| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Letters from England by Elizabeth Davis Bancroft: Turkey, even BOILED turkey, is brought on AFTER the ENTREES, mutton
(a saddle always) or venison, with a pheasant or partridges. With
the roast is always put on the SWEETS, as they are called, as the
term dessert seems restricted to the last course of fruits. During
the dinner there are always long strips of damask all round the
table which are removed before the dessert is put on, and there is
no brushing of crumbs. You may not care for all this, but the
housekeepers may. I had Mr. Greville the other side of me, who
seemed much surprised that I, an American, should know the "Prayer
for Indifference," which he doubted if twenty persons in England
read in these modern days.
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Exiles by Honore de Balzac: native town nestling at the foot of a hill.
"If you have not deceived me," she said to Jacqueline, "I promise you
a hundred crowns in gold."
"Behold, madame," said the woman, "the poor angel is confiding--here
is all his treasure."
As she spoke, Jacqueline opened a drawer in the table and showed some
parchments.
"God of mercy!" cried the Countess, snatching up a document that
caught her eye, on which she read, /Gothofredus Comes Gantiacus/
(Godefroid, Count of Ghent).
She dropped the parchment, and passed her hand over her brow; then,
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| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from The Europeans by Henry James: have sat down. "Why should she wish you not to meet your father?"
"Well," said Clifford, "father does n't like to see me there."
Acton looked askance at his companion and forbore to make
any comment upon this assertion. "Has he said so," he asked,
"to the Baroness?"
"Well, I hope not," said Clifford. "He has n't said so--in so many words--
to me. But I know it worries him; and I want to stop worrying him.
The Baroness knows it, and she wants me to stop, too."
"To stop coming to see her?"
"I don't know about that; but to stop worrying father.
Eugenia knows everything," Clifford added, with an air
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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 Spirit of the Border by Zane Grey: Joe nodded his head, while Colonel Zane spoke once more in Shawnee, explaining
the cause of Silvertip's emnity.
"Shawnee--chief--one--bad--Injun," replied Tome, seriously.
"Silvertip--mad--thunder-mad. Ketch'um paleface--scalp'um sure."
After giving this warning the chief returned to his former position near the
corner of the cabin.
"He can talk in English fairly well, much better than the Shawnee brave who
talked with me the other day," observed Joe.
"Some of the Indians speak the language almost fluently," said Colonel Zane.
"You could hardly have distinguished Logan's speech from a white man's.
Corn-planter uses good English, as also does my brother's wife, a Wyandot
The Spirit of the Border |
