| 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: a medical man who ought to have known
better, rushed forward and impulsively
dragged out the whole bunch, inflicting
such injuries upon this peculiar entertainer
as to endanger his life, and incapacitate
him for months.
In one of his acts Cliquot swallows a
real bayonet sword, weighted with a cross-
bar, and two 18-lb. dumb bells. In order
to vary this performance, the sword-swallower
allows only a part of the weapon to
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 Altar of the Dead by Henry James: she had already told him she would make no change of scene. He
read the reference in the objects about her - the general one to
places and times; but after a minute he distinguished among them a
small portrait of a gentleman. At a distance and without their
glasses his eyes were only so caught by it as to feel a vague
curiosity. Presently this impulse carried him nearer, and in
another moment he was staring at the picture in stupefaction and
with the sense that some sound had broken from him. He was further
conscious that he showed his companion a white face when he turned
round on her gasping: "Acton Hague!"
She matched his great wonder. "Did you know him?"
|
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Forged Coupon by Leo Tolstoy: quire.
That very morning, when his wife had at-
tempted to condole with her brother-in-law, Prince
Peter had observed a look of pain on his brother's
face. The look had at once been masked by an
expression of unapproachable pride, and he had
begun to question her about their flat, and the
price she paid. At luncheon, before the family
and guests, he had been witty and sarcastic as
usual. Towards every one, excepting the chil-
dren, whom he treated with almost reverent ten-
The Forged Coupon |
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 Autocrat of the Breakfast-Table by Oliver Wendell Holmes: afterwards he came in, looking very good-natured, and brought me a
paper, which I have here, and from which I shall read you some
portions, if you don't object. He had been thinking the matter
over, he said, - had read Cicero "De Senectute," and made up his
mind to meet old age half way. These were some of his reflections
that he had written down; so here you have.
THE PROFESSOR'S PAPER.
THERE is no doubt when old age begins. The human body is a furnace
which keeps in blast three-score years and ten, more or less. It
burns about three hundred pounds of carbon a year, (besides other
fuel,) when in fair working order, according to a great chemist's
The Autocrat of the Breakfast-Table |
