| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Lady Baltimore by Owen Wister: and next I saw, through the iron gate, John Mayrant in the street,
walking with his intimate aunt and her more severe sister, and Miss La
Heu. I somewhat superfluously hastened to the gate and greeted them, to
which they responded with polite, masterly discouragement. He, however,
after taking off his hat to them, turned back, and I watched them pursuing
their leisurely, reticent course toward the South Place. Why should the
old ladies strike me as looking like a tremendously proper pair of
conspirators? I was wondering this as I turned back among the tombs, when
I perceived John Mayrant coming along one of the churchyard paths. His
approach was made at right angles with that of another personage, the
respectful negro custodian of the place. This dignitary was evidently
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Within the Tides by Joseph Conrad: stood there taking snuff, repeatedly.
"A mule," repeated the wine-seller, his eyes fixed on that quaint
and snuffy figure. . . "No, senor officer! Decidedly no mule is to
be got in this poor place."
The coxswain, who stood by with the true sailor's air of unconcern
in strange surroundings, struck in quietly -
"If your honour will believe me Shank's pony's the best for this
job. I would have to leave the beast somewhere, anyhow, since the
captain has told me that half my way will be along paths fit only
for goats."
The diminutive man made a step forward, and speaking through the
Within the Tides |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from De Profundis by Oscar Wilde: who laughed than for myself. Of course when they saw me I was not
on my pedestal, I was in the pillory. But it is a very
unimaginative nature that only cares for people on their pedestals.
A pedestal may be a very unreal thing. A pillory is a terrific
reality. They should have known also how to interpret sorrow
better. I have said that behind sorrow there is always sorrow. It
were wiser still to say that behind sorrow there is always a soul.
And to mock at a soul in pain is a dreadful thing. In the
strangely simple economy of the world people only get what they
give, and to those who have not enough imagination to penetrate the
mere outward of things, and feel pity, what pity can be given save
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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 Ten Years Later by Alexandre Dumas: Fouquet, and detaching him, by his presence alone, from the
group. The superintendent preserved on his face the smile
and character of carelessness; but scarcely was he out of
sight than he threw off the mask.
"Well!" said he, eagerly, "where is Pellisson! What is he
doing?"
"Pellisson has returned from Paris."
"Has he brought back the prisoners?"
"He has not even seen the concierge of the prison."
"What! did he not tell him he came from me?"
"He told him so, but the concierge sent him this reply: `If
Ten Years Later |
