They had back then the secret ingredients to functional, practical occultism that are very much in short supply today. The extremes of human experience were the norm then, and it wasn't too uncommon to know a few folks with at least a handful of tales to tell of combat and peril. These days those experiences which evoke a certain animal thrill as one's life is on the line are almost non-existent, and life is very sterile, safe, and as such much of we call "magick" fails because it is so very safe.