| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Herbert West: Reanimator by H. P. Lovecraft: when we obtained the negro killed in the Bolton prize-fight. At
last fate had been kind, so that on this occasion there lay in
the secret cellar laboratory a corpse whose decay could not by
any possibility have begun. What would happen on reanimation,
and whether we could hope for a revival of mind and reason, West
did not venture to predict. The experiment would be a landmark
in our studies, and he had saved the new body for my return, so
that both might share the spectacle in accustomed fashion.
West
told me how he had obtained the specimen. It had been a vigorous
man; a well-dressed stranger just off the train on his way to
Herbert West: Reanimator |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Little Britain by Washington Irving: particular respect for three or four high-backed claw-footed
chairs, covered with tarnished brocade, which bear the marks
of having seen better days, and have doubtless figured in some
of the old palaces of Little Britain. They seem to me to keep
together, and to look down with sovereign contempt upon
their leathern-bottomed neighbors: as I have seen decayed
gentry carry a high head among the plebeian society with which
they were reduced to associate. The whole front of my sitting-
room is taken up with a bow-window, on the panes of which
are recorded the names of previous occupants for many
generations, mingled with scraps of very indifferent
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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 Tattine by Ruth Ogden [Mrs. Charles W. Ide]: made her heart leap for joy, something that looked drowned enough, but wasn't.
Rudolph was running up the hill as fast as his soaking clothing would let him,
and, reaching the door breathless enough, he sank down on the floor of the
porch.
"Oh, Mrs. Gerald," he said, as soon as he could catch his breath, "Mabel
and Tattine are all right; they're safe in the log play-house at the
Cornwells', but we've had an awful fright. Is Barney home? When the hail came
I tied him to a tree and we ran into the log house, but he broke away the next
minute and took to his heels and ran as fast as his legs could carry him.
Barney's an awful fraud, Mrs. Gerald."
But Mrs. Gerald had no time just then to give heed to Barney's misdoings.
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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 Daisy Miller by Henry James: Winterbourne was watching the young girl; at this question his
attention quickened. She stood there, smiling and smoothing
her bonnet ribbons; she glanced at Winterbourne. Then, while she
glanced and smiled, she answered, without a shade of hesitation,
"Mr. Giovanelli--the beautiful Giovanelli."
"My dear young friend," said Mrs. Walker, taking her hand pleadingly,
"don't walk off to the Pincio at this hour to meet a beautiful Italian."
"Well, he speaks English," said Mrs. Miller.
"Gracious me!" Daisy exclaimed, "I don't to do anything improper.
There's an easy way to settle it." She continued to glance at Winterbourne.
"The Pincio is only a hundred yards distant; and if Mr. Winterbourne
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