Today's Stichomancy for Phil Mickelson

The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Gift of the Magi by O. Henry:

and receive gifts, such as they are wisest. Everywhere they

are wisest. They are the magi.

End of this Project Gutenberg Etext of THE GIFT OF THE MAGI.

The Gift of the Magi

The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Symposium by Xenophon:

[26] For Peisander see Cobet, "Pros. Xen." p. 46 foll. A thoroughgoing oligarch (Thuc. viii. 90), he was the occasion of much mirth to the comic writers (so Grote, "H. G." viii. 12). See re his "want of spirit" Aristoph. "Birds," 1556:

{entha kai Peisandros elthe deomenos psukhen idein, e zont ekeinon proulipe, k.t.l.}

where the poet has a fling at Socrates also:

Socrates beside the brink, Summons from the murky sink Many a disembodied ghost;

The Symposium

The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Enemies of Books by William Blades:

book.-Parish Register.-Story of Bigotry by M. Muller.--Clergymen destroy books.-Patent Office sell books for waste.

CHAPTER VI.

THE BOOKWORM.

Doraston.-Not so destructive as of yore.--Worm won't eat parchment.-Pierre Petit's .poem.--Hooke's account and image.-Its natural history neglected.- Various sorts-Attempts to breed Bookworms.- Greek worm.--Havoc made by worms.--Bodleian and Dr. Bandinel.--"Dermestes."--Worm won't eat modern paper.-- America comparatively free.--Worm-hole at Philadelphia.

CHAPTER VII.

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 Lamentable Tragedy of Locrine and Mucedorus by William Shakespeare:

Have at thee, swain, if that I hit thee right.

[Enter Mucedorus.]

MUCEDORUS. Viled coward, so without cause to strike a man. Turn, coward, turn; now strike and do thy worst.

[Mucedorus killeth him.]

SEGASTO. Hold, shepherd, hold; spare him, kill him not! Accursed villain, tell me, what hast thou done? Ah, Tremelio, trusty Tremelio! I sorrow for thy death, and since that thou,