| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Yates Pride by Mary E. Wilkins Freeman: small and bright as needles.
Julia regarded her with intense satisfaction. "What do women
generally bring up?" said she.
"I don't know of anything they bring up, whether they have it or
not, except a baby," retorted Abby, sharply.
Julia wilted a little; but her sister, Mrs. Glynn, was not
perturbed. She launched her thunderbolt of news at once, aware
that the critical moment had come, when the quarry of suspicion
had left the bushes.
"She has adopted a baby," said she, and paused like a woman who
had fired a gun, half scared herself and shrinking from the
|
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from A Start in Life by Honore de Balzac: practice; and I will be security for him. You will only have to feed
and clothe him. Of course he'll sow a few wild oats, but he'll learn
life. Look at me: I left Lyon with two double louis which my
grandmother gave me, and walked to Paris; and what am I now? Fasting
is good for the health. Discretion, honesty, and work, young man, and
you'll succeed. There's a great deal of pleasure in earning one's
fortune; and if a man keeps his teeth he eats what he likes in his old
age, and sings, as I do, 'La Mere Godichon.' Remember my words:
Honesty, work, discretion."
"Do you hear that, Oscar?" said his mother. "Your uncle sums up in
three words all that I have been saying to you. You ought to carve the
|
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Kwaidan by Lafcadio Hearn: but more effectively, the verses might thus be rendered: "Like a woman
slipping off her haori -- that is the appearance of a butterfly." One must
have seen the Japanese garment described, to appreciate the comparison. The
haori is a silk upper-dress,-- a kind of sleeved cloak,-- worn by both
sexes; but the poem suggests a woman's haori, which is usually of richer
color or material. The sleeves are wide; and the lining is usually of
brightly-colored silk, often beautifully variegated. In taking off the
haori, the brilliant lining is displayed,-- and at such an instant the
fluttering splendor might well be likened to the appearance of a butterfly
in motion.
[3] The bird-catcher's pole is smeared with bird-lime; and the verses
Kwaidan |
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 Eve and David by Honore de Balzac: earth.
"Your unhappy brother,
"Lucien."
"P. S. I must have given you much trouble by my heedlessness; some
day you will know all, and you will forgive me. You must be quite
easy now; a worthy merchant, a M. Camusot, to whom I once caused
cruel pangs, promised to arrange everything, seeing that Coralie
and I were so much distressed."
"The sheet is still moist with his tears," said Eve, looking at the
letter with a heart so full of sympathy that something of the old love
for Lucien shone in her eyes.
|
