| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Crowd by Gustave le Bon: hidden behind the tabernacle, which the devout only approach in
fear and trembling.
The images evoked by words being independent of their sense, they
vary from age to age and from people to people, the formulas
remaining identical. Certain transitory images are attached to
certain words: the word is merely as it were the button of an
electric bell that calls them up.
All words and all formulas do not possess the power of evoking
images, while there are some which have once had this power, but
lose it in the course of use, and cease to waken any response in
the mind. They then become vain sounds, whose principal utility
|
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Rezanov by Gertrude Atherton: hills to do honor to the Russians died of excitement,
and it rained besides. Rezanov made the storm his
excuse for not dining and dancing as usual at the
house of the Commandante. But the relations be-
tween the Presidio and the Juno during the next
few days were by no means strained. Davidov and
Khostov were always with the Spanish officers,
drinking and card playing, or improving their danc-
ing and Spanish with the girls, whose guitars were
tuned for the waltz day and night. The dignitaries
met as usual and conversed on all topics save those
Rezanov |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Case of the Golden Bullet by Grace Isabel Colbron and Augusta Groner: It seems hard on him to be transferred to this small town, now that
he is growing old. I've wondered why he hasn't done more for
himself, with his gifts."
"He never will," replied the Chief. "He may win more fame - he may
still go on winning triumphs, but he will go on in a circle; he'll
never forge ahead as his capabilities deserve. Muller's peculiarity
is that his genius - for the man has undeniable genius - will always
make concessions to his heart just at the moment when he is about
to do something great - and his triumph is lost."
Horn looked up at his superior, whom, in spite of his good nature,
he knew to be a sharp, keen, capable police official. "I forgot
|
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 Burning Daylight by Jack London: excelled in the things worth excelling in, a man-god ready to
hand, and Kama could not but worship--withal he gave no signs of
it. No wonder the race of white men conquered, was his thought,
when it bred men like this man. What chance had the Indian
against such a dogged, enduring breed? Even the Indians did not
travel at such low temperatures, and theirs was the wisdom of
thousands of generations; yet here was this Daylight, from the
soft Southland, harder than they, laughing at their fears, and
swinging along the trail ten and twelve hours a day. And this
Daylight thought that he could keep up a day's pace of
thirty-three miles for sixty days! Wait till a fresh fall of
|
