| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from De Profundis by Oscar Wilde: the way from Genoa to England to break to me herself the tidings of
so irreparable, so irremediable, a loss. Messages of sympathy
reached me from all who had still affection for me. Even people
who had not known me personally, hearing that a new sorrow had
broken into my life, wrote to ask that some expression of their
condolence should be conveyed to me. . . .
Three months go over. The calendar of my daily conduct and labour
that hangs on the outside of my cell door, with my name and
sentence written upon it, tells me that it is May. . . .
Prosperity, pleasure and success, may be rough of grain and common
in fibre, but sorrow is the most sensitive of all created things.
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The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Dream Life and Real Life by Olive Schreiner: thing comes back:--spring cannot fail us.
Matjesfontein,
South Africa.
III. "THE POLICY IN FAVOUR OF PROTECTION--".
Was it Right?--Was it Wrong?
A woman sat at her desk in the corner of a room; behind her a fire burnt
brightly.
Presently a servant came in and gave her a card.
"Say I am busy and can see no one now. I have to finish this article by
two o'clock."
The servant came back. The caller said she would only keep her a moment:
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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 Scarecrow of Oz by L. Frank Baum: his body was so sore and aching.
"Well," said the Scarecrow, "did the King surrender?"
"No; but he gave me a good drubbing!" sobbed poor Pon.
Trot was very sorry for Pon, but Gloria did not seem
affected in any way by her lover's anguish. The
grasshopper leaped to the Scarecrow's shoulder and asked
him what he was going to do next.
"Conquer," was the reply. "But I will go alone, this
time, for beatings cannot hurt me at all; nor can lance
thrusts -- or sword cuts -- or arrow pricks."
"Why is that?" inquired Trot.
The Scarecrow of Oz |
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 Madam How and Lady Why by Charles Kingsley: way, if she wants to do anything or go anywhere. Now, that Madam
How can be very terrible there can be no doubt: but there is no
doubt also that, if people choose to learn, she will teach them to
get out of her way whenever she has business to do which is
dangerous to them. But as for her being cruel and unjust, those
may believe it who like. You, my dear boys and girls, need not
believe it, if you will only trust to Lady Why; and be sure that
Why is the mistress and How the servant, now and for ever. That
Lady Why is utterly good and kind I know full well; and I believe
that, in her case too, the old proverb holds, "Like mistress, like
servant;" and that the more we know of Madam How, the more we
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