| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Bucky O'Connor by William MacLeod Raine: "You see, we're living in the twentieth century up in the
sunburned State," said Bucky, with smiling aplomb.
"Indeed! And we poor Chihuahuans?"
"When I see the ladies I think you're ce'tainly in the golden
age, but when I break into your politics, I'm some reminded of
that Richard Third fellow in the Shakespeare play."
"Referring, I presume, to my father?" she demanded haughtily.
"In a general way, but eliminating the most objectionable points
of the king fellow."
"You're very kind." She interrupted her scorn to ask him where he
meant her to sleep.
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Purse by Honore de Balzac: of the evening.
On the morrow the young painter felt the most ardent desire to
see Adelaide once more. If he had followed the call of his
passion, he would have gone to his neighbor's door at six in the
morning, when he went to his studio. However, he still was
reasonable enough to wait till the afternoon. But as soon as he
thought he could present himself to Madame de Rouville, he went
downstairs, rang, blushing like a girl, shyly asked Mademoiselle
Leseigneur, who came to let him in, to let him have the portrait
of the Baron.
"But come in," said Adelaide, who had no doubt heard him come
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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 The Turn of the Screw by Henry James: The change was actually like the spring of a beast.
In the first weeks the days were long; they often, at their finest,
gave me what I used to call my own hour, the hour when, for my pupils,
teatime and bedtime having come and gone, I had, before my final retirement,
a small interval alone. Much as I liked my companions, this hour was
the thing in the day I liked most; and I liked it best of all when,
as the light faded--or rather, I should say, the day lingered and the last
calls of the last birds sounded, in a flushed sky, from the old trees--
I could take a turn into the grounds and enjoy, almost with a sense
of property that amused and flattered me, the beauty and dignity of
the place. It was a pleasure at these moments to feel myself tranquil
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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 A Passion in the Desert by Honore de Balzac: his soul and sealed up the source of the cold sweat which sprang forth
on his brow. Like men driven to bay, who defy death and offer their
body to the smiter, so he, seeing in this merely a tragic episode,
resolved to play his part with honor to the last.
"The day before yesterday the Arabs would have killed me, perhaps," he
said; so considering himself as good as dead already, he waited
bravely, with excited curiosity, the awakening of his enemy.
When the sun appeared, the panther suddenly opened her eyes; then she
put out her paws with energy, as if to stretch them and get rid of
cramp. At last she yawned, showing the formidable apparatus of her
teeth and pointed tongue, rough as a file.
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