The Entoans, being no exception to a universal rule, were in a deplorable condition, when a memorable epoch arrived which ushered into mortal existence a man fitted for his arduous mission. A man wise and humane beyond any one of his time. A man of high courage, firm will, a fine sense of justice and a wonderful ability for controlling other men. About him he gathered not only an immense army of soldiery, but all who cared for their own safety and the welfare of the people, hastened to join him in his efforts to bring about a better state of affairs. In an incredibly brief time he subdued the vicious oppressors of the people. Forced warring elements into peaceful subjection. Established in the fullest sense, a centralized government, based upon equitable principles. Autocratic, certainly it was, but with the peculiar feature that rulers and people should he amenable to the same laws. When through peace and prosperity the peoples of the Planet were brought into harmonious relations with each other and with their newly found freedom from oppression and dissension, Zoifan Ouidas, their deliverer and Supreme Ruler announced that through a shining messenger, Andûman[a:] had communicated to him certain instructions relating to His now obedient children. A congress of Ento's learned and pious ones having been convened, Zoifan Ouidas made known the revelation he had received which constituted a basis for what was to be accepted as the Holy writings. To this revelation was added such beliefs and legends as appeared reasonable and desirable, and from these writings a creed was formulated and a ritual established. To this day the creed remains unchanged, but from time to time the ritual has been added to or modified to suit the views or aims of an all-powerful priesthood. Since the establishment of their national religion, centuries have been added to centuries. Steadily the generations of Entoans have been evolving, and were it not that an unyielding ecclesiasticism has held them in spiritual bondage, this closing of their fiftieth century of peace and equal rights for all would find them not only with knowledge of all the arts, but of all the sciences known to the people of our planet, and their faces on which pathos, sorrow and despair are written in every line would be beaming with the priceless consciousness of a continuity of existence which ere now should have been a possession of the plane of their unfoldment. To a degree you now may comprehend the paradoxical situation, and I trust that what I have related, may serve to explain other incongruities which from time to time may attract your attention. De L'Ester--George, with an excited air, is returning from the excavation. What so perturbs you, mon ami? George--Hasten, friends, hasten. A professor is about to hold an autopsy over the remains of the ancient amphibian, and I fancy it will be an edifying occasion.