| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Story of an African Farm by Olive Schreiner: stranger; I did not ask his name, but he sat among the karoo and talked
with me. Now, wherever I have travelled I have looked for him--in hotels,
in streets, in passenger wagons as they rushed in, through the open windows
of houses I have looked for him, but I have not found him--never heard a
voice like his. One day I went to the Botanic Gardens. It was a half-
holiday, and the band was to play. I stood in the long raised avenue and
looked down. There were many flowers, and ladies and children were walking
about beautifully dressed. At last the music began. I had not heard such
music before.
"At first it was slow and even, like the everyday life, when we walk
through it without thought or feeling; then it grew faster, then it paused,
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Jerusalem Delivered by Torquato Tasso: Did unawares his snow-white courser slay,
And under him his master tumbling lay:
LXXXIV
And gainst his face, where love and pity stand,
To pray him that rich throne of beauty spare,
The cruel man stretched forth his murdering hand,
To spoil those gifts, whereof he had no share:
It seemed remorse and sense was in his brand
Which, lighting flat, to hurt the lad forbare;
But all for naught, gainst him the point he bent
That, what the edge had spared, pierced and rent.
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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 McTeague by Frank Norris: books upon the subject, and had already prospected in
something of a scientific manner.
"Shucks!" he exclaimed. "Gi' me a long distinct contact
between sedimentary and igneous rocks, an' I'll sink a shaft
without ever SEEING 'color.'"
The dentist put his huge chin in the air. "Gold is where
you find it," he returned, doggedly.
"Well, it's my idea as how pardners ought to work along
different lines," said Cribbens. He tucked the corners of
his mustache into his mouth and sucked the tobacco juice
from them. For a moment he was thoughtful, then he blew
McTeague |
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 Ann Veronica by H. G. Wells: "Mr. Manning," she said, "I warned you not to idealize me. Men
ought not to idealize any woman. We aren't worth it. We've done
nothing to deserve it. And it hampers us. You don't know the
thoughts we have; the things we can do and say. You are a
sisterless man; you have never heard the ordinary talk that goes
on at a girls' boarding-school."
"Oh! but you ARE splendid and open and fearless! As if I couldn't
allow! What are all these little things? Nothing! Nothing! You
can't sully yourself. You can't! I tell you frankly you may
break off your engagement to me--I shall hold myself still
engaged to you, yours just the same. As for this
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