De L'Ester—Comment vous portez vous, Madame Gentola̤. Ha̤-Moûfih is with us and awaits your greeting.
Gentola—Ento friend, I cannot find words with which to express my surprise and pleasure that you are here.
Ha-Moufih—Your kindly welcome assures me that you do not consider my presence an intrusion. Yes, since passing to our Spirit World I have visited many Planets, inhabited, or, as yet, uninhabited by humans, but, until now, neither my inclinations or duties have brought me to Earth. Now that I have had a cursory view of the natural divisions of your planet, of its scenery, its peoples and the expressions of their spiritual and intellectual growth, I perceive that in their characteristics the Entoans and Earthians are very much alike. Upon visiting planets other than their own, spirits of a scientific turn experience great surprise at the striking resemblances existing between all planets approaching a like degree of evolvement. Really, bulk, density and atmospheric conditions constitute the most noticeable differences. Yes, through our own observation and that of Spirits far more exalted than are we, we are convinced that everywhere the human, the God man, is expressed in the same form. I too regret that for the present I can devote no more time to observation of all that pertains to Earth, but, like the swiftly flowing waters of a stream, the days glide by, and ere many years shall have elapsed you again will be a freed spirit, and then we both may become better acquainted with your Earth-World, of which you know comparatively little. But I detain you, and De L'Ester grows impatient to be off. With your and George's permission, I will assist you.
Yes, the view is indeed grand. It is well that mortals have no conception of what awaits those who have fulfilled the laws of their being, otherwise their physical existence would be unbearable. I have been told that you greatly regret your inability to remember all that occurs during your absence from your physical body. Were it possible for you to fully retain such memories you would become unfitted for the performance of the duties of your daily life. I also have been informed of the vicissitudes of your present embodiment. Of how you have combated seen and unseen difficulties. Of what your spirit friends have had to overcome in turning aside your aspirations in directions that would have unfitted you for this mission for which you were brought into the mortal plane. Unwittingly you have been building better than you have dreamed of. Sometimes in joy, sometimes in sorrow, yet ever you have been building the conditions of a higher, a more comprehensive existence.
Yes, we near our destination and our friends have preceded us to the Rinvoh. Ah, how the memories of this scene hold me as by the links of an unbroken chain. So intimately was my mortal existence connected with all relating to this great Galarēsa̤ that, as I gaze upon the stately structure adorned by most artistic statues, beautiful fountains, groups of towering Bûdas trees, an endless variety of blooming plants, the Acclinum (zoölogical department), the Rinvoh (aquarium) and other admirable features, all forming a most comprehensive educational system, memory recalls bygone years when I believed, as all Entoans still believe, that the present existence was all of life and that to fulfill to the utmost all righteous obligations and duties should be the chief pleasure of the life graciously bestowed upon His children by Andûmana̤, the All Wise, the Loving Creator of all things. This rule of righteous living requires no amendment; but, alas, obligations and duties fulfilled do not fill the measure of human happiness; one also must possess assurance of a to-morrow with all its possibilities. The present, which offers no promise of a joyous to-morrow, is as a night with no promise of the dawn; and thus it is with the Entoans, who cherish neither expectation nor hope of the joyous to-morrow of continuous existence. That they may deserve the favor of Andûmana̤ and His all Seeing Messengers their every thought and act is in accordance with the teachings of the Holy Writings which, indeed, contain many exalted precepts, but no intimation of continuous existence.
De L'Ester, you are most patient in your endeavor to convey to Gentola̤ a sense of what I wish she might directly understand. I shall regret if I may weary both you and her.
De L'Ester—Be assured that we are interested, not wearied, auditors. Gentola̤ says that she will look forward to the time when she will be free to journey with you from world to world and, like you, be able to retain memories of all the wonders of Spirit existence.
Ha-Moufih—Knowing that the desire will bring its fruition—its joyous to-morrow—we contentedly will await its certain coming.
We now will join our waiting friends. Ah, George, I see that you are observing an old acquaintance of mine, but I doubt if he will inspire in you a spirit of poesy. Is he not a pompous, self-conceited looking for creature? Gentola̤, you will kindly attempt a description of this impersonation of arrogance.