| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Whirligigs by O. Henry: nose. The deadly work of the implacable, false enchant-
ress May was done.
Across the park to the olfactories of Mr. Coulson came
other unmistakable, characteristic, copyrighted smells
of spring that belong to the-big-city-above-the-Subway,
alone. The smells of hot asphalt, underground caverns,
gasoline, patchouli, orange peel, sewer gas, Albany grabs,
Egyptian cigarettes, mortar and the undried ink on news-
papers. The inblowing air was sweet and mild. Sparrows
wrangled happily everywhere outdoors. Never trust May.
Mr. Coulson twisted the ends of his white mustache,
|
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Hunting of the Snark by Lewis Carroll: Undertaking another as well.
The Beaver's best course was, no doubt, to procure
A second-hand dagger-proof coat--
So the Baker advised it-- and next, to insure
Its life in some Office of note:
This the Banker suggested, and offered for hire
(On moderate terms), or for sale,
Two excellent Policies, one Against Fire,
And one Against Damage From Hail.
Yet still, ever after that sorrowful day,
Whenever the Butcher was by,
The Hunting of the Snark |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Lady Baltimore by Owen Wister: this lady's name, and she confined herself to a distant, though perhaps
not unfriendly, greeting. She was sitting by a work-table, and she
resumed some embroidery of exquisite appearance, while my hostess talked
to me.
Both wore their hair in a simple fashion to suit their years, which must
have been seventy or more; both were dressed with the dignity that such
years call for; and I may mention here that so were all the ladies above
a certain age in this town of admirable old-fashioned propriety. In New
York, in Boston, in Philadelphia, ladies of seventy won't be old ladies
any more; they're unwilling to wear their years avowedly, in quiet
dignity by their firesides; they bare their bosoms and gallop egregiously
|
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 Shadow out of Time by H. P. Lovecraft: but did not attract much attention. Meanwhile I continued to record
my dreams with the minutest care, even though the growing stack
of reports attained troublesomely vast proportions. On July 10,
1934, there was forwarded to me by the Psychological Society the
letter which opened the culminating and most horrible phase of
the whole mad ordeal. It was postmarked Pilbarra, Western Australia,
and bore the signature of one whom I found, upon inquiry, to be
a mining engineer of considerable prominence. Enclosed were some
very curious snapshots. I will reproduce the text in its entirety,
and no reader can fail to understand how tremendous an effect
it and the photographs had upon me.
Shadow out of Time |
