| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Lesser Bourgeoisie by Honore de Balzac: it was on account of the discrepancy which strikes your mind that she
wanted to put her money in my hands as a sort of trustee."
"Bless me! my friend," said Thuillier, flippantly, "you said we were
in want of a romance-feuilletonist; but really, after this, I sha'n't
be uneasy. Here's imagination for you!"
"What?" said la Peyrade, angrily, "you don't believe me?"
"No, I do not believe you. Twenty-five thousand francs savings in the
service of an old savant! that is about as believable as the officer
of La Dame Blanche buying a chateau with his pay."
"But if I prove to you the truth of my words; if I let you put your
finger upon it?"
|
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 Miracle Mongers and Their Methods by Harry Houdini: without. This valuable property, which
has been long in practical use, he ascribed
to the conducting and radiating power of
the wire-gauze, which carried off the heat
of the flame, and deprived it of its power.
The Chevalier Aldini conceived the idea of
applying the same material, in combination
with other badly conducting substances,
as a protection against fire. The
incombustible pieces of dress which he
uses for the body, arms, and legs, are
Miracle Mongers and Their Methods |
