| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Off on a Comet by Jules Verne: symbols traced in chalk, which they were careful not to obliterate;
and the papers, which consisted for the most part of detached scraps,
presented a perfect wilderness of geometrical figures, conic sections
of every variety being repeated in countless profusion.
Lieutenant Procope pointed out that these curves evidently had reference to
the orbits of comets, which are variously parabolic, hyperbolic, or elliptic.
If either of the first two, the comet, after once appearing within the range
of terrestrial vision, would vanish forever in the outlying regions of space;
if the last, it would be sure, sooner or later, after some periodic interval,
to return.
From the _prima facie_ appearance of his papers, then, it seemed probable
|
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Monster Men by Edgar Rice Burroughs: again fallen about the scene of the recent alarm.
Muda Saffir had passed on toward the cove with the
heavy chest, and the scrimmage in the bungalow was over.
But von Horn did not abate his watchfulness as he stole
silently within the precincts of the north campong, and,
hugging the denser shadows of the palisade, crept toward the house.
The dim light in the living room drew him to one of the
windows which overlooked the verandah. A glance within
howed him Sing and Number Thirteen bending over the
body of Professor Maxon. He noted the handsome face
and perfect figure of the young giant. He saw the
The Monster Men |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Modeste Mignon by Honore de Balzac: publisher of the poems of Canalis, asking, in the interest of that
great poet, for some particulars about him, among others if he were
married. She requested the publisher to address his answer to
Mademoiselle Francoise, "poste restante," Havre.
Dauriat, incapable of taking the epistle seriously, wrote a reply in
presence of four or five journalists who happened to be in his office
at the time, each of whom added his particular stroke of wit to the
production.
Mademoiselle,--Canalis (Baron of), Constant Cys Melchior, member
of the French Academy, born in 1800, at Canalis (Correze), five
feet four inches in height, of good standing, vaccinated, spotless
Modeste Mignon |
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 The Insidious Dr. Fu-Manchu by Sax Rohmer: A giant shape loomed up, and frowned crushingly upon the little craft.
A blaze of light, the jangle of a bell, and it was past. We were dancing
in the wash of one of the Scotch steamers, and the murk had fallen again.
Discords of remote activity rose above the more intimate
throbbing of our screw, and we seemed a pigmy company
floating past the workshops of Brobdingnagian toilers.
The chill of the near water communicated itself to me, and I
felt the protection of my shabby garments inadequate against it.
Far over on the Surrey shore a blue light--vaporous, mysterious--
flicked translucent tongues against the night's curtain.
It was a weird, elusive flame, leaping, wavering, magically changing
The Insidious Dr. Fu-Manchu |
