| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Kreutzer Sonata by Leo Tolstoy: astonished at her face, which was swollen and bruised under the
eyes and over a part of the nose. This was the result of the
blow that I had struck her with my elbow, when she had tried to
hold me back. Of beauty there was no trace left. I saw
something hideous in her. I stopped upon the threshold.
"'Approach, approach her,' said her sister.
"'Yes, probably she repents,' thought I; 'shall I forgive her?
Yes, she is dying, I must forgive her,' I added, trying to be
generous.
"I approached the bedside. With difficulty she raised her eyes,
one of which was swollen, and uttered these words haltingly:
The Kreutzer Sonata |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Fanny Herself by Edna Ferber: came in with a name. Ella rose to go, but Fanny stopped
her. "Father Fitzpatrick! Bring him right in! Miss
Monahan, you've got to meet him. He's"--then, as the great
frame of the handsome old priest filled the doorway--"he's
just Father Fitzpatrick. Ella Monahan."
The white-haired Irishman, and the white-haired Irish woman
clasped hands.
"And who are you, daughter, besides being Ella Monahan?"
"Buyer of gloves at Haynes-Cooper, Father."
"You don't tell me, now!" He turned to Fanny, put his two
big hands on her shoulders, and swung her around to face the
Fanny Herself |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Lord Arthur Savile's Crime, etc. by Oscar Wilde: keep quiet.'
After some time the servant came in, and told Trevor that the
framemaker wanted to speak to him.
'Don't run away, Hughie,' he said, as he went out, 'I will be back
in a moment.'
The old beggar-man took advantage of Trevor's absence to rest for a
moment on a wooden bench that was behind him. He looked so forlorn
and wretched that Hughie could not help pitying him, and felt in
his pockets to see what money he had. All he could find was a
sovereign and some coppers. 'Poor old fellow,' he thought to
himself, 'he wants it more than I do, but it means no hansoms for a
|
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 Copy-Cat & Other Stories by Mary E. Wilkins Freeman: Camille looked worried and sulky. "She ain't
very well, anyhow," said she. "I ain't going to
kill Margaret."
"It's a good thing she's got a chance to have a
night's rest in a house," said Bill Stark.
"The fat man has asked her to stay with him and
his sister while the show is here," said Jack.
"The sister invited her," said Camille, with a
little stiffness. She was common, but she had lived
with Lees, and her mother had married a Lee. She
knew what was due Margaret, and also due herself.
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