| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Wrong Box by Stevenson & Osbourne: address and brought the barrel home; but, remembering an old
adage, I determined not to open it except in the presence of my
lawyer.'
'Is that all?' asked Michael. 'I don't see any cause to worry.
The Hercules has stuck upon the road. It will drop in tomorrow or
the day after; and as for the barrel, depend upon it, it's a
testimonial from one of your young ladies, and probably contains
oysters.'
'O, don't speak so loud!' cried the little artist. 'It would cost
me my place if I were heard to speak lightly of the young ladies;
and besides, why oysters from Italy? and why should they come to
|
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Kidnapped by Robert Louis Stevenson: spoon, "they're fine, halesome food -- they're grand food,
parritch." He murmured a little grace to himself and fell to.
"Your father was very fond of his meat, I mind; he was a hearty,
if not a great eater; but as for me, I could never do mair than
pyke at food." He took a pull at the small beer, which probably
reminded him of hospitable duties, for his next speech ran thus:
"If ye're dry ye'll find water behind the door."
To this I returned no answer, standing stiffly on my two feet,
and looking down upon my uncle with a mighty angry heart. He, on
his part, continued to eat like a man under some pressure of
time, and to throw out little darting glances now at my shoes and
Kidnapped |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Pellucidar by Edgar Rice Burroughs: little deck of the Amoz with the first of Perry's primi-
tive cannon behind me. When Ja kneeled at my feet,
and first to do me homage, I drew from its scabbard
at his side the sword of hammered iron that Perry
had taught him to fashion. Striking him lightly on the
shoulder I created him king of Anoroc. Each captain of the
forty-nine other feluccas I made a duke. I left
it to Perry to enlighten them as to the value of the
honors I had bestowed upon them.
During these ceremonies Raja and Ranee had stood
beside Dian and me. Their bellies had been well filled,
Pellucidar |
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 Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx: proclaiming its supreme and impartial contempt of all class
struggles. With very few exceptions, all the so-called Socialist
and Communist publications that now (1847) circulate in Germany
belong to the domain of this foul and enervating literature.
2. CONSERVATIVE, OR BOURGEOIS, SOCIALISM
A part of the bourgeoisie is desirous of redressing social
grievances, in order to secure the continued existence of
bourgeois society.
To this section belong economists, philanthropists,
humanitarians, improvers of the condition of the working class,
organisers of charity, members of societies for the prevention of
The Communist Manifesto |
