| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Intentions by Oscar Wilde: she is one. Indeed, so far from its being true that the artist is
the best judge of art, a really great artist can never judge of
other people's work at all, and can hardly, in fact, judge of his
own. That very concentration of vision that makes a man an artist,
limits by its sheer intensity his faculty of fine appreciation.
The energy of creation hurries him blindly on to his own goal. The
wheels of his chariot raise the dust as a cloud around him. The
gods are hidden from each other. They can recognise their
worshippers. That is all.
ERNEST. You say that a great artist cannot recognise the beauty of
work different from his own.
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Barnaby Rudge by Charles Dickens: 'Well,' said John, 'I don't know--I am sure--I remember that when I
went up last, he HAD put the lights upon the mantel-shelf.'
'It's as plain,' returned Solomon, 'as the nose on Parkes's face'--
Mr Parkes, who had a large nose, rubbed it, and looked as if he
considered this a personal allusion--'they'll fight in that room.
You know by the newspapers what a common thing it is for gentlemen
to fight in coffee-houses without seconds. One of 'em will be
wounded or perhaps killed in this house.'
'That was a challenge that Barnaby took then, eh?' said John.
'--Inclosing a slip of paper with the measure of his sword upon it,
I'll bet a guinea,' answered the little man. 'We know what sort of
Barnaby Rudge |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Copy-Cat & Other Stories by Mary E. Wilkins Freeman: Amelia.
"Bumblebees never sting," said Lily; and Amelia
believed her.
When the foot-path ended, there was the river-
bank. The two little girls sat down under a clump
of brook willows and talked, while the river, full of
green and blue and golden lights, slipped past them
and never stopped.
Then Lily proceeded to unfold a plan, which was
not philosophical, but naughtily ingenious. By this
time Lily knew very well that Amelia admired her,
|
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 The Breaking Point by Mary Roberts Rinehart: sullenly, and they moved out to find a taxicab. On the pavement,
however, he held back.
"I've got a right to know something," he said, "considering what
he's done to me and mine. Clark's alive, I suppose?"
"He's alive all right."
"Then I'll trade you, Bassett. I'll come over with what I know, if
you'll tell me one thing. What sent him into hiding for ten years,
and makes him turn up now, yelling for help?"
Bassett reflected. The offer of a statement from Gregory was
valuable, but, on the other hand, he was anxious not to influence
his narrative. And Gregory saw his uncertainty. He planted
The Breaking Point |
