| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Moran of the Lady Letty by Frank Norris: hand."
Wilbur had considerable difficulty in getting into the dory from
the deck of the plunging derelict with his dazed and almost
helpless charge. Even as he slid down the rope into the little
boat and helped the girl to follow, he was aware of two dull,
brownish-green shadows moving just beneath the water's surface not
ten feet away, and he knew that he was being stealthily watched.
The Chinamen at the oars of the dory, with that extraordinary
absence of curiosity which is the mark of the race, did not glance
a second time at the survivor of the "Lady Letty's" misadventure.
To them it was evident she was but a for'mast hand. However,
|
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Woman and Labour by Olive Schreiner: products of labour, which we term wealth, can never in itself produce that
decay, physical or mental, which precedes the downfall of great civilised
nations. The eating of salmon at ten shillings a pound can in itself no
more debilitate and corrupt the moral, intellectual, and physical
constitution of the man consuming it, than it could enervate his naked
forefathers who speared it in their rivers for food; the fact that an
individual wears a robe made from the filaments of a worm, can no more
deteriorate his spiritual or physical fibre, than were it made of sheep's
wool; an entire race, housed in marble palaces, faring delicately, and clad
in silks, and surrounded by the noblest products of literature and plastic
art, so those palaces, viands, garments, and products of art were the
|
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Virginian by Owen Wister: You'll teach the kids all the better for it to-morro', ma'am.
Maybe it's your duty." And he smiled at her.
"My duty! It's quite novel to have strangers--"
"Am I a stranger?" he cut in, firing his first broadside. "I was
introduced, ma'am," he continued, noting how she had flushed
again. "And I would not be oversteppin' for the world. I'll go
away if yu' want." And hereupon he quietly rose, and stood, hat
in hand.
Molly was flustered. She did not at all want him to go. No one of
her admirers had ever been like this creature. The fringed
leathern chaparreros, the cartridge belt, the flannel shirt, the
The Virginian |
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 Margret Howth: A Story of To-day by Rebecca Harding Davis: month."
Margret, walking in the porch with her father, stopped.
"Are you tired, father? It is late."
"And you are worn out, poor child! It was selfish in me to
forget. Good-night, dear!"
Margret kissed him, laughing cheerfully, as she led him to his
room-door. He lingered, holding her dress.
"Perhaps it will be easier for you to-morrow than it was to-day?"
hesitating.
"I am sure it will. To-morrow will be sure to be better than
to-day."
Margret Howth: A Story of To-day |
