| The first excerpt represents the element of Air. It speaks of mental influences and the process of thought, and is drawn from The Man that Corrupted Hadleyburg by Mark Twain: come at any moment; it is dreadful to be here all alone with it."
At eleven Mr. Richards arrived, and while his wife was saying "I am
SO glad you've come!" he was saying, "I am so tired--tired clear
out; it is dreadful to be poor, and have to make these dismal
journeys at my time of life. Always at the grind, grind, grind, on
a salary--another man's slave, and he sitting at home in his
slippers, rich and comfortable."
"I am so sorry for you, Edward, you know that; but be comforted; we
have our livelihood; we have our good name--"
"Yes, Mary, and that is everything. Don't mind my talk--it's just a
moment's irritation and doesn't mean anything. Kiss me--there, it's
The Man that Corrupted Hadleyburg |
The second excerpt represents the element of Fire. It speaks of emotional influences and base passions, and is drawn from Wyoming by William MacLeod Raine: "Wouldn't it be better to live it down?" she asked with a
quietness that belied her terror. For there had been in his
manner a threat, not against her but against the man whom her
heart acknowledged as her lover.
He laughed. "Y'u're still hoping to make a Sunday school
superintendent out of me, I see. Y'u haven't forgot all your
schoolmarm ways yet, but I'll teach y'u to forget them."
The other cousin watched him with a cool, quiet glance that never
wavered. The outlaw was heavily armed, but his weapons were
sheathed, and, though there was a wary glitter behind the
vindictive exultation in his eyes, his capable hands betrayed no
|
| The third excerpt represents the element of Water. It speaks of pure spiritual influences and feelings of love, and is drawn from St. Ives by Robert Louis Stevenson: operations thought my life exposed in a very good cause. With
fools and children, which included Rowley, the necessity was even
greater. I proposed to myself to be infallible; and even when he
expressed some wonder at the purchase of the claret-coloured
chaise, I put him promptly in his place. In our situation, I told
him, everything had to be sacrificed to appearances; doubtless, in
a hired chaise, we should have had more freedom, but look at the
dignity! I was so positive, that I had sometimes almost convinced
myself. Not for long, you may be certain! This detestable
conveyance always appeared to me to be laden with Bow Street
officers, and to have a placard upon the back of it publishing my
|
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 Enemies of Books by William Blades: sternly demanded the saint, who read their characters at a glance.
Their faltering reply was sufficient, and the blessed
saint at once passed judgment as follows:--`Insomuch as,
seduced by a foolish vanity, and against your vows of poverty,
you have amassed this multitude of books and thereby and therefor
have neglected the duties and broken the rules of your Order,
you are now sentenced to read your books for ever and ever in
the fires of Hell.' Immediately, a roaring noise filled the air,
and a flaming chasm opened in which friars, and asses and books
were suddenly engulphed."
CHAPTER IV.
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