| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Europeans by Henry James: could be more irregular than this?"
"Than what?" asked Mr. Wentworth, with his pale gravity.
"Well, than everything! Living in the midst of you, this way; this charming,
quiet, serious family life; fraternizing with Charlotte and Gertrude;
calling upon twenty young ladies and going out to walk with them;
sitting with you in the evening on the piazza and listening to the crickets,
and going to bed at ten o'clock."
"Your description is very animated," said Mr. Wentworth;
"but I see nothing improper in what you describe."
"Neither do I, dear uncle. It is extremely delightful;
I should n't like it if it were improper. I assure you I
|
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Herbert West: Reanimator by H. P. Lovecraft: were made in rapid succession, and even the Christchurch Cemetery
receiving tomb was crammed with coffins of the unembalmed dead.
This circumstance was not without effect on West, who thought
often of the irony of the situation -- so many fresh specimens,
yet none for his persecuted researches! We were frightfully overworked,
and the terrific mental and nervous strain made my friend brood
morbidly.
But West’s gentle enemies were no less harassed with
prostrating duties. College had all but closed, and every doctor
of the medical faculty was helping to fight the typhoid plague.
Dr. Halsey in particular had distinguished himself in sacrificing
Herbert West: Reanimator |
