their parents' and their own plans. Those who took up the work which death had obliged them to lay down, took it up lovingly, reverently, not as a burdensome task, but as a great and precious trust, whose faithfulest fulfillment should be reckoned no higher than a simple duty to the memory of the generous dead. Ah me, were life continuous with what gracious approval might they not regard this grand institution which, like the radiant beams of Andûmana̤'s glorious abode, blesses all alike? To us the memory of Genessano Allis Immo, of the Lady Camarissa̤ and their two sons has been handed down through song and story. On yonder flower wreathed pedestals their sculptured images form lovely groups. Seldom, if ever, has Andûmana̤ given to Ento four such adorable children. Alas, that such admirable beings should have forever perished. Alas, that there is no perpetuity of existence. Were it possible for father, mother and sons to revisit their former domain, and this institution dedicated to their memory, would not it enhance their happiness to learn how far reaching is the blessing which their beneficence has conferred upon the sons and daughters of Ento? On this memorial day let us resolve to strive to profit by the example of these illustrious ones, and though we may not hope to attain to the greatness of their exalted characters, in some degree we may merit the benediction of their wise and generous munificence.