| 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: straight with her naked feet. 2ndly. She
puts her head on one chair, and her feet
on another, in an equilibrium, and suffers
five or six men to stand on her body, which
after some time she flings off. 3rdly. An
anvil is put on her body, on which two men
strike with large hammers. 4thly. A
stone of a hundred pounds weight is put
on her body, and beat to pieces with a
hammer. 5thly. She lies down on the
ground, and suffers a stone of 1500 pounds
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 The Scarlet Pimpernel by Baroness Emmuska Orczy: full of the pride and arrogant prejudices of his caste. One day
Armand, the respectful, timid lover, ventured on sending a small
poem--enthusiastic, ardent, passionate--to the idol of his dreams.
The next night he was waylaid just outside Paris by the valets of
Marquis de St. Cyr, and ignominiously thrashed--thrashed like a dog
within an inch of his life--because he had dared to raise his eyes to
the daughter of the aristocrat. The incident was one which, in those
days, some two years before the great Revolution, was of almost daily
occurrence in France; incidents of that type, in fact, led to bloody
reprisals, which a few years later sent most of those haughty heads to
the guillotine.
The Scarlet Pimpernel |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Moran of the Lady Letty by Frank Norris: unsteadily, and, raising his glass, exclaimed:
"Sonny, here's to Kitchell, Wilbur & Co., beach-combers,
unlimited. What do you say, hey?"
"I only want to be sure that we've a right to the bark," answered
Wilbur.
"Right to her--ri-hight to 'er," hiccoughed the Captain. "Strike
me blind, I'd like to see any one try'n take her away from Alvinza
Kitchell now," and he thrust out his chin at Wilbur.
"Well, so much the better, then," said Wilbur, pocketing the
papers. The pair ascended to the deck.
The burial of Captain Sternersen was a dreadful business.
|
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 The Koran: receive mercy.'
But they called him a liar, and we rescued him and those who were
with him in the ark; and we drowned those who said our signs were
lies, verily, they were a blind people.
And unto 'Ad (we sent) their brother Hud, who said, 'O my people!
serve God, ye have no god save Him; what! will ye not then fear?' Said
the chiefs of those who misbelieved amongst his people, 'Verily, we
see thee in folly, and, verily, we certainly think thou art of the
liars.' He said, 'O my people! there is no folly in me; but I am an
apostle from the Lord the worlds; I preach to you the messages of your
Lord; and, verily, I am to you a faithful adviser. What! do ye then
The Koran |
