| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Expression of Emotion in Man and Animals by Charles Darwin: The arms may be protruded, as if to avert some dreadful danger,
or may be thrown wildly over the head. The Rev. Mr. Hagenauer has
seen this latter action in a terrified Australian. In other cases
there is a sudden and uncontrollable tendency to headlong flight;
and so strong is this, that the boldest soldiers may be seized
with a sudden panic.
[17] Sir C. Bell, Transactions of Royal Phil. Soc. 1822, p. 308.
`Anatomy of Expression,' p. 88 and pp. 164-469.
[18] See Moreau on the rolling of the eyes, in the edit. of 1820 of Lavater,
tome iv. p. 263. Also, Gratiolet, De la Phys. p. 17.
As fear rises to an extreme pitch, the dreadful scream of terror is heard.
Expression of Emotion in Man and Animals |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Cousin Pons by Honore de Balzac: species to keep up the stock. 'Tis a pattern man, and has talent too.
When will he be able to take his orchestra again, do you think? A
theatre, unfortunately, is like a stage coach: empty or full, it
starts at the same time. Here at six o'clock every evening, up goes
the curtain; and if we are never sorry for ourselves, it won't make
good music. Let us see now--how is he?"
La Cibot pulled out her pocket-handkerchief and held it to her eyes.
"It is a terrible thing to say, my dear sir," said she; "but I am
afraid we shall lose him, though we are as careful of him as of the
apple of our eyes. And, at the same time, I came to say that you must
not count on M. Schmucke, worthy man, for he is going to sit up with
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| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Miracle Mongers and Their Methods by Harry Houdini: conscientious and oft-repeated attempts.
Mr. Perry explains this exercise as
follows: The men are requested to place
themselves parallel to each other, and the
girl, who stands opposite them, places the
palm of her hand against the stick and
turned toward her. She takes care to
place her hand as far as possible from the
hands of the two men, so as to give herself
a certain leverage. She then begins
to slide her hand along the stick, gently
Miracle Mongers and Their Methods |
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 Symposium by Plato: commendable and that there no loss of character in them; and, what is
strangest of all, he only may swear and forswear himself (so men say), and
the gods will forgive his transgression, for there is no such thing as a
lover's oath. Such is the entire liberty which gods and men have allowed
the lover, according to the custom which prevails in our part of the world.
From this point of view a man fairly argues that in Athens to love and to
be loved is held to be a very honourable thing. But when parents forbid
their sons to talk with their lovers, and place them under a tutor's care,
who is appointed to see to these things, and their companions and equals
cast in their teeth anything of the sort which they may observe, and their
elders refuse to silence the reprovers and do not rebuke them--any one who
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