| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Outlaw of Torn by Edgar Rice Burroughs: vill, Norman of Torn was busy with his wild horde in
reducing and sacking the castle of John de Grey, a royal-
ist baron who had captured and hanged two of the out-
law's fighting men; and never again after his meeting
with the daughter of the chief of the barons did Nor-
man of Torn raise a hand against the rebels or their
friends.
Shortly after his return to Torn, following the success-
ful outcome of his expedition, the watch upon the
tower reported the approach of a dozen armed knights.
Norman sent Red Shandy to the outer walls to learn
The Outlaw of Torn |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Secret Places of the Heart by H. G. Wells: and Rivers upon what was then known as the Heliolithic
culture. It had revived their interest in Avebury and
Stonehenge. The doctor moreover had been reading Hippisley
Cox's GREEN ROADS OF ENGLAND.
Neither gentleman had ever seen Avebury, but Dr. Martineau
had once visited Stonehenge.
"Avebury is much the oldest," said the doctor. They must have
made Silbury Hill long before 2000 B.C. It may be five
thousand years old or even more. It is the most important
historical relic in the British Isles. And the most
neglected. "
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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 Scenes from a Courtesan's Life by Honore de Balzac: of the day. Our dear Lucien has revived the Metamorphoses of Ovid.
Just as the gods used to turn into strange vegetables and other things
to seduce the ladies, he has turned the Chardon (the Thistle) into a
gentleman to bewitch--whom? Charles X.!--My dear boy," he went on,
holding Lucien by his coat button, "a journalist who apes the fine
gentleman deserves rough music. In their place," said the merciless
jester, as he pointed to Finot and Vernou, "I should take you up in my
society paper; you would bring in a hundred francs for ten columns of
fun."
"Bixiou," said Blondet, "an Amphitryon is sacred for twenty-four hours
before a feast and twelve hours after. Our illustrious friend is
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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 Walking by Henry David Thoreau: are already little men. Give me a culture which imports much muck
from the meadows, and deepens the soil--not that which trusts to
heating manures, and improved implements and modes of culture
only!
Many a poor sore-eyed student that I have heard of would grow
faster, both intellectually and physically, if, instead of
sitting up so very late, he honestly slumbered a fool's
allowance.
There may be an excess even of informing light. Niepce, a
Frenchman, discovered "actinism," that power in the sun's rays
which produces a chemical effect; that granite rocks, and stone
Walking |
