| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Malbone: An Oldport Romance by Thomas Wentworth Higginson: sky. The two elements could hardly be distinguished except as
the white outlines of the successive breakers were lifted
through the fog. The lines of surf appeared constantly to
multiply upon the beach, and yet, on counting them, there were
never any more. Sometimes, in the distance, masses of foam rose
up like a wall where the horizon ought to be; and, as the
coming waves took form out of the unseen, it seemed as if no
phantom were too vast or shapeless to come rolling in upon
their dusky shoulders.
Presently a frail gleam of something like the ghost of dead
sunshine made them look toward the west. Above the dim roofs
|
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Ruling Passion by Henry van Dyke: was a young widower without children, and altogether the best
fellow, as well as the most prosperous, in the settlement. His
house stood up on the hill, across the road from the lot which
Jacques had bought. It was painted white, and it had a narrow front
porch, with a scroll-saw fringe around the edge of it; and there was
a little garden fenced in with white palings, in which Sweet
Williams and pansies and blue lupines and pink bleeding-hearts were
planted.
The wedding was at the Sportsmen's Retreat, and Jacques was there,
of course. There was nothing of the disconsolate lover about him.
The noun he might have confessed to, in a confidential moment of
|
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Caesar's Commentaries in Latin by Julius Caesar: intermisso cum omnibus copiis eos sequi coepit.
Helvetii omnium rerum inopia adducti legatos de deditione ad eum
miserunt. Qui cum eum in itinere convenissent seque ad pedes proiecissent
suppliciterque locuti flentes pacem petissent, atque eos in eo loco quo
tum essent suum adventum expectare iussisset, paruerunt. Eo postquam
Caesar pervenit, obsides, arma, servos qui ad eos perfugissent, poposcit.
Dum ea conquiruntur et conferuntur, [nocte intermissa] circiter hominum
milia VI eius pagi qui Verbigenus appellatur, sive timore perterriti, ne
armis traditis supplicio adficerentur, sive spe salutis inducti, quod in
tanta multitudine dediticiorum suam fugam aut occultari aut omnino
ignorari posse existimarent, prima nocte e castris Helvetiorum egressi ad
|
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 Tom Grogan by F. Hopkinson Smith: work, Mrs. Grogan or her husband.' "
"Mrs. Grogan, of course. She has done her own work for years,"
answered the president.
The judge tapped the arm of his chair with his pencil. The taps
could be heard all over the room. Most men kept quiet in Bowker's
presence, even men like Rowan. For some moments his Honor bent
over the desk and carefully examined the signed contract spread
out before him; then he pushed it back, and glanced about the
room.
"Is Mr. Crane, the bondsman, present?"
"Mr. Crane has gone West, sir," said Babcock, rising. "I
|
