| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Mother by Owen Wister: obliged to see her drive away in the carriage with her father."
"Mr. Field," said Mrs. Davenport, "what hour did that train arrive at
Jersey City?"
Richard looked surprised. "Why, seven-fifteen P. M.," he replied. "The
tenth of March."
"Dark!" Mrs. Davenport exclaimed. "Mr. Field, you and Ethel were engaged
before the ferry boat landed at Desbrosses Street."
Richard and Ethel both sat straight up, but remained speechless.
"Pardon my interruption," said Mrs. Davenport, smiling. "I didn't want to
miss a single point in this story--do go on!"
Richard was obliged to burst out laughing, in which Ethel, after a
|
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Fanny Herself by Edna Ferber: would begin to walk slowly and ruminatively about, his
shrewd little German eyes appraising the stock. He would
hum a little absent-minded tune as he walked, up one aisle
and down the next (there were only two), picking up a piece
of china there, turning it over to look at its stamp,
holding it up to the light, tapping it a bit with his
knuckles, and putting it down carefully before going
musically on down the aisle to the water sets, the lamps,
the stockings, the hardware, the toys. And so, his hands
behind his back, still humming, out the swinging screen door
and into the sunshine of Elm Street, leaving gloom and fear
Fanny Herself |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Mansion by Henry van Dyke: success.
"Father plays us," said Harold, in a moment of irritation, to his
mother,
"like pieces in a game of chess.
"My dear," said that lady, whose faith in her husband was
religious,
"you ought not to speak so impatiently. At least he wins the
game.
He is one of the most respected men in New York. And he is
very generous, too."
"I wish he would be more generous in letting us be ourselves,"
|
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 The Chouans by Honore de Balzac: voice, her nostrils dilating with pleasure, and her head so turned
that she could watch the young man and yet see Merle, she said to the
Republican: "That new leader gives a great deal of anxiety to the
First Consul. He is very daring, they say; but he has the weakness of
rushing headlong into adventures, especially with women."
"We are counting on that to get even with him," said the captain. "If
we catch him for only an hour we shall put a bullet in his head. He'll
do the same to us if he meets us, so /par pari/--"
"Oh!" said the /emigre/, "we have nothing to fear. Your soldiers
cannot go as far as La Pelerine, they are tired, and, if you consent,
we can all rest a short distance from here. My mother stops at La
The Chouans |
