| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Jungle Book by Rudyard Kipling: dealt now. Mowgli, hast thou anything to say?"
"Nothing. I did wrong. Baloo and thou are wounded. It is
just."
Bagheera gave him half a dozen love-taps from a panther's
point of view (they would hardly have waked one of his own cubs),
but for a seven-year-old boy they amounted to as severe a beating
as you could wish to avoid. When it was all over Mowgli sneezed,
and picked himself up without a word.
"Now," said Bagheera, "jump on my back, Little Brother, and we
will go home."
One of the beauties of Jungle Law is that punishment settles
The Jungle Book |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from A Daughter of Eve by Honore de Balzac: tapping her shoulder. "I'll get him the assistance of Massol, a lawyer
who wants to be deputy; also Finot, who has never yet got beyond his
'petit-journal,' and Pantin, who wants to be master of petitions, and
who dabbles in reviews. Yes, I'll save him from himself; we'll convoke
here to supper Etienne Lousteau, who can do the feuilleton; Claude
Vignon for criticisms; Felicien Vernou as general care-taker; the
lawyer will work, and du Tillet may take charge of the Bourse, the
money article, and all industrial questions. We'll see where these
various talents and slaves united will land the enterprise."
"In a hospital or a ministry,--where all men ruined in body or mind
are apt to go," said Raoul, laughing.
|
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Marie by H. Rider Haggard: Owen family during the absence on a journey of a certain Mr. Hulley, who
really filled that office. While this conversation was taking place in
Dutch he was engaged in rendering every word of it into English for the
benefit of the clergyman and his family. When Mr. Owen understood the
full terror of the situation, he broke in saying:
"This is not a time to eat or to sleep, but a time to pray that the
heart of the savage Dingaan may be turned. Come, let us pray!"
"Yes," rejoined Vrouw Prinsloo, when William Wood had translated. "Do
you pray, Predicant, and all the rest of you who have nothing else to
do, and while you are about it pray also that the bullets of Allan
Quatermain may not be turned. As for me and Allan, we have other things
Marie |
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 From the Earth to the Moon by Jules Verne: uneasy looks.
"Well, gentlemen," replied the president, "I repeat what I
said yesterday. Make yourselves easy; the millions will not
be wanting."
With this assurance of their president the committee separated,
after having fixed their third meeting for the following evening.
CHAPTER IX
THE QUESTION OF THE POWDERS
There remained for consideration merely the question of powders.
The public awaited with interest its final decision. The size
of the projectile, the length of the cannon being settled, what
From the Earth to the Moon |
