| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Coxon Fund by Henry James: mean at Lady Coxon's door while his companion paid her call--it
wasn't to the further humiliation of any one concerned that she
presently came out for him in person, not even to show either of
them what a fool she was that she drew him in to be introduced to
the bright young American. Her account of the introduction I had
in its order, but before that, very late in the season, under
Gravener's auspices, I met Miss Anvoy at tea at the House of
Commons. The member for Clockborough had gathered a group of
pretty ladies, and the Mulvilles were not of the party. On the
great terrace, as I strolled off with her a little, the guest of
honour immediately exclaimed to me: "I've seen him, you know--I've
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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 Firm of Nucingen by Honore de Balzac: thing in England)--heating apparatus to maintain an even temperature
all over the house; fresh, soft colors, carefully chosen furniture,
neither too showy nor too much in fashion; spring-blinds fitted to
every window inside and out; silver plate and new carriages. He had
seen to the stables, coach-house, and harness-room, where Toby Joby
Paddy floundered and fidgeted about like a marmot let loose,
apparently rejoiced to know that there would be women about the place
and a 'lady'! This fervent passion of a man that sets up housekeeping,
choosing clocks, going to visit his betrothed with his pockets full of
patterns of stuffs, consulting her as to the bedroom furniture, going,
coming, and trotting about, for love's sake,--all this, I say, is a
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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 This Side of Paradise by F. Scott Fitzgerald: regretting. It's not as if your father could help you. Things
have been hard for him lately and he's an old man. You'd be
dependent absolutely on a dreamer, a nice, well-born boy, but a
dreamermerely clever. (She implies that this quality in itself is
rather vicious.)
ROSALIND: For heaven's sake, mother
(A maid appears, announces Mr. Blaine who follows immediately.
AMORY'S friends have been telling him for ten days that he "looks
like the wrath of God," and he does. As a matter of fact he has
not been able to eat a mouthful in the last thirty-six hours.)
AMORY: Good evening, Mrs. Connage.
This Side of Paradise |
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 Margret Howth: A Story of To-day by Rebecca Harding Davis: warm summer rain falling softly, the fresh blue stealing broadly
from behind the gray. It seemed to Margret like a blessing; for
her brain rose up stronger, more healthful.
"I will not swear," she said, weakly. "I think He heard my
prayer. I think He will answer it. He was a man, and loved as
we do. My love is not selfish; it is the best gift God has given
me."
Knowles went slowly with her to the house. He was not baffled.
He knew that the struggle was yet to come; that, when she was
alone, her faith in the far-off Christ would falter; that she
would grasp at this work, to fill her empty hands and starved
Margret Howth: A Story of To-day |
