| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Miracle Mongers and Their Methods by Harry Houdini: appeared in the work of a much humbler
practitioner, contemporary or very nearly
contemporary with him.
We have seen that Richardson, Powell,
Dufour, and generally the better class of fire-
eaters were able to secure select audiences and
even to attract the attention of scientists in
England and on the Continent. But many of
their effects had been employed by mountebanks
and street fakirs since the earliest days
of the art, and this has continued until
Miracle Mongers and Their Methods |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Dracula by Bram Stoker: for it was as of one addressing an equal, "Can you not tell
frankly your real reason for wishing to be free tonight?
I will undertake that if you will satisfy even me, a stranger,
without prejudice, and with the habit of keeping an open mind,
Dr. Seward will give you, at his own risk and on his
own responsibility, the privilege you seek."
He shook his head sadly, and with a look of poignant regret on
his face. The Professor went on, "Come, sir, bethink yourself.
You claim the privilege of reason in the highest degree,
since you seek to impress us with your complete reasonableness.
You do this, whose sanity we have reason to doubt, since you are
Dracula |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Familiar Studies of Men and Books by Robert Louis Stevenson: twinkling; and Master Guy Tabary remained alone beside the
overcoats. From the court the burglars made their way into
the vestry of the chapel, where they found a large chest,
strengthened with iron bands and closed with four locks. One
of these locks they picked, and then, by levering up the
corner, forced the other three. Inside was a small coffer,
of walnut wood, also barred with iron, but fastened with only
three locks, which were all comfortably picked by way of the
keyhole. In the walnut coffer - a joyous sight by our
thieves' lantern - were five hundred crowns of gold. There
was some talk of opening the aumries, where, if they had only
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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 Lay Morals by Robert Louis Stevenson: held the ribbons and drew up like a lamb when he was told to,
picks up his cattle, and drives off again. Down they came to
the "Dragon," all singing like as if they was scalded, and
poor Tom saying nothing. You would 'a' thought they had all
lost the King's crown to hear them. Down gets this Dicksee.
"Postmaster," he says, taking him by the arm, "this is a most
abominable thing," he says. Down gets a Major Clayton, and
gets the old man by the other arm. "We've been robbed," he
cries, "robbed!" Down gets the others, and all around the
old man telling their story, and what they had lost, and how
they was all as good as ruined; till at last Old Engleton
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