| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Reminiscences of Tolstoy by Leo Tolstoy: life my father was particularly friendly and affectionate with him,
and delighted in sharing his thoughts with him.
A. A. Fet in his reminiscences describes the character of all
the three Tolstoy brothers with extraordinary perspicacity:
I am convinced that the fundamental type of all the three
Tolstoy brothers was identical, just as the type of all
maple-leaves is identical, despite the variety of their
configurations. And if I set myself to develop the idea, I could
show to what a degree all three brothers shared in that passionate
enthusiasm without which it would have been impossible for one of
them to turn into the poet Lyoff Tolstoy. The difference of their
|
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from A Footnote to History by Robert Louis Stevenson: in effrontery was labour lost. "You have been repeatedly warned,
Mr. Poor, not to expose yourself among these savages," said he.
Not long after, the presence of the KAIMILOA was made A CASUS BELLI
by the Germans; and the rough-and-tumble embassy withdrew, on
borrowed money, to find their own government in hot water to the
neck.
THE EMPEROR'S BIRTHDAY. It is possible, and it is alleged, that
the Germans entered into the conference with hope. But it is
certain they were resolved to remain prepared for either fate. And
I take the liberty of believing that Laupepa was not forgiven his
duplicity; that, during this interval, he stood marked like a tree
|
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Soul of Man by Oscar Wilde: constructed on such a basis that man has been forced into a groove
in which he cannot freely develop what is wonderful, and
fascinating, and delightful in him - in which, in fact, he misses
the true pleasure and joy of living. He is also, under existing
conditions, very insecure. An enormously wealthy merchant may be -
often is - at every moment of his life at the mercy of things that
are not under his control. If the wind blows an extra point or so,
or the weather suddenly changes, or some trivial thing happens, his
ship may go down, his speculations may go wrong, and he finds
himself a poor man, with his social position quite gone. Now,
nothing should be able to harm a man except himself. Nothing
|
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 Kenilworth by Walter Scott: sheer off in spite of the whole hue and cry."
"Saddle him then instantly, and attend me," said Varney. "Leave
thy clothes and baggage under charge of mine host; and I will
conduct thee to a service, in which, if thou do not better
thyself, the fault shall not be fortune's, but thine own."
"Brave and hearty!" said Lambourne, "and I am mounted in an
instant.--Knave, hostler, saddle my nag without the loss of one
second, as thou dost value the safety of thy noddle.--Pretty
Cicely, take half this purse to comfort thee for my sudden
departure."
"Gogsnouns!" replied the father, "Cicely wants no such token
Kenilworth |
