| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from On the Origin of Species by Charles Darwin: pattern in members of the same class, by utility or by the doctrine of
final causes. The hopelessness of the attempt has been expressly admitted
by Owen in his most interesting work on the 'Nature of Limbs.' On the
ordinary view of the independent creation of each being, we can only say
that so it is;--that it has so pleased the Creator to construct each animal
and plant.
The explanation is manifest on the theory of the natural selection of
successive slight modifications,--each modification being profitable in
some way to the modified form, but often affecting by correlation of growth
other parts of the organisation. In changes of this nature, there will be
little or no tendency to modify the original pattern, or to transpose
On the Origin of Species |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Padre Ignacio by Owen Wister: moment it came in the priest's mind to open the boy's door softly, look
at him once more, and come away. But this he did not, nor even take a
farewell glance at the church and organ. He bade nothing farewell, but,
turning his back upon his room and his garden, rode down the canyon.
The vessel lay at anchor, and some one had landed from ha and was talking
with other men on the shore. Seeing the priest slowly coming, this
stranger approached to meet him.
"You are connected with the mission here?" he inquired.
"I--am."
"Perhaps it is with you that Gaston Villere stopped?"
"The young man from New Orleans? Yes. I am Padre Ignacio."
|
