Doctor Vyonda̤, I promise you that this unpleasant experience will cause me to mend my ways, not so much for my own, as for the sake of those who love me. Very true, doctor, very true, but since life is so full of sorrow, since the certainty of the approach of death so overshadows even youth's brightest days that ever our smiles are drowned in tears, life to me ever grows more valueless. Oh, that Andûmana̤, whose power is infinite, may make these dreams of mine prophecies of a reality so glorious that scarcely dare I think, much less speak of it.
Gentle friends, I pray you pardon me for having caused you some moments of anxiety. Make yourselves my debtors, and I shall be as patient with you as your affectionate kindness prompts you to be patient with my vagaries.
Instructor—Ever youth cherishes baseless hopes, dreams and illusions. Age alone knows the tranquillity of the inevitable. Although the midday of my life is gone, dreams wearing the semblance of realities come to me from the Region of Nowhere, then drift into the Realm of Shadows. No one is wise enough to account for the illusions of sleep, those phantasms emerging from the unknown and vanishing like mist wreaths from Indoloisa̤'s waters. I pray that it may not be accounted a sin that to me has come the thought that these dreams may be shadows of somewhere realities. That while we slumber our senses may perceive what our waking vision is too imperfect to discover. Who can say as to what may be in the regions of Astranola̤? Is not it written that to the Lady Camarissa̤, wife of Genessano Allis Immo, came a vision which so impressed her husband that it led to the introduction of the vast Irrigating and Waterways System, which has made our waste lands so fruitful and prosperous? From whence came this vision? No one can certainly say, but Andûmana̤, who knoweth His own ways, may have chosen the Lady Camarissa̤ as His Instrument, through whom He spoke to Genessano Allis Immo. And, friends, may not the woman of Dano's dream be an Instrument through whom he may be given a new revelation of Andûmana̤'s love for His sorrowful children? Do not we all know that when Andûmana̤, through the great God Tymonas declared to the Most High Priest Moukara that no more should unwilling human sacrifice be offered, He also declared that in some coming time another Revelation of His love for His children might be vouchsafed?
Andûmana̤, Creator and Preserver, may if He so wills, perpetuate that which is the essential part, the life of every animated creature. Adoringly and reverently I implore that He may take pity on His children, the children of His love, and grant us the ardent desire of our hearts that we may not pass into perpetual Silence, but that in some unknown region, we, with our beloved ones may continue to exist forevermore.
So strangely have our lessons been interrupted that but little has been accomplished. However, every incident of life teaches some lesson, and we to-day have received an exemplification that in its expressions it is many sided, and that at times it affords us glimpses of what may be beyond what we now know of.
Urvan, I advise that you shall remodel this foot, which is not quite up to your usual excellence. Lēta, this hand so delicately, so perfectly modelled indicates true artistic sense. Veradon, your execution is almost beyond criticism. Kiafû Rûvana̤, our greatest sculptor of either ancient or modern times, taught that the hand was the most expressive member of the body. That by its form, markings and movements, it afforded a true indication of the character and emotions of the possessor. As the hands of no two persons are exactly alike, there is in their expression an infinite variety which, to the observing student, may afford infinite opportunities. Dano, we rejoice that you appear quite recovered from your very peculiar seizure, and I pray that you may heed Doctor Vyonda̤'s advice, for, truly of late, you have been over studious. Surely you do not attach any importance to the dream prophecy of your speedy departure for Dao? That you may wholly dismiss it from your thoughts I suggest that we all shall repair to the gymnasium, where vigorous exercise may restore us to our usual serenity. Doctor, will not you and our honored Professors favor us with your company?
Dr. Vyonda—Certainly, for a little I shall attend this imprudent youth. Come, Dano, no more illusions, no more melancholy. Look on the bright side of life; yes, yes, on the bright side of life. Leave to age the shadows; walk in the sunshine while you may. Come, gentlemen, we can do ourselves no better service than to look on while these young people take the exercise we older ones used to so enjoy. Ah, me, age is very inconvenient, very inconvenient indeed.
De L'Ester—Gentola̤, from what the doctor and Art Instructor have said you may infer that the Entoans are very like some of our beloved Earth folk who consider everything outside their everyday experiences as illusions of diseased imaginations. Certainly, Soul consciousness, which should not be confounded with Spirit consciousness, is subject to illusions; thus one should be patient with sensitives who, at times, unknowingly misrepresent Spirit phenomena. Only minds capable of earnest, critical, patient fairness should attempt to test the truth or falsity of unusual occult occurrences. But the Messenger from Dao is about to arrive, and we will proceed to the gymnasium that we may observe how the doctor and professors may receive the fulfillment of the prophecy.
These wide and lofty passageways lead to various Departments of the Galarēsa̤, but into many of them we cannot at present even glance. At the head of this grand staircase is a department we later on will visit. Now we will enter the gymnasium and you, Gentola̤, will briefly describe whatever may attract your observation.
Gentola—Knowing so little of gymnasiums of our own planet I fear that I may not intelligibly describe this one. The apartment itself is immensely large and the domed ceiling very lofty. There are many large windows and they and the ceiling or roof are filled in with what appears to be opalescent glass set in metal frames. Depending from the roof are swings and ropes and various contrivances of whose uses I am quite ignorant. Attached to some of the ropes are huge balls of apparently an elastic material, which Dano and the other youths are so vigorously striking that they bound away, only to return again for further punishment which they are capable of resenting, for one has struck yonder youth a staggering blow.