| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Ballads by Robert Louis Stevenson: understood as referring mainly to mosquitoes, and these only
in watered valleys with close woods, such as I suppose to
form the surroundings of Rahero's homestead. Quarter of a
mile away, where the air moves freely, you shall look in vain
for one.
Note 5, "HOOK" of mother-of-pearl. Bright-hook fishing, and
that with the spear, appear to be the favourite native
methods.
Note 6, "LEAVES," the plates of Tahiti.
Note 7, "YOTTOWAS," so spelt for convenience of
pronunciation, QUASI Tacksmen in the Scottish Highlands. The
Ballads |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Faraday as a Discoverer by John Tyndall: single discharge, would be equal to a very great flash of lightning;
while the chemical action of a single grain of water on four grains
of zinc would yield electricity equal in quantity to a powerful
thunderstorm. Thus his mind rises from the minute to the vast,
expanding involuntarily from the smallest laboratory fact till it
embraces the largest and grandest natural phenomena.[1]
In reality, however, he is at this time only clearing his way,
and he continues laboriously to clear it for some time afterwards.
He is digging the shaft, guided by that instinct towards the mineral
lode which was to him a rod of divination. 'Er riecht die Wahrheit,'
said the lamented Kohlrausch, an eminent German, once in my hearing:--
|
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Son of Tarzan by Edgar Rice Burroughs: have some slight doubts.
"You needn't be afraid of the lion," said Meriem, noting his
slight hesitancy. "There hasn't been a man eater around here
for two years, Bwana says, and the game is so plentiful that
there is no necessity to drive Numa to human flesh. Then, he
has been so often hunted that he rather keeps out of man's way."
"Oh, I'm not afraid of lions," replied the Hon. Morison. "I was
just thinking what a beastly uncomfortable place a forest is
to ride in. What with the underbrush and the low branches and
all that, you know, it's not exactly cut out for pleasure riding."
"Let's go a-foot then," suggested Meriem, and started to dismount.
The Son of Tarzan |
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 Louis Lambert by Honore de Balzac: had construed this by "Caius Gracchus had a noble heart."
"Where do you find 'heart' in /nobilis/?" said the Father sharply.
And there was a roar of laughter, while Lambert looked at the master
in some bewilderment.
"What would Madame la Baronne de Stael say if she could know that you
make such nonsense of a word that means noble family, of patrician
rank?"
"She would say that you were an ass!" said I in a muttered tone.
"Master Poet, you will stay in for a week," replied the master, who
unfortunately overheard me.
Lambert simply repeated, looking at me with inexpressible affection,
Louis Lambert |
