| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy: "But why in a village? In the villages, I think, there is plenty
of work as it is. Why a locksmiths' association in a village?"
"Why? Because the peasants are just as much slaves as they ever
were, and that's why you and Sergey Ivanovitch don't like people
to try and get them out of their slavery," said Nikolay Levin,
exasperated by the objection.
Konstantin Levin sighed, looking meanwhile about the cheerless
and dirty room. This sigh seemed to exasperate Nikolay still
more.
"I know your and Sergey Ivanovitch's aristocratic views. I know
that he applies all the power of his intellect to justify
Anna Karenina |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Mad King by Edgar Rice Burroughs: paces from him. The soldier was standing in a listening
attitude, his head half turned away from the American. The
sounds coming from the direction of the inn were apparently
what had attracted his attention.
Behind him, Barney was sure he heard evidences of pur-
suit. Before him was certain detection should he attempt to
cross the street. On either hand rose the walls of buildings.
That he was trapped there seemed little doubt.
He continued to stand motionless, watching the Austrian
soldier. Should the fellow turn toward him, he had but to
withdraw his head within the shadow of the building that
The Mad King |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Study of a Woman by Honore de Balzac: "I read the addresses quite involuntarily, and--"
"And," interrupted Eugene, "one of them was NOT for Madame de
Nucingen?"
"No, by all the devils, it was not. Consequently, I supposed, my dear
fellow, that your heart was wandering from the rue Saint-Lazare to the
rue Saint-Dominique."
Eugene struck his forehead with the flat of his hand and began to
laugh; by which Joseph perceived that the blame was not on him.
Now, there are certain morals to this tale on which young men had
better reflect. FIRST MISTAKE: Eugene thought it would be amusing to
make Madame de Listomere laugh at the blunder which had made her the
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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 A Legend of Montrose by Walter Scott: female, dressed in deep mourning. They were followed by a
Presbyterian clergyman, in his Geneva cloak, and wearing a black
silk skull-cap, covering his short hair so closely, that it could
scarce be seen at all, so that the unrestricted ears had an undue
predominance in the general aspect. This ungraceful fashion was
universal at the time, and partly led to the nicknames of
roundheads, prick-eared curs, and so forth, which the insolence
of the cavaliers liberally bestowed on their political enemies.
Sir Duncan presented his military guest to his lady, who received
his technical salutation with a stiff and silent reverence, in
which it could scarce be judged whether pride or melancholy had
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