| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Jolly Corner by Henry James: noticed as emerging at two. He walked there on the crisp November
nights, arrived regularly at the evening's end; it was as easy to
do this after dining out as to take his way to a club or to his
hotel. When he left his club, if he hadn't been dining out, it was
ostensibly to go to his hotel; and when he left his hotel, if he
had spent a part of the evening there, it was ostensibly to go to
his club. Everything was easy in fine; everything conspired and
promoted: there was truly even in the strain of his experience
something that glossed over, something that salved and simplified,
all the rest of consciousness. He circulated, talked, renewed,
loosely and pleasantly, old relations - met indeed, so far as he
|
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Fanny Herself by Edna Ferber: was sure death to traveling men. She prepared now to try it
on the world-famous virtuoso. The ease with which she
succeeded surprised even Sadie, accustomed though she was to
conquest.
"Come, come, Schabelitz!" said Bauer again. "I must get
along."
"Then go, my friend. Go along and make your preparations
for that studio supper. The only interesting woman in
Winnebago--" he bowed to Mrs. Brandeis-- "will not be there.
I know them, these small-town society women, with their
imitation city ways. And bony! Always! I am enjoying
Fanny Herself |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Circular Staircase by Mary Roberts Rinehart: she was afraid he would do her some hurt. She left the big house
and went down to the lodge. When I had rented Sunnyside,
however, she had thought the persecutions would stop. She had
applied for the position of housekeeper, and secured it.
That had been on Saturday. That night Louise arrived
unexpectedly. Thomas sent for Mrs. Watson and then went for
Arnold Armstrong at the Greenwood Club. Anne had been fond of
Louise--she reminded her of Lucy. She did not know what the
trouble was, but Louise had been in a state of terrible
excitement. Mrs. Watson tried to hide from Arnold, but he was
ugly. He left the lodge and went up to the house about two-
The Circular Staircase |
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 Child's Garden of Verses by Robert Louis Stevenson: You never saw the like by day.
So fine a show was never seen
At the great circus on the green;
For every kind of beast and man
Is marching in that caravan.
As first they move a little slow,
But still the faster on they go,
And still beside me close I keep
Until we reach the town of Sleep.
V
Whole Duty of Children
A Child's Garden of Verses |
