| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Arrow of Gold by Joseph Conrad: "Well, yes, heroically," she said; and there passed between us dim
smiles, I have no doubt of the most touching imbecility on earth.
We were standing by then in the middle of the room with its vivid
colours on a black background, with its multitude of winged figures
with pale limbs, with hair like halos or flames, all strangely
tense in their strained, decorative attitudes. Dona Rita made a
step towards me, and as I attempted to seize her hand she flung her
arms round my neck. I felt their strength drawing me towards her
and by a sort of blind and desperate effort I resisted. And all
the time she was repeating with nervous insistence:
"But it is true that you will go. You will surely. Not because of
The Arrow of Gold |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Ancient Regime by Charles Kingsley: Revolution. From England went forth the philosophy of Locke, with
all its immense results. It is noteworthy, that when Voltaire tries
to persuade people, in a certain famous passage, that philosophers
do not care to trouble the world--of the ten names to whom he does
honour, seven names are English. "It is," he says, "neither
Montaigne, nor Locke, nor Boyle, nor Spinoza, nor Hobbes, nor Lord
Shaftesbury, nor Mr. Collins, nor Mr. Toland, nor Fludd, nor Baker,
who have carried the torch of discord into their countries." It is
worth notice, that not only are the majority of these names English,
but that they belong not to the latter but to the former half of the
eighteenth century; and indeed, to the latter half of the
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| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Glinda of Oz by L. Frank Baum: Adepts at Magic, restored to your proper forms?"
"We are the three Adepts," admitted Aujah.
"Then," said Glinda, "my task is half accomplished.
But who destroyed the transformation that made you
fishes?"
"We have promised not to tell," answered Aurah; "but
this young Skeezer was largely responsible for our
release; he is brave and clever, and we owe him our
gratitude."
Glinda looked at Ervic, who stood modestly behind the
Adepts, hat in hand. "He shall be properly rewarded,"
Glinda of Oz |
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 Unseen World and Other Essays by John Fiske: to keep his hand in. In like manner, while such crimes as murder
and violent robbery have diminished in frequency during the past
century, on the other hand such crimes as embezzlement, gambling
in stocks, adulteration of goods, and using of false weights and
measures, have probably increased. If Dick Turpin were now to be
brought back to life, he would find the New York Custom-House a
more congenial and profitable working-place than the king's
highway.
The result of this universal quest for money is that we are
always in a hurry. Our lives pass by in a whirl. It is all labour
and no fruition. We work till we are weary; we carry our work
The Unseen World and Other Essays |
