| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Forged Coupon by Leo Tolstoy: cidentally in the sketches of high society in those
two masterpieces as well as in the eloquent closing
passages of "What then must we do?" (1886).
Having affirmed that "it is women who form pub-
lic opinion, and in our day women are particu-
larly powerful," he finally draws a picture of the
ideal wife who shall urge her husband and train
her children to self-sacrifice. "Such women rule
men and are their guiding stars. O women--
mothers! The salvation of the world lies in your
hands!" In that appeal to the mothers of the
The Forged Coupon |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Insidious Dr. Fu-Manchu by Sax Rohmer: "Search! Everywhere," said Eltham hoarsely.
He ran off into the rose garden, and began beating about among
the flowers like a madman, muttering: "Vernon! Vernon!" For close
upon an hour we all searched. We searched every square yard, I think,
within the wire fencing, and found no trace. Miss Eltham slipped out
in the confusion, and joined with the rest of us in that frantic hunt.
Some of the servants assisted too.
It was a group terrified and awestricken which came together
again on the terrace. One and then another would give up,
until only Eltham and Smith were missing. Then they came back
together from examining the steps to the lower gate.
The Insidious Dr. Fu-Manchu |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from A Book of Remarkable Criminals by H. B. Irving: no further trouble with Dr. Parkman, for I have settled with
him." It is difficult to see how the Professor could have
settled, or proposed to settle, with his creditor on that day. A
balance of L28 at his bank, and the L18 which Mr. Pettee
had paid to him that morning, represented the sum of Professor
Webster's fortune on Friday, November 23, 1849.
Since the afternoon of that day the search for the missing
Parkman had been unremitting. On the Saturday his friends
communicated with the police. On Sunday hand-bills were issued
stating the fact of the Doctor's disappearance, and on
Monday, the 26th, a description and the offer of a considerable
A Book of Remarkable Criminals |
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 Lay Morals by Robert Louis Stevenson: have a good opinion of myself. But for beauty, I am not so
simple but that I can tell a banter from a compliment.'
'Nay, nay,' said Mr. Archer, 'I had half forgotten; grief is
selfish, and I was thinking of myself and not of you, or I
had never blurted out so bold a piece of praise. 'Tis the
best proof of my sincerity. But come, now, I would lay a
wager you are no coward?'
'Indeed, sir, I am not more afraid than another,' said Nance.
'None of my blood are given to fear.'
'And you are honest?' he returned.
'I will answer for that,' said she.
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