| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Little Britain by Washington Irving: But though thus falling into decline, Little Britain still bears
traces of its former splendor. There are several houses ready
to tumble down, the fronts of which are magnificently enriched
with old oaken carvings of hideous faces, unknown birds,
beasts, and fishes; and fruits and flowers which it would
perplex a naturalist to classify. There are also, in Aldersgate
Street, certain remains of what were once spacious and lordly
family mansions, but which have in latter days been subdivided
into several tenements. Here may often be found the family of
a petty tradesman, with its trumpery furniture, burrowing
among the relics of antiquated finery, in great, rambling, time-
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from My Aunt Margaret's Mirror by Walter Scott: They were sent by the celebrated Earl of Stair, and contained the
melancholy event of a duel betwixt Sir Philip Forester and his
wife's half-brother, Captain Falconer, of the Scotch-Dutch, as
they were then called, in which the latter had been killed. The
cause of quarrel rendered the incident still more shocking. It
seemed that Sir Philip had left the army suddenly, in consequence
of being unable to pay a very considerable sum which he had lost
to another volunteer at play. He had changed his name, and taken
up his residence at Rotterdam, where he had insinuated himself
into the good graces of an ancient and rich burgomaster, and, by
his handsome person and graceful manners, captivated the
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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 An Historical Mystery by Honore de Balzac: subverted in them. In our case, see how persistently an evil fate
follows us! your decision is now postponed."
Laurence was stupefied; the fatal words of the director of the jury
hummed in her ears:--"In the name of the Emperor and the laws, I
arrest the Sieurs Paul-Marie and Marie-Paul Simeuse, Adrien and Robert
d'Hauteserre--These gentlemen," he added, addressing the men who
accompanied him and pointing to the mud on the clothing of the
prisoners, "cannot deny that they have spent the greater part of this
day on horseback."
"Of what are they accused?" asked Mademoiselle de Cinq-Cygne,
haughtily.
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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 Pagan and Christian Creeds by Edward Carpenter: and rites; for clearly, then, the smallest germ of a custom
or practice, transported from one country or people
to another at the right time, would be sufficient to wake
the development or growth in question and stimulate it into
activity. It will be seen, therefore, that the important point
towards the solution of this whole puzzling question is the
discussion, of theory (2)--and to this theory, as illustrated
by the world-wide myth of the Golden Age, I will now turn.
IX. MYTH OF THE GOLDEN AGE
The tradition of a "Golden Age" is widespread over the
world, and it is not necessary to go at any length into the
Pagan and Christian Creeds |
