| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Marie by H. Rider Haggard: they discussed together. Then Kambula said:
"So be it. We have heard that the people of George are now ruled by a
woman, and as you, Macumazahn, are one of that people, doubtless it is
the same among your party."
Here I may add that thenceforward the Zulus always accepted the Vrouw
Prinsloo as the "Inkosikaas" or chieftainess of our little band, and
with the single exception of myself, whom they looked upon as her
"mouth," or induna, would only transact business with or give directions
to her. The other Boers they ignored completely.
This point of etiquette settled, Kambula bade me repeat what he had
already told me, that we were prisoners whom he was instructed by
Marie |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Miracle Mongers and Their Methods by Harry Houdini: Magnet, The Electric Girl, etc.; Annie Abbott;
Mattie Lee Price.--The Twilight of the Freaks.--
The dime museums
CHAPTER ONE
FIRE WORSHIP.--FIRE EATING AND HEAT
RESISTANCE.--IN THE MIDDLE AGES.
--AMONG THE NAVAJO INDIANS.--
FIRE-WALKERS OF JAPAN.--THE FIERY
ORDEAL OF FIJI.
Fire has always been and, seemingly, will
always remain, the most terrible of the
Miracle Mongers and Their Methods |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Rasselas, Prince of Abyssinia by Samuel Johnson: Permit me to fly with you from this tasteless tranquillity, which
will yet grow more loathsome when you have left me. You may deny
me to accompany you, but cannot hinder me from following."
The Prince, who loved Nekayah above his other sisters, had no
inclination to refuse her request, and grieved that he had lost an
opportunity of showing his confidence by a voluntary communication.
It was, therefore, agreed that she should leave the valley with
them; and that in the meantime she should watch, lest any other
straggler should, by chance or curiosity, follow them to the
mountain.
At length their labour was at an end. They saw light beyond the
|
The fourth excerpt represents the element of Earth. It speaks of physical influences and the impact of the unseen on the visible world, and is drawn from New Arabian Nights by Robert Louis Stevenson: large windows which stood open on the night. "You observe," he
went on, "there is an iron ring in the upper masonry, and reeved
through that, a very efficacious rope. Now, mark my words; if you
should find your disinclination to my niece's person
insurmountable, I shall have you hanged out of this window before
sunrise. I shall only proceed to such an extremity with the
greatest regret, you may believe me. For it is not at all your
death that I desire, but my niece's establishment in life. At the
same time, it must come to that if you prove obstinate. Your
family, Monsieur de Beaulieu, is very well in its way; but if you
sprang from Charlemagne, you should not refuse the hand of a
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