| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Call of Cthulhu by H. P. Lovecraft: so that his passing at the age of ninety-two may be recalled by
many. Locally, interest was intensified by the obscurity of the
cause of death. The professor had been stricken whilst returning
from the Newport boat; falling suddenly; as witnesses said, after
having been jostled by a nautical-looking negro who had come from
one of the queer dark courts on the precipitous hillside which
formed a short cut from the waterfront to the deceased's home
in Williams Street. Physicians were unable to find any visible
disorder, but concluded after perplexed debate that some obscure
lesion of the heart, induced by the brisk ascent of so steep a
hill by so elderly a man, was responsible for the end. At the
Call of Cthulhu |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Essays of Francis Bacon by Francis Bacon: of business. To conclude, there is no decaying mer-
chant, or inward beggar, hath so many tricks to
uphold the credit of their wealth, as these empty
persons have, to maintain the credit of their suf-
ficiency. Seeming wise men may make shift to get
opinion; but let no man choose them for employ-
ment; for certainly you were better take for busi-
ness, a man somewhat absurd, than over-formal.
Of Friendship
IT HAD been hard for him that spake it to have
put more truth and untruth together in few
Essays of Francis Bacon |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from A Legend of Montrose by Walter Scott: blunder.
"I heard it from Donald," said Lord Menteith, scarce able to
suppress a smile.
"Devil take that old man," said M'Aulay, "he would tell every
thing, were it to cost one's life; but it's no jesting matter to
you neither, my lord, for I reckon on your friendly and fraternal
benevolence, as a near kinsman of our house, to help me out with
the money due to these pock-puddings; or else, to be plain wi'
ye, the deil a M'Aulay will there be at the muster, for curse me
if I do not turn Covenanter rather than face these fellows
without paying them; and, at the best, I shall be ill enough off,
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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 An International Episode by Henry James: And so the two inquiring Englishmen, who had this lady's
address inscribed in her husband's hand upon a card,
descended from the veranda of the big hotel and took their way,
according to direction, along a large straight road, past a
series of fresh-looking villas embosomed in shrubs and flowers
and enclosed in an ingenious variety of wooden palings.
The morning was brilliant and cool, the villas were smart and snug,
and the walk of the young travelers was very entertaining.
Everything looked as if it had received a coat of fresh paint
the day before--the red roofs, the green shutters, the clean,
bright browns and buffs of the housefronts. The flower beds
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