| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from Walking by Henry David Thoreau: easily shake off the village. The thought of some work will run
in my head and I am not where my body is--I am out of my senses.
In my walks I would fain return to my senses. What business have
I in the woods, if I am thinking of something out of the woods? I
suspect myself, and cannot help a shudder when I find myself so
implicated even in what are called good works--for this may
sometimes happen.
My vicinity affords many good walks; and though for so many years
I have walked almost every day, and sometimes for several days
together, I have not yet exhausted them. An absolutely new
prospect is a great happiness, and I can still get this any
Walking |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from The Man in Lower Ten by Mary Roberts Rinehart: when, breakfast over, she was tightening the sling that held the
broken arm. I had prolonged the morning meal as much as I could,
but when the wooden clock with the pink roses on the dial pointed
to half after ten, and the mother with the duplicate youngsters had
not come back, Miss West made the move I had dreaded.
"If we are to get into Baltimore at all we must start," she said,
rising. "You ought to see a doctor as soon as possible."
"Hush," I said warningly. "Don't mention the arm, please; it is
asleep now. You may rouse it."
"If I only had a hat," she reflected. "It wouldn't need to be much
of one, but - " She gave a little cry and darted to the corner.
The Man in Lower Ten |
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from Pierre Grassou by Honore de Balzac: Schinner, after a glance, pressed Fougeres' hand.
"You are a fine fellow," he said; "you've a heart of gold, and I must
not deceive you. Listen; you are fulfilling all the promises you made
in the studios. When you find such things as that at the tip of your
brush, my good Fougeres, you had better leave colors with Brullon, and
not take the canvas of others. Go home early, put on your cotton
night-cap, and be in bed by nine o'clock. The next morning early go to
some government office, ask for a place, and give up art."
"My dear friend," said Fougeres, "my picture is already condemned; it
is not a verdict that I want of you, but the cause of that verdict."
"Well--you paint gray and sombre; you see nature being a crape veil;
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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 An International Episode by Henry James: "I have often thought about it," she went on after a moment.
"I have often thought about your being a hereditary legislator.
A hereditary legislator ought to know a great many things."
"Not if he doesn't legislate."
"But you do legislate; it's absurd your saying you don't. You are very much
looked up to here--I am assured of that."
"I don't know that I ever noticed it."
"It is because you are used to it, then. You ought to fill the place."
"How do you mean to fill it?" asked Lord Lambeth.
"You ought to be very clever and brilliant, and to know almost everything."
Lord Lambeth looked at her a moment. "Shall I tell you something?" he asked.
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