| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe: up the catchin' trade, jest to 'commodate gentlemen like you, and
get nothin' for ourselves?--Not by a long chalk! we'll have the
gal out and out, and you keep quiet, or, ye see, we'll have
both,--what's to hinder? Han't you show'd us the game? It's as
free to us as you, I hope. If you or Shelby wants to chase us,
look where the partridges was last year; if you find them or us,
you're quite welcome."
"O, wal, certainly, jest let it go at that," said Haley,
alarmed; "you catch the boy for the job;--you allers did trade
_far_ with me, Tom, and was up to yer word."
"Ye know that," said Tom; "I don't pretend none of your
Uncle Tom's Cabin |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge by Ambrose Bierce: Peyton Fahrquhar was a well to do planter, of an old and
highly respected Alabama family. Being a slave owner and
like other slave owners a politician, he was naturally an
original secessionist and ardently devoted to the Southern
cause. Circumstances of an imperious nature, which it is
unnecessary to relate here, had prevented him from taking
service with that gallant army which had fought the
disastrous campaigns ending with the fall of Corinth, and he
chafed under the inglorious restraint, longing for the
release of his energies, the larger life of the soldier, the
opportunity for distinction. That opportunity, he felt,
An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Great God Pan by Arthur Machen: unconsciously, of Dr. Phillip's words, "the most vivid
presentment of evil I have ever seen." He turned the paper over
mechanically in his hand and glanced at the back.
"Good God! Clarke, what is the matter? You are as
white as death."
Villiers had started wildly from his chair, as Clarke
fell back with a groan, and let the paper drop from his hands.
"I don't feel very well, Villiers, I am subject to
these attacks. Pour me out a little wine; thanks, that will do.
I shall feel better in a few minutes."
Villiers picked up the fallen sketch and turned it over
The Great God Pan |
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 Voyage to Arcturus by David Lindsay: remaining, egg out of his hand and flung it against a tree trunk,
where it broke and stuck, a splash of slime.
"I don't wait to be asked, Gangnet.... Say, is there a filthier sight
than a smashed pleasure?"
Gangnet did not reply, but took Maskull's arm.
After they had alternately walked through forests and descended
cliffs and slopes for upward of two hours, the landscape altered. A
steep mountainside commenced and continued for at least a couple of
miles, during which space the land must have dropped nearly four
thousand feet, at a practically uniform gradient. Maskull had seen
nothing like this immense slide of country anywhere. The hill slope
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