| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Kwaidan by Lafcadio Hearn: in which egoism and altruism are so conciliated that the one merges into
the other." That is to say, a state in which the only possible pleasure is
the pleasure of unselfish action. Or, again to quote Mr. Spencer, the
activities of the insect-society are "activities which postpone individual
well-being so completely to the well-being of the community that individual
life appears to be attended to only just so far as is necessary to make
possible due attention to social life,... the individual taking only just
such food and just such rest as are needful to maintain its vigor."
III
I hope my reader is aware that ants practise horticulture and agriculture;
that they are skillful in the cultivation of mushrooms; that they have
Kwaidan |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The American by Henry James: and there are marvelous touches, you probably perceive them, sir.
It attracted great attention on the Boulevard, as we came along.
And then a gradation of tones! That's what it is to know how to paint.
I don't say it because I am her father, sir; but as one man of taste
addressing another I cannot help observing that you have there an
exquisite work. It is hard to produce such things and to have to part
with them. If our means only allowed us the luxury of keeping it!
I really may say, sir--" and M. Nioche gave a little feebly
insinuating laugh--"I really may say that I envy you! You see,"
he added in a moment, "we have taken the liberty of offering you a frame.
It increases by a trifle the value of the work, and it will save
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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 The Water-Babies by Charles Kingsley: And he said out loud again and again, though being half asleep he
did not know it, "I must be clean, I must be clean."
And all of a sudden he found himself, not in the outhouse on the
hay, but in the middle of a meadow, over the road, with the stream
just before him, saying continually, "I must be clean, I must be
clean." He had got there on his own legs, between sleep and awake,
as children will often get out of bed, and go about the room, when
they are not quite well. But he was not a bit surprised, and went
on to the bank of the brook, and lay down on the grass, and looked
into the clear, clear limestone water, with every pebble at the
bottom bright and clean, while the little silver trout dashed about
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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 Song of Hiawatha by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow: And the long and level sunbeams
Shot their spears into the forest,
Breaking through its shields of shadow,
Rushed into each secret ambush,
Searched each thicket, dingle, hollow;
Still the guests of Hiawatha
Slumbered In the silent wigwam.
From his place rose Hiawatha,
Bade farewell to old Nokomis,
Spake in whispers, spake in this wise,
Did not wake the guests, that slumbered.
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