| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Court Life in China by Isaac Taylor Headland: eyes of an eagle lest he manifest any signs of rebellion, while
his nephew was kept in the capital as a hostage for his good
conduct. Once and again when he had reached the zenith of his
power, or had been feted by foreign potentates enough to turn the
head of a bronze Buddha, his yellow jacket and peacock feather
were kindly but firmly removed to remind him that there was a
power in Peking on whom he was dependent.
Li Hung-chang's greatness made him many enemies. Those whom he
defeated, those whom he would not or could not help, those whom
he punished or put out of office, and those whose enmity was the
result of jealousy. When the war with Japan closed and the
|
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 Garden Party by Katherine Mansfield: put it somewhere where it'll give you a bang slap in the eye, if you follow
me."
Laura's upbringing made her wonder for a moment whether it was quite
respectful of a workman to talk to her of bangs slap in the eye. But she
did quite follow him.
"A corner of the tennis-court," she suggested. "But the band's going to be
in one corner."
"H'm, going to have a band, are you?" said another of the workmen. He was
pale. He had a haggard look as his dark eyes scanned the tennis-court.
What was he thinking?
"Only a very small band," said Laura gently. Perhaps he wouldn't mind so
|