| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Salome by Oscar Wilde: sac de poil, et la lune deviendra comme du sang, et les etoiles du
ciel tomberont sur la terre comme les figues vertes tombent d'un
figuier, et les rois de la terre auront peur.
HERODIAS. Ah! Ah! Je voudrais bien voir ce jour dont il parle, ou
la lune deviendra comme du sang et ou les etoiles tomberont sur la
terre comme des figues vertes. Ce prophete parle comme un homme
ivre . . . Mais je ne peux pas souffrir le son de sa voix. Je
deteste sa voix. Ordonnez qu'il se taise.
HERODE. Mais non. Je ne comprends pas ce qu'il a dit, mais cela
peut etre un presage.
HERODIAS. Je ne crois pas aux presages. Il parle comme un homme
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Cousin Pons by Honore de Balzac: Hiller, and Leopold Hertz, Woertz, Karr, Wolff, Pixis, and Clara Wieck
--and all Germans, generally speaking. Schmucke was a great musical
composer doomed to remain a music master, so utterly did his character
lack the audacity which a musical genius needs if he is to push his
way to the front. A German's naivete does not invariably last him
through his life; in some cases it fails after a certain age; and even
as a cultivator of the soil brings water from afar by means of
irrigation channels, so, from the springs of his youth, does the
Teuton draw the simplicity which disarms suspicion--the perennial
supplies with which he fertilizes his labors in every field of
science, art, or commerce. A crafty Frenchman here and there will turn
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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 The Call of the Wild by Jack London: Men gasped and began to breathe again, unaware that for a moment
they had ceased to breathe. Thornton was running behind,
encouraging Buck with short, cheery words. The distance had been
measured off, and as he neared the pile of firewood which marked
the end of the hundred yards, a cheer began to grow and grow,
which burst into a roar as he passed the firewood and halted at
command. Every man was tearing himself loose, even Matthewson.
Hats and mittens were flying in the air. Men were shaking hands,
it did not matter with whom, and bubbling over in a general
incoherent babel.
But Thornton fell on his knees beside Buck. Head was against
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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 The Damnation of Theron Ware by Harold Frederic: I'm all right. My mind is clear as a bell. Truly, I've
really counted on this talk with you."
"But there's something else to talk about, isn't there,
besides--besides your conscience?" she asked.
Her eyes bent upon him a kindly pressure as she spoke,
which took all possible harshness from her meaning.
Theron answered the glance rather than her words.
"I know that you are my friend," he said simply.
Sister Soulsby straightened herself, and looked down upon
him with a new intentness. "Well, then," she began,
"let's thrash this thing out right now, and be done with it.
The Damnation of Theron Ware |
